1. Identify the difference between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria Bacteria is a single celled organism, bacteria have evolved to thrive in almost any environment and can be found in almost any substance/surface and also in the human body, only 1% of bacteria is actually harmful. It’s bad or infectious bacteria that cause illness as they rapidly reproduce and produce a toxin that kills or mutates cells, bacteria is also self sufficient. Viruses A virus is a small capsule that contains DNA or RNA, viruses, unlike bacteria are not self sufficient and need a host in order to reproduce I. E a human body.
When a virus enters the body, it enters some certain cells and takes over making the now host cell make the parts the virus needs to reproduce, the cells are eventually destroyed through this process. The most common viruses is the common cold, which has no cure. Fungi Mould, yeast and mushrooms are all types of Fungi. Fungi live in the air, water, soil and on plants and they can live in the body, usually without causing illness. Some fungi have beneficial uses. For example, penicillin. Fungi are also essential in making certain foods, such as bread and cheese.
Certain types of Fungi can cause illness such as Candida which is a yeast that can cause infections such as thrush. Parasites A parasite is a tiny organism that lives in or on a host (A body) which they use in order to feed. Parasites can cause severe illness’s, there are 3 main types of parasites: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. 2. Illnesses/infections caused by bacteria: Salmonellosis, tuberculosis, MRSA, coccidiosis, food poisoning, dysentery, bronchitis, ear infections, strep throat/tonsilitis, pneumonia, gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia Viruses: Influenza, common cold, stomach flu, pneumonia, ear infections, HIV/AIDS, herpes, warts, dengue, West Nile Virus, encephalitis Fungi: Valley fever, athlete’s foot, ringworm, yeast infection Parasites:
Worms, schistosomiasis, malaria, sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis), leishmaniasis 3. Colonisation occurs whenever any one or more species populate an area and infection is the invasion of body tissues by disease-causing microorganisms, their multiplication and the reaction of body tissues to these microorganisms and the toxins that they produce. 4. A localised infections is an infections that is limited to a specific body part or region. A systemic infection is the opposite.
That’s when the patogen is distributed throughout the whole body. 5.not washing your hands, not wearing PPE, not storing or cooking foods properly, not cleaning your surroundings, not covering your nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing. Outcome 2 1. Most micro-organisms need most of the things you and I need to flourish and grow – moisture, warmth and a source of nutrition – some (usually the most dangerous such as those responsible for some types of gangrene) can do without oxygen (anaerobic bacteria). They need a mode of spread (usually the unwashed or poorly washed hands of people or badly cleaned equipment/facilities or badly stored food) and a vulnerable person to invade. 2.
Mouth, lungs, cuts, contact with skin or any other external organs such as eyes, entry via any orifice (ears, urinary tract, anus, nose, vagina) and mixing of bodily fluids 3. Common sources of infection include food, water, sick people (colds and flu or winter vomiting virus), animals and poor housing (invaded with pests such as rats and mice or damp and mouldy).
4. The term usually refers to the transmission of microorganisms directly from one person to another by one or more of the following means: droplet contact – coughing or sneezing on another person direct physical contact – touching an infected person, including sexual contact indirect physical contact – usually by touching soil contamination or a contaminated surface airborne transmission – if the microorganism can remain in the air for long periods fecal-oral transmission – usually from contaminated food or water sources.
Transmission can also be indirect, via another organism, either a vector (e. g. a mosquito) or an intermediate host (e. g. tapeworm in pigs can be transmitted to humans who ingest improperly cooked pork). Indirect transmission could involve zoonoses or, more typically, larger pathogens like macroparasites with more complex life cycles. 5.
An infection is more likely to occur when a person has a low immunity or is on long term antibiotic therapy. Poor hygiene when treating wounds or dealing with personal care can aid the transmission of infection. Some of the factors that make it more likely that an infection will occur include proximity to others (either infected or uninfected people), dirty and/or contaminated areas, equipment or laundry, and contact with body fluids. How Infections Start and Spread Infections are started by tiny bacterial or viral microorganisms that have somehow found their way into your body.
Most likely it came from an open sore or incision made by surgery. When these microorganisms get into your bloodstream or body, they find cells to attach to. This happens with a lock-and-key type of connection that occurs between the surfaces of the infectious microorganisms and your cells. Once there is a connection, an infection can start via multiplication. For the infection to continue, the microorganisms produce at a faster rate than the body’s immune system can handle or it produces at a static rate that makes an infection chronic. If your body is able to, it can fight off the infections on its own and keep them from spreading.