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Define Endotoxins
The hypothamalmus raises the body's thermostat in response to pyrogens released by some phagocytic cells (macrophages) after stimulation by microorgansims known as endotoxins.
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Define Antigens:
- Foreign particles, such as microbes, that enter a host.
- In some cases body will recognize the person's own cells as antigens.
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Define Antibodies:
B lymphocytes provide humoral immunity that Convey specific resistance to many bacterial and viral infections.
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Define Complement System:
- A series of proteins found in the bloodstream, also aids in the antigen-antibody Rx.
- Enhances phagocytosis of microbes, helps in lysis of bacterial cell wall, encourages inflammatory response.
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Define Vaccination:
The process of injecting weakened or killed organisms into a person, stimulating antibody production.
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Define Agranulocytes
- Mononuclear cells that lack digestive enzymes.
- Monocytes, which are immature macrophages and lymphocytes are examples of agranulocytes.
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Define Granulocytes
polymorphonuclear cells that contain granules of digestive enzymes. Specific types of granulocyes include neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.
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Define Interferon
A nonspecific chemical inhibitor that is secreted by body cells in response to viral invasion.
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Define Normal Flora
Microorganisms tht live on the skin, in the nasopharynx, in the GI tract and on other body surfaces.
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Define Anaerobes:
- Organisms requireing reduced oxygen for growth are often associated with serious infections.
- Often seen with infections involving a combination of organisms.
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Define Bacterermia
- When bacteria spread through the bloodstream.
- Septicemia is often used as a synonym.
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Define Septicemia
Presence of microorganisms in the bloodstream that are disrupting normal body functions.
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Define Blood poisoning:
Common term for the presence of infectious agents such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus in the blood.
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Define Nosocomial Infection
A hospital acquired, often replaced by a more comprehensive term, Healthcare associated infection (HAI(
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Define Colonization:
The introduction of mircroorganisms onto a body surface where they grow and multiply bud do not invade the body or cause an immune response or symptoms.
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Define Purulent:
As WBC migrate to the infection drainage may be observed (pus)
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Define Leukocytosis
- The number of WBC or Leukocytes, rises in response to infection, tissure necrosis, stess or neoplastic changes in bone marrow.
- A rise in circulating WBC above the normal adult range of 5000 to 10000.
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Define Sepsis
Poisoning of body tissues: usually refers to blood-borne organisms or their toxic products.
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Define Communicable Disease
The causative agent of the disease is transmissible between one person and another
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Define Opportunistic
- Normal flora cause disease under the right circumstances.
- They take advantage o being in the right place at the right time and cause infection especially in clients with compromised immune systems.
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Define Neutropenia
Decrease in the neurophils in the blood, the white blood cells responsible for quick response to invasion by infectious organisms.
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Define Superinfection
A secondary infection that occurs when antibiotices, immuniosuppressions or cancer treatment destroys normal flora.
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Communicable period is
- Incubation Period-Pathogen intrance and appearance of sypmptoms.
- Prodromal Period -Nonspecific symptoms
- Acute Phase - specific symptoms appear
- Convalescent Period - Body returns to normal.
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Define Neutorpenia
Poses a significant risk for infections when the absolute neutrophil count falls to fewer than 1000 cells/mm3.
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