Term
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Definition
- Streptococcus A infections (group A strep)
- Bacteria
- Transmission: Direct person-person contact, resp. droplets
- TX: Antibiotics (no vaccine)
- Many people carry group A in their throats and on the skin with no problems ever associated with the bacteria. It can cause pharyngitis, impetigo, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, puerperal fever, pneumonia, glomerulonephritis, and wound infections. Some invasive group A strep strain can cause necrotizing fasciitis ("flesh-eating disease") or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The bacteria causing these strep infections are often referred to as beta hemolytic group A strep.
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Term
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Definition
- Streptococcus B infection (group B strep)
- Bacteria
- TX: Antibiotics (no vaccine)
- Transmission: Maternal- Fetal
- DIagnostics: During gestational weeks 35- 37
- Its a normal part of many people's intestinal and urogenital flora. Typed under beta-hemolytic streptococci. In most people it causes no problems, for those who have are termed "colonized". Less than 50% of pregnant females are colonized; for those who are, the bacterium can be passed to the child during delivery and can cause life-threatening blood infections and meningitis. It can also cause UTIs in women, as well as serious and potentially fatal blood infections and pneumonia. Almost all babies born to colonized mothers suffer no ill effects (if mom is tx w/antibiotics during labor), but some babies can suffer from 2 types of group B infections: early onset (6hrs-1weeks of birth) and late onset (less common and acquired after more than1 week after birth & its more often from carries other than the mom)
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Term
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Definition
- Streptococcus Pneumonia (a.ka. Pneumococcus)
- Bacteria
- Transmission: Resp. droplets
- Vaccine: PCV for infants, PPV for kids over 2 yrs. and adults
- Its an alpha hemolytic species of strep bacteria. Can cause many pneumonia that can be fetal in infants, elderly ppl, immune compromised pt. It can cause many cases of otis media in kids, meningitis, sinusitis, as well as blood, bone, and joint infections.
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Term
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Definition
- Syphilis (bacterial STD)
- TX: Antibiotics
- Caused by a spirochete bacterial infection. Primary stage (10-90 days after infection) is characterized by a painless "chancre" that can last from 4-6 weeks. Secondary syphilis (months after initial infection) is characterized by a generalized non-itchy body rash that can affect the palms and soles of feet, these symptoms can last from 2-4 weeks. Ppl are most infectious during secondary syphilis. Some ppl are asymptomatic during primary and secondary syphilis, but is when ppl are most easily tx w/antibiotics. Unborn babies infected during primary and secondary syphilis are often stillborn. Latent syphilis is entered after untreated 2nd. stage and it usually lasts 1-10yrs. Tertiary syphilis causes an immune response by the body that produces small tumor-like "gummas", which can damage any part of the body in which they develop. Antibiotic tx is more difficult and organ damage is permanent. Unborn children during latent stage can develop congenital syphilis as newborns and die if infection is untreated.
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Term
| Taenia saginata (beef), T. solium (pork), Diphyllobothriumlatum (fish), Hymenolepis nana (human dwarf tapeworm), H. diminuta (rodents), Echinococcus granulosus (dog) |
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Definition
- Tapeworms (flatworm)
- Transmission: Fecal-oral
- Tx: oral meds
- Tapeworm infestations in humans are primarily a benign invasion of parasites that inhibit the intestines due to eating undercooked beef, pork, or fish. The pork tapeworm has been known to cause cystocercosis. Eggs ingested directly can develop into larvae that can migrate anywhere in the body. Humans are the dead end intermediate hosts for the dog tapeworm.
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Term
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Definition
- Teranus (a.k.a lockjaw)
- Bacteria
- Transmission: Wound contamination
- TX: Antibiotics, supportive therapy
- Vaccine: DTaP or Tdap, DT, Td
- Anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria that produces a neurotoxin that causes the skeletal muscles to continuously contact and spasm. The toxin is often fatal.
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Term
| Staphylococcus Aureus (Toxic Shock Syndrome) and/or Streptococcus Pyogenes (Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome or Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome) |
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Definition
- Toxic Shock Syndrome
- Bacteria
- Transmission: surgical incisions and wounds of the skin; tampons
- TX: antibiotics, supportive care
- Staph. aureus and strep. pyogenes in the upper resp. tract, on the skin, and in the vagina are most commonly the cause of TSS. Yet only certain strains of these bacteria cause the illness, and many infected or colonized ppl never get TSS or STSS. TSS occurs 2-3 days after the infection starts, pt will develop a sun burn- like rash that covers the body and will eventually peel: signs of shock will continue, which can lead to death. Infection can reoccur, but usually in a more mild form. STSS occurs w/in a couple of days of a strep infection, when there is a wound infection that hasn't been cleaned, and where dead flesh isn't removed from the wound. A blotchy rash that may peel can appear.
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Term
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Definition
- Toxoplasmosis
- Protozoan
- Transmission: Ingestion of cysts
- Typically occurs when ppl ingest undercooked meats, or when they are in contact w/ cat feces or contaminated water. Most ppl that become infected don't show signs/symptoms. It can become a latent infection w/cysts harbored in your muscles or nervous tissue.
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Term
| Escherichia Coli and several other bacteria |
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Definition
- Traveler's Diarrhea
- Transmission: Fecal-oral
- TX: Pepto-Bismol
- Most strains when accidentally ingested cause no problems but there are several strains like O157:H7 that are associated w/traveler's diarrhea, which is a major food-borne pathogen that in some cases can lead to death.The most common cause of Traveler's diarrhea is due to enterotoxigenic strains of E. Coli (ETEC) that produce toxins that affect the intestines. resulting in loose or watery bowel movements.
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Term
| Trichinella Spiralis and other species |
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Definition
- Trichinella (trichinosis)
- Nematode (roundworm)
- Transmission: Food-borne
- TX: Meds. for adult worms, nothing for cysts embedded in the muscles
- Zoonotic infection. Adult worms mate and die in the large intestine but their offspring enter the lymphatic system and travel through the circulatory system to all parts of the body. The larvae curl up and themselves in a capsule (making a cyst) in the muscles of the host.
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Term
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Definition
- Trichomoniasis
- Protozoan
- STD
- Causes unpleasant signs and symptoms, particularly in females. It's not a serious disease. Many ppl are asymptomatic. Can cause premature deliveries in infected women. Can cause inflammation of he reproductive and urinary tract organs.
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Term
| Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (in rare cases from Mycobacterium Bovis in unpasteurized milk) |
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Definition
- Tuberculosis
- Bacteria
- Transmission: Resp. droplets
- Vaccine: BCG
- TX: Antibiotics
- Known historically as consumption and the white plague. Currently the leading bacterial c.o.d in the world. An estimated 2 billion ppl around the world are infected with the TB bacterium. It invades the alveolar macrophages of the lungs and can spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system, When it enters the circulatory system can cause what is called "miliary" or disseminated TB, which can affect the bones, joints, nervous system, and genitourinary system. BCG vaccine is typically given in other countries of the world, it causes false (+) TB skin test results and it doesn't prevent infection in most adults.
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