Infection

Jump to navigation Jump to search

WikiDoc Resources for Infection

Articles

Most recent articles on Infection

Most cited articles on Infection

Review articles on Infection

Articles on Infection in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Infection

Images of Infection

Photos of Infection

Podcasts & MP3s on Infection

Videos on Infection

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Infection

Bandolier on Infection

TRIP on Infection

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Infection at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Infection

Clinical Trials on Infection at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Infection

NICE Guidance on Infection

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Infection

CDC on Infection

Books

Books on Infection

News

Infection in the news

Be alerted to news on Infection

News trends on Infection

Commentary

Blogs on Infection

Definitions

Definitions of Infection

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Infection

Discussion groups on Infection

Patient Handouts on Infection

Directions to Hospitals Treating Infection

Risk calculators and risk factors for Infection

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Infection

Causes & Risk Factors for Infection

Diagnostic studies for Infection

Treatment of Infection

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Infection

International

Infection en Espanol

Infection en Francais

Business

Infection in the Marketplace

Patents on Infection

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Infection

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]


See also Infectious disease

Overview

An infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In an infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host's resources to multiply (usually at the expense of the host). The infecting organism, or pathogen, interferes with the normal functioning of the host and can lead to chronic wounds, gangrene, loss of an infected limb, and even death. The host's response to infection is inflammation. Colloquially, a pathogen is usually considered a microscopic organism though the definition is broader, including feces, parasites, fungi, viruses, prions, and viroids. A symbiosis between parasite and host, whereby the relationship is beneficial for the former but detrimental to the latter, is characterised as parasitism. The branch of medicine that focuses on infections and pathogens is infectious disease.

A secondary infection is an infection that occurs during or following treatment of another already existing primary infection.

Colonization

Wound colonization refers to nonreplicating microorganisms within the wound, while in infected wounds replicating organisms exist and tissue is injured. All multicellular organisms are colonized to some degree by extrinsic organisms, and the vast majority of these exist in either a mutualistic or commensal relationship with the host. An example of the former would be the anaerobic bacteria species which colonize the mammalian colon, and an example of the latter would be the various species of staphylococcus which exist on human skin. Neither of these colonizations would be considered infections. The difference between an infection and a colonization is often only a matter of circumstance. Organisms which are normally non-pathogenic can become pathogenic under the right conditions, and even the most virulent organism requires certain circumstances to cause a compromising infection. Some colonizing bacteria, such as Corynebacteria sp. and viridans streptococci, prevent the adhesion and colonization of pathogenic bacteria and thus have a symbiotic relationship with the host, preventing infection and speeding wound healing.

The variables involved in the outcome of a host becoming inoculated by a pathogen and the ultimate outcome include:

  • the route of entry of the pathogen and the access to host regions that it gains
  • the intrinsic virulence of the particular organism
  • the quantity or load of the initial inoculant
  • the immune status of the host being colonized

As an example, the staphylococcus species present on skin remain harmless on the skin, but, when present in a normally sterile space, such as in the capsule of a joint or the peritoneum, will multiply without resistance and create a huge burden on the host.

Occult infection

An occult infection is medical terminology for a "hidden" infection, that is, one which presents no symptoms. Dr. Fran Giampietro discovered this type, and coined the term "occult infection" in the late 1930s.

Identification

Scientists at Sheffield University have identified a way of using light to rapidly detect the presence of bacteria in a wound. They are developing a portable kit in which specially designed molecules emit a light signal when bound to bacteria. Current laboratory-based detection of bacteria can take hours or even days.[1]

Causes

Drug Side Effect

See also

References

  1. "Light to detect wound infection" (web). UK scientists have identified a way of using light to rapidly detect the presence of bacteria. BBC News. 11 March 2007. Text " accessdate : December 13, 2007 " ignored (help)

Template:Pathology



ar: عدوى da:Infektion de:Infektion cs:Infekční onemocnění eo:Infekto eu:Infekzio he:זיהום (רפואה) it:Infezione lv:Infekcija lt:Infekcija la:Infectio nl:Infectie simple:Infection fi:Infektio yi:אינפעקציע


Template:WikiDoc Sources