LUSAKA APEX MEDICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY SCIENCES (FNMS)

DIPLOMA NURSING JANUARY 2016 INTAKE

SOURCES OF INFECTION
MODE OF ENTRY/TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION
BODY REACTION TO INFECTION

Dr Simpokolwe K.
Infection is the invasion of an organism's
body tissues by disease-causing agents,
their multiplication, and the reaction of
host tissues to these organisms and
the toxins they produce.
MAJOR TYPES OF PATHOGENS
 DEFINITION OF TERMS

1. Primary infection: Initial infection with

organism in host.
2. Re-infection: Subsequent infection by same
organism in a host (after recovery).
3. Superinfection: Infection by same organism
in a host before recovery.
4. Secondary infection: When in a host whose
resistance is lowered by preexisting
infectious disease, a new organism may set
up infection.
5. Focal infection: It is a condition where due to
infection at a localized site e.g tonsil, general
effects are produced.

6. Cross infection: is the transmission of an

infectious agent from one person to another
because of a poor barrier protection as in
patients and immunocompromised hosts.
 SOURCES OF INFECTION
• There are 6 sources of infection and these include:

1. MAN

2. ANIMALS

3. INSECTS

4. SOIL

5. WATER

6. FOOD
 SOURCES OF INFECTION

1.MAN- man can also be a source of infection

for fellow man, as some diseases can be
transmitted from one person to another. E.g
HIV, Influenza, Syphilis
2. ANIMALS: Infectious diseases transmitted
from animals to man are called zoonoses. A
Zoonosis may be:
a) Plague from rat
b) Rabies from dog
c) Leishmaniasis from dogs
3. INSECTS: The diseases caused by insects
are called arthropod borne diseases.
Insects like mosquitoes, fleas, lice that
transmit infection are called vectors.
Transmission may be:
a) Mechanical -(e.g transmission of Dysentery
by housefly). A mechanical vector in this case
is a House fly.
b) Biological - if pathogen multiplies in the body
of vector (e.g. Anopheles mosquito in
Malaria). The biological vector in this case is
the mosquito.
4. SOIL: e.g Spores of tetanus bacilli, Gas-
gangrene infection remain viable in soil
for a long time.

Clostridium tetani
5. WATER: E.g Vibrio cholerae,
infective hepatitis virus
(Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E)
may be found water.

6. FOOD: Presence of
pathogens in food may be
due to external
contamination, (e.g. food
poisoning by
Staphylococcus).
 ROUTES OF ENTRY FOR INVADING PATHOGENS
Ear

Broken
skin

Insect Conjunctiva
bite of eye

Nose

Mouth

Placenta

Vagina
Anus In males:
Penis

Urethra
 PORTALS OF ENTRY

– Sites through which pathogens enter the body

– Four major pathways
1. SKIN
2. MUCOUS MEMBRANES
3. PLACENTA
4. PARENTERAL ROUTE
1. SKIN
• Outer layer of dead skin cells acts as a barrier to
pathogens.

• Some pathogens can enter through openings

or cuts .

• Others burrow into or digest outer layers of skin.

2. MUCOUS MEMBRANES

• Line the body cavities that are open to the environment.

• Provide a moist, warm environment hospitable to pathogens .

• Respiratory tract is the most common site of entry

– Entry is through the nose, mouth, or eyes

• Gastrointestinal tract may be route of entry

– Must survive the acidic pH of the stomach
3. PLACENTA
• Typically forms effective barrier to pathogens.

• Pathogens may cross the placenta and infect the

fetus
– Can cause spontaneous abortion, birth defects,
premature birth
4. PARENTERAL ROUTE
• Not a true portal of entry.

• Means by which the portal of entry can be

circumvented.

• Pathogens deposited directly into tissues beneath

the skin or mucous membranes.
 MODE OF TRANSMISSION OF INFECTION

1. Contact (sexual
intercourse): e.g
syphilis, gonorrhea.

2. Inhalation: e.g
influenza,
tuberculosis,
smallpox, measles,
mumps.
3. INGESTION: e.g cholera (water), food
poisoning (food).

4. INOCULATION/TRAUMA: e.g tetanus (infection),

rabies (dog).
5. CONGENITAL: e.g
syphilis, rubella,
toxoplasmosis.

Eight week old fetus attached

to its placenta by the umbilical
cord
6. INSECTS: They act as
mechanical vector
(dysentery by housefly) or
biological vector (malaria) of
infectious disease.
7. IATROGENIC : infection may
be transmitted during
procedures
The Body’s Defense’s against Disease-Causing Pathogens
 FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE

• Non-specific defenses are designed to

prevent infections by viruses and bacteria.
These include:
– Intact skin
– Mucus and Cilia
– Phagocytes
 SKIN

• Dead skin cells are

constantly sloughed
off, making it hard for
invading bacteria to
colonize.
• Sweat and oils contain
anti-microbial
chemicals, including
some antimicrobial
substances.
 MUCUS AND CILIA

• Mucus contains lysozymes,

enzymes that destroy
bacterial cell walls.
• The normal flow of mucus
washes bacteria and viruses
off of mucus membranes.
• Cilia in the respiratory tract
move mucus out of the lungs
to keep bacteria and viruses
out.
 PHAGOCYTES

• Phagocytes are several types

of white blood cells
(including macrophages and
neutrophils) that seek and
destroy invading pathogens.
Some also destroy damaged
body cells.
• Phagocytes are attracted by
an inflammatory response of
damaged cells.
 INFLAMMATION

• Inflammation is signaled by mast cells, which

release histamine.
• Histamine causes fluids to collect around an
injury to dilute toxins. This causes swelling.
• The temperature of the tissues may rise,
which can kill temperature-sensitive
microbes.
 SYMPTOMS OF INFLAMATION

REDNESS (RUBOR)……dilatation of blood vessels.

HEAT (CALOR) ……Increase in temperature (hyperaemia).

SWELLING (TUMOR) …….increased extravascular fluid.

PAIN (DOLOR) ……activation of afferents by mediators.

LOSS OF FUNCTION …..Movement is inhibited by pain

DEFENSE AGAINST DISEASE-SUMMARY

Nonspecific External Barriers

skin, mucous membranes

If these barriers are penetrated,

the body responds with

Innate Immune Response

phagocytic and natural killer cells,
inflammation, fever

If the innate immune response is insufficient,

the body responds with

Adaptive Immune Response

cell-mediated immunity, humoral immunity