INTERACTION

BETWEEN MICROBE
AND HOST
GIL P. SORIANO, RN, MHPED
DEFINITION OF TERMS

• Pathogen - a disease causing microbial growth or toxin.

• Disease- an abnormality in which the body or part is not properly adjusted. The body
part is overcome by the microbe
• Epidemiology – the study of frequency, patterns and distribution of diseases in a
population and other health-related determinants
• Infection- is the invasion and growth of a pathogen in the body
• Infectious disease- a disease caused by microorganism
• Host: Is an organism that shelters and supports the growth of pathogens.
• Pathology: -scientific study of disease
• Etiology-cause of a disease
• Pathogenesis-development of disease
• Symptoms- change in body function as described by the patient (subjective)
• Sign- a measurable change
• Syndrome- a specific group of symptoms or signs that always accompanies a specific
disease.
• Communicable diseases- transmitted directly or indirectly from one host to another.
• Local infection- affects a small area of the body
• Systemic infection- spread throughout the body
• Bacteremia- bacteria in the blood
• Septicemia- bacteria multiply in blood
• Secondary infections- occur after a host is weakened from a primary infection
• Subclinical- cannot be measured
• Reservoir of infection – provides pathogen with conditions for survival; continual
source of infection
• - Human – carriers, people who have a disease, asymptomatic or latent
• - Animal- zoonoses various routes
• Nosocomial Infections - Hospital-Acquired
• Nonliving Reservoirs – water, soil, medical instruments, etc
• Zoonoses - diseases that affect wild and domestic animals and can be transmitted to
humans.
ETIOLOGY OF INFECTION

• Infection results from an individual’s exposure and entry of

microorganism as a result of his activities and occupation. There
are different modes of transmission for an infection to occur:
direct contact, inhalation, ingestion, sexual, indirect transmission
through vectors, and transplacental.
HOW MICROBES CAUSE DISEASE

• "Microorganisms act in certain ways that allow them to cause

disease. These actions include gaining access to the host, adhering to
and colonizing cell surfaces, invading tissues, and producing toxins and
other harmful metabolic products. However, host defense mechanisms
tend to thwart the actions of microorganisms. The occurrence of a
disease depends on whether the pathogen or the host wins the
battle; if it is a draw, a chronic, long-lasting disease may result."
WHY INFECTION DOES NOT ALWAYS OCCUR

• 1. The microbe may “land” at a site not favorable for the microorganism to multiply.
• 2. Many pathogens require an attachment or receptor before they can multiply and cause
damage.
• 3. Antimicrobial factors that inhibit the growth of microorganisms
• 4. Presence of normal microbiota at the site
• 5. The individual’s overall health status
• 6. The individual’s immune status
• 7. Phagocytic cells present in the blood and tissues
CLASSIFICATION O FINFECTIOUS DISEASES

• 1. Bacterial – gram positive, gram negative (example: Tuberculosis, Leptospirosis, Typhoid

fever, Gonorrhea, Syphilis)
• 2.Viral – RNA, DNA virus (Hepatitis, Dengue, AIDS, Chicken pox, Measles)
• 3. Fungal- disseminated, localized (Candidiasis, Ptyriasis versicolor, Ringworm)
• 4. Parasitic- Protozoan, Helminths (Amoebiasis, Ascariasis, Malaria, Schistosomiasis,
Filaria)
•
THE SEVERITY OR DURATION OF A DISEASE

The scope of a disease can be defined as:

• Acute – develops rapidly but lasts a short time (influenza)
• Chronic – develops more slowly, reactions to the disease are less severe, likely to be
continual or recurrent for long periods (infectious mononucleosis, TB, hepa-B)
• Subacute – intermediate between acute and chronic (sclerosing panencephalitis)
• Latent – the causative agent remains inactive for a time but then becomes active to
produce symptoms (shingles)
EXTENT OF HOS T ENVIRONMENT

• A local infection affects a small area of the body; a systemic infection is spread
throughout the body via the circulatory system.
• A secondary infection can occur after the host is weakened from a primary infection.
• An inapparent, or subclinical, infection does not cause any signs of disease in the
host.
PATTERNS OF DISEASE

• Predisposing Factors
• A predisposing factor is one that makes the body more susceptible to disease or alters the
course of a disease.
• Examples include gender, climate, age, fatigue, and inadequate nutrition.
• The incubation period is the time interval between the initial infection and the first
appearance of signs and symptoms.
• Prodromal period - characterized by the appearance of the first mild signs and symptoms.
• Period of illness - the disease is at its height, and all disease signs and symptoms are
apparent. Death may occur during the period of illness.
• Period of decline - the signs and symptoms subside.
• Period of convalescence - the body returns to its prediseased state, and health is restored.
CONTACT TRANSMISSION

• 1. Direct contact (person-to-person) involves close physical contact between the

source of the disease and a susceptible host (sexual contact falls into this category).
• 2. Indirect contact involves transmission by fomites (inanimate objects).
• 3. Droplet transmission is transmission via droplet nuclei (mucus droplets) in
coughing or sneezing, laughing or talking.
• 4.Vehicle Transmission
• Common vehicle transmission is transmission by a medium such as water, food or air.
• Waterborne
• Foodborne
• Airborne - pathogens are carried on droplet nuclei in dust for a distance greater than 1 meter.
• 5.Vector Transmission
• Arthropod vectors carry pathogens from one host to another by both mechanical and
biological transmission.
• Mechanical transmission is the passive transport of a pathogen on a vector 's feet or
other body parts.
• Biological transmission involves reproduction of the pathogen in the vector and
transmission in saliva or feces.
NOSOCOMIAL (HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS)

• A nosocomial infection is any infection that is acquired during the

course of stay in a hospital, nursing home, or other health care
facility.
• About 5-15% of (or) all hospitalized patients acquire nosocomial
infections.
• Three factors contribute to nosocomial infections:
• Microorganisms in the hospital
• A compromised host
• The chain of transmission
MICROORGANISMS IN THE HOSPITAL

• Certain normal microbiota are often responsible for

nosocomial infection when they are introduced into the body
through such medical procedures as surgery and
catheterization.
• Opportunistic, drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria are the
most frequent causes of nosocomial infections.
• The Compromised Host
• Patients with burns, surgical wounds, and suppressed immune
systems are the most susceptible to nosocomial infections.

• The Chain Of Transmission

• Nosocomial infections are transmitted by direct contact
between staff members and patients and between patients.
• Fomites such as catheters, syringes, and respiratory devices can
transmit nosocomial infections.
• The Control of Nosocomial Infections
• Aseptic techniques can prevent nosocomial infections.
• Hospital infection control staff members are responsible for overseeing the proper
cleaning, storage, and handling of equipment and supplies.
• Emerging Infectious Diseases
• New diseases and diseases with increasing incidences are called emerging infectious
diseases (EIDs).
• EIDs can result from the use of antibiotics and pesticides, climatic changes, travel,
the lack of vaccination, and insufficient case reporting.
• The CDC, NIH, and WHO are responsible for surveillance and responses to emerging
infectious diseases.