Paramedic > Chapter 27 Infectious Diseases > Flashcards

Chapter 27 Infectious Diseases Flashcards

(94 cards)

Study These Flashcards
1
Q

What is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)?

A

The end-stage disease process caused by the human immunodeficiency virus; it results in extreme vulnerability to numerous opportunistic bacterial, viral, and fungal infections that would not affect a person with an intact immune system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are aerosol-generating procedures?

A

Procedures that can increase the number and load of droplets from the patient.

Examples include intubation and suctioning or performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are airborne precautions?

A

Placement of a surgical mask on the patient and the use of airflow measures to prevent airborne transmission; apply to infections that spread through exposure to respiratory droplets composed of small droplets and particles that can travel over long distances, generally 6 feet (2 m) or more, before dropping to the floor.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is airborne transmission?

A

The transmission of an infectious agent by inhalation of small particles that become aerosolized when the infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or exhales; particles can remain suspended in the air for some period and can travel 6 feet (2 m) or more.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is avian (bird) flu?

A

A disease caused by a virus that occurs naturally in the bird population; signs and symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, and muscle aches.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are bacteria?

A

Small organisms that can grow and reproduce outside the human cell in the presence of the appropriate temperature and nutrients; they cause disease by invading and multiplying in the tissues of the host.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is bacterial vaginosis?

A

An overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina, characterized by itching, burning, foul-smelling discharge, or pain, which may be accompanied by a fishy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are bloodborne pathogens?

A

Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans.

These pathogens include, but are not limited to, hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, and syphilis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is candidiasis?

A

A vaginal infection that is not technically a sexually transmitted infection; it can occur in pregnant and nonpregnant females, but is more common in pregnancy; also called thrush or a yeast infection.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who are carriers?

A

People who harbor an infectious agent and, although not personally ill, can pass the disease to others through their blood and through sexual contact.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a chancre?

A

The primary hard lesion or ulcer of syphilis that occurs at the entry site of the infection.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is chancroid?

A

A highly contagious sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Haemophilus ducreyi, which causes painful sores (ulcers), usually of the genitals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is chikungunya?

A

A virus that originated in Africa and is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito; signs and symptoms include fever that typically lasts from 5 to 7 days, and possibly incapacitating joint pain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is chlamydia?

A

A sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, which is the most frequently reported sexually transmitted infection; signs and symptoms include inflammation of the urethra, epididymis, cervix, and fallopian tubes, and discharge from the urethra.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does it mean to be colonized by a pathogen?

A

A pathogen is present but has produced no illness in the host; often progresses to active infection. A colonized host is often called a carrier because the host can transmit the pathogen to others.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a communicable disease?

A

An infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another by direct contact or by indirect contact through a vector or fomite; also called contagious disease.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the communicable period?

A

The period during which an infected person can transmit a communicable disease to someone else.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are contact precautions?

A

The use of precautions (gloves, gown, and cleaning of high-touch items) to prevent contact transmission; used for patients presenting with draining wounds, multidrug-resistant infection, lice, norovirus, or Ebola.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is contact transmission?

A

The transmission of an infectious agent through direct or indirect contact with the infected persons, such as skin-to-skin contact or contact with the patient’s environment and/or equipment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does contaminated mean?

A

The presence of blood or other potentially infectious materials on an item or surface.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is a coronavirus?

A

Any of a group of RNA viruses that cause a variety of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurologic diseases in humans and other animals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is dengue?

A

A virus transmitted by the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, found throughout the world. The majority of people with dengue are asymptomatic; if the severe form develops, it is characterized by hemorrhage, hypovolemic shock, and potentially death.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is a designated infection control officer (DICO)?

A

A person charged with ensuring that proper post-exposure medical treatment and counseling are provided to an exposed employee or volunteer.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are droplet precautions?

A

Use of a surgical mask on the patient and airborne precautions to prevent droplet transmission; used for patients with possible influenza, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, rubella (German measles), Ebola, and COVID-19; also called ‘source control.’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is droplet transmission?
The transmission of an infectious agent through exposure to large and small droplets and particles generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes, which generally travel 6 feet (2 m) or less before falling to the ground.
26
What is Ebola?
A virus formerly limited to West Africa, which is spread through direct contact through nonintact skin or mucous membranes, and whose initial symptoms include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headaches, and sore throat; some infected people experience internal and external bleeding. Both contact and droplet precautions are needed with this disease.
27
What does endemic mean?
Consistently present or prevalent in a population or geographic area.
28
What is Enterococcus?
A common, normal organism of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, and genitourinary tract that can be pathogenic and become resistant to vancomycin.
29
What is an epidemic?
An outbreak of disease that substantially exceeds what is expected based on recent experience.
30
What are fomites?
Inanimate objects contaminated with microorganisms that serve as a means of transmitting an illness.
31
What are fungi?
Small organisms that can grow rapidly in the presence of the needed nutrients and organic material and can cause infection related to contact with decaying organic matter or from airborne spores in the environment such as molds; singular, fungus.
32
What is gastroenteritis?
A term that comprises many types of infections and irritations of the gastrointestinal tract; symptoms include nausea and forceful vomiting, low-grade fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea; also called stomach flu.
33
What are genital warts?
Warts caused by the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted infection; also called condylomata acuminata or venereal warts.
34
What is gonorrhea?
A sexually transmitted infection caused by the gonococcal bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea; signs and symptoms include pus-containing discharge from the urethra and painful urination in males, and signs and symptoms of an acute abdomen in females.
35
What is hantavirus?
A type of virus found in wild rodents, which can also cause disease in humans; characterized by fever, headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Diseases caused include hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
36
What is a health care-associated infection?
An infection acquired 2 days after admission to a health care setting or 30 days after discharge from such a facility.
37
What are high-touch items?
Items that are used to care for the patient or surfaces that are in contact with the patient.
38
What is host resistance?
One's ability to fight off infection.
39
What is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?
The virus that may lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; cells in the immune system are killed or damaged so that the body is unable to fight infections and certain cancers.
40
What is human papillomavirus (HPV)?
The most common sexually transmitted infection, which can cause genital warts and some types of cancer.
41
What is icterus?
Jaundice; the yellow appearance of the skin and other tissues caused by an accumulation of bile pigments.
42
What is immunization?
The process of producing widespread immunity to a specific infectious disease among a targeted group by inoculating individual members of the population; can also refer to a set of vaccinations given together or on a recommended schedule.
43
What is the incubation period?
The period between exposure to an organism and the first symptoms of illness, during which the organism multiplies within the body and starts to produce symptoms.
44
What is infection?
The invasion of a host or host tissue by pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites that produces illness that may or may not have clinical manifestations.
45
What is an infectious disease?
A disease caused by pathogenic organisms.
46
What is infectious hepatitis?
Another name for hepatitis A; an inflammation from a virus that causes mild fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and, eventually, jaundice, dark-colored urine, and pale, clay-colored stools.
47
What is influenza?
The flu; a respiratory infection caused by a variety of viruses. It differs from the common cold in that the flu involves a fever, shaking chills, headache, muscle pain, malaise, and loss of appetite. Respiratory symptoms include dry, often protracted coughing; hoarseness; and nasal discharge.
48
What is jaundice?
The presence of excessive bile pigments in the bloodstream that give the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes a distinct yellow color; often associated with liver disease.
49
What are lice?
Tiny, wingless, parasitic insects that feed on blood; an infestation is easily spread through close personal contact. Types include head, body, and pubic lice.
50
What is Lyme disease?
A tick-borne disease that primarily affects the skin, heart, joints, and nervous system and is characterized by a round, red lesion or bull's-eye rash.
51
What is measles?
An infectious viral disease that occurs most often in late winter and spring. It begins with a fever, conjunctivitis, and coryza (acute rhinitis; an onset of coughing; and a blotchy red rash that spreads from the head to the trunk to the lower extremities. 3 c’s
52
What is meningitis?
An inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord; usually caused by a virus or bacterium. The viral type is not communicable and is less severe than the bacterial type, which can result in brain damage, hearing loss, learning disability, or death.
53
What is meningococcal meningitis?
A type of meningitis caused by the meningococcal bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis.
54
What is Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)?
A disease originating from the Arabian peninsula, transmitted by close contact with camel urine or nasal secretions, milk, or meat. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
55
What is mononucleosis?
Infectious mononucleosis or mono (glandular fever); caused by the Epstein-Barr virus and often called the kissing disease; also spread by coughing or sneezing.
56
What is mumps?
A viral infection that primarily affects the parotid glands, causing swelling in front of the ears.
57
What are needleless systems?
Devices that do not use needles for the collection of body fluids or withdrawal of body fluids after initial venous or arterial access is established.
58
What are opportunistic infections?
Infections in which the invading organism thrives because the immune system has been compromised by illness, chemotherapeutic medications, or antirejection drugs in an organ transplant recipient.
59
What are other potentially infectious materials (OPIM)?
Cerebrospinal fluid, pericardial fluid, amniotic fluid, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, and any fluid containing visible blood.
60
What is a pandemic?
An outbreak of disease that occurs on a global scale.
61
What are parasites?
Organisms living in or on any other living creature; they take advantage of the host by feeding off cells and tissues.
62
What is pertussis?
An acute communicable disease caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium, characterized by a paroxysmal cough that ends in a whooping inspiration; also called whooping cough.
63
What are protozoa?
Single-celled, usually microscopic, eukaryotic organisms such as amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans; a type of parasite.
64
What is rabies?
A fatal infection of the central nervous system caused by a bite from an animal that has been infected with the rabies virus.
65
What is a reservoir in communicable disease?
A place where organisms may live and multiply.
66
What is rubella?
A viral disease similar to measles, best known by the distinctive red rash on the skin; not nearly as infectious or severe as measles.
67
What is scabies?
An infestation of the skin with the mite Sarcoptes scabiei; spreads rapidly with skin-to-skin contact.
68
What is sepsis?
Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.
69
What is septic shock?
Sepsis accompanied by circulatory and cellular/metabolic abnormalities profound enough to substantially increase mortality.
70
What does seropositive mean?
Having a positive blood test for an infectious agent, such as human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis B or C virus.
71
What is serum hepatitis?
Infection with the hepatitis B virus, transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusion, or puncture of the skin with contaminated needles or other contaminated sharp instruments. Signs and symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, general fatigue and malaise, low-grade fever, vague abdominal discomfort, and sometimes aching in the joints; eventually, jaundice occurs.
72
What is severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)?
A potentially life-threatening viral infection that usually starts with flulike symptoms.
73
What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
A group of diseases usually acquired by sexual contact; include gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, scabies, pubic lice, herpes, hepatitis, and human immunodeficiency virus infection.
74
What is a source individual?
Any person, living or dead, whose blood or other potentially infectious materials may be a source of occupational exposure to another person. ## Footnote Examples include hospital and clinic patients, clients in institutions for the developmentally disabled, trauma victims, clients of drug and alcohol treatment facilities, residents of hospices and nursing homes, human remains, and people who donate or sell blood or blood components.
75
What are standard precautions?
The term currently used to describe infection control practices that reduce the opportunity for exposure to occur in the daily care of patients; considers all body substances, except sweat, to present a possible risk. ## Footnote Replaced the older terms 'universal precautions' and 'body substance isolation' in 2005.
76
What is Staphylococcus aureus?
A strain of bacteria that became resistant to the drug methicillin, creating a new strain; symptoms include soft-tissue infections and possibly localized skin abscesses and cellulitis, empyema, and endocarditis.
77
What is syphilis?
A sexually transmitted infection caused by the spiral-shaped bacterium Treponema pallidum; signs and symptoms include an ulcerative lesion or chancre of the skin or mucous membrane at the site of infection, commonly in the genital region.
78
What is tetanus?
A disease caused by spores that enter the body through a puncture wound contaminated with animal feces, street dust, or soil, or through contaminated street drugs; signs and symptoms begin at the wound site, followed by painful muscle contractions in the neck, face, jaw, and trunk muscles.
79
What are transmission-based precautions?
Precautions beyond standard precautions that are designed to interrupt specific disease transmission routes; the three types are airborne, droplet, and contact. ## Footnote Can be used alone or in combination; always used in conjunction with standard precautions.
80
What is trichomoniasis?
A parasitic infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, a single-cell parasite that is transmitted through sexual contact.
81
What is a tuberculin skin test?
A test to determine if a person has ever been infected with tuberculosis.
82
What is tuberculosis (TB)?
An infection that can progress to a disease characterized by a persistent cough lasting longer than 3 weeks plus one or more of the following: night sweats, headache, fever, fatigue, weight loss, hemoptysis, hoarseness, or chest pain.
83
What is a tuberculosis blood test?
Measurement via interferon-gamma release assays of how the immune system reacts to the bacteria that cause tuberculosis; offers accurate results in 24 hours. ## Footnote Also called blood analysis Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
84
What are vaccinations?
Inoculations with a vaccine, usually by injection or inhalation, to bring about immunity to a specific disease in a person.
85
What are vaccines?
The products formulated to bring about immunity by introducing into the body a killed or weakened virus to which the immune system produces antibodies.
86
What is varicella zoster?
A highly contagious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is part of the herpes virus family, and which occurs most often in the winter and early spring; also called chickenpox.
87
What is a vector?
An organism that harbors pathogens that are harmless to the organism but cause disease when transmitted to a human host.
88
What are vesicles?
Tiny fluid-filled sacs; small blisters.
89
What is viral hepatitis?
An inflammation of the liver produced by one of five distinct forms of hepatitis virus - A, B, C, D, and E. The types differ in their mode of transportation but present with the same signs and symptoms
90
What is virulence?
The ability of an organism to invade and create disease in a host; also refers to the ability of an organism to survive outside the living host.
91
What are viruses?
Small organisms that can multiply only inside a host, such as a human, and cause disease.
92
What is the West Nile virus (WNV)?
A type of virus that is transmitted by mosquitos. It usually causes only mild disease in humans but can cause encephalitis, meningitis, and death. ## Footnote Symptoms, if any, include fever, headache, fatigue, weakness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
93
What is Zika?
A type of virus that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito; the majority of infected persons are asymptomatic. Transmission can occur from an infected mother to her fetus, and from an infected male to his sexual partners. ## Footnote Related to onset of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
94
What does zoonotic mean?
Refers to infectious diseases of animals that can be transmitted to humans and cause disease.
Paramedic
flashcards
Decks in class (60)
# Cards
Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2026 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions