Appendix: Tables
| Metric Unit | Meaning of Prefix | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| meter (m) | — | 1 m = 100 cm |
| decimeter (dm) | 1/10 | 1 dm = 0.1 m = 10−1 m |
| centimeter (cm) | 1/100 | 1 cm = 0.01 m = 10−2 m |
| millimeter (mm) | 1/1000 | 1 mm = 0.001 m = 10−3 m |
| micrometer (μm) | 1/1,000,000 | 1 μm = 0.000001 m = 10−6 m |
| nanometer (nm) | 1/1,000,000,000 | 1 nm = 0.000000001 m = 10−9 m |
| Type | Population A | Population B |
|---|---|---|
| Mutualism | Benefitted | Benefitted |
| Amensalism | Harmed | Unaffected |
| Commensalism | Benefitted | Unaffected |
| Neutralism | Unaffected | Unaffected |
| Parasitism | Benefitted | Harmed |
| Supergroup | Subgroups | Distinguishing Features | Examples | Clinical Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavata | Fornicata | Form cysts Pair of equal nuclei No mitochondria Often parasitic Four free flagella |
Giardia lamblia | Giardiasis |
| Parabasalids | No mitochondria Four free flagella One attached flagellum No cysts Parasitic or symbiotic Basal bodies Kinetoplastids |
Trichomonas | Trichomoniasis | |
| Euglenozoans | Photosynthetic or heterotrophic Flagella |
Euglena | N/a | |
| Trypansoma | African sleeping sickness, Chagas disease |
|||
| Leishmania | Leishmaniasis | |||
| Chromalveolata | Dinoflagellates | Cellulose theca Two dissimilar flagella |
Gonyaulax | Red tides |
| Alexandrium | Paralytic shellfish poisoning | |||
| Pfiesteria | Harmful algal blooms | |||
| Apicomplexans | Intracellular parasite Apical organelles |
Plasmodium | Malaria | |
| Cryptosporidium | Cryptosporidiosis | |||
| Theileria (Babesia) | Babesiosis | |||
| Toxoplasma | Toxoplasmosis | |||
| Ciliates | Cilia | Balantidium | Balantidiasis | |
| Paramecium | N/a | |||
| Stentor | N/a | |||
| Oomycetes/ peronosporomycetes |
“Water molds” Generally diploid Cellulose cell walls |
Phytophthora | Diseases in crops | |
| Rhizaria | Foraminifera | Amoeboid Threadlike pseudopodia Calcium carbonate shells |
Astrolonche | N/a |
| Radiolaria | Amoeboid Threadlike pseudopodia Silica shells |
Actinomma | N/a | |
| Cercozoa | Amoeboid Threadlike pseudopodia Complex shells Parasitic forms |
Spongospora subterranea | Powdery scab (potato disease) |
|
| Plasmodiophora brassicae | Cabbage clubroot | |||
| Archaeplastida | Red algae | Chlorophyll a Phycoerythrin Phycocyanin Floridean starch Agar in cell walls |
Gelidium | Source of agar |
| Gracilaria | Source of agar | |||
| Chlorophytes | Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b Cellulose cell walls Starch storage |
Acetabularia | N/a | |
| Ulva | N/a | |||
| Amoebozoa | Slime molds | Plasmodial and cellular forms | Dictyostelium | N/a |
| Entamoebas | Trophozoites Form cysts |
Entamoeba | Amoebiasis | |
| Naegleria | Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis | |||
| Acanthamoeba | Keratitis, granulomatous amoebic encephalitis | |||
| Opisthokonta | Fungi | Chitin cell walls Unicellular or multicellular Often hyphae |
Zygomycetes | Zygomycosis |
| Ascomycetes | Candidiasis | |||
| Basidiomycetes | Cryptococcosis | |||
| Microsporidia | Microsporidiosis | |||
| Animals | Multicellular heterotrophs No cell walls |
Nematoda | Trichinosis; hookworm and pinworm infections | |
| Trematoda | Schistosomiasis | |||
| Cestoda | Tapeworm infections |
| Group | Characteristics | Examples | Medically Important Species | Organism |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascomycota | Septate hyphae Ascus with ascospores in ascocarp Conidiospores |
Cup fungi Edible mushrooms Morels Truffles Neurospora Penicillium |
Aspergillus spp. Trichophyton spp. Microsporum spp. Epidermophyton spp. Blastomyces dermatitidis Histoplasma capsulatum |
Aspergillus niger |
| Basidiomycota | Basidia produce basidiospores in a basidiocarp | Club fungi Rusts Stinkhorns Puffballs Mushrooms Cryptococcus neoformans Amanita phalloides |
Crytococcus neoformans | Amanita phalloides |
| Microsporidia | Lack mitochondria, perioxisomes, centrioles Spores produce a polar tube |
Enterocystozoan bieneusi | Enterocystozoan bieneusi | Microsporidia |
| Zygomycota | Mainly saprophytes Coenocytic hyphae Haploid nuclei Zygospores |
Rhizopus stolonifera | Mucor spp. | Rhizopus sp. |
| Characteristics |
|---|
| Infectious, acellular pathogens |
| Obligate intracellular parasites with host and cell-type specificity |
| DNA or RNA genome (never both) |
| Genome is surrounded by a protein capsid and, in some cases, a phospholipid membrane studded with viral glycoproteins |
| Lack genes for many products needed for successful reproduction, requiring exploitation of host-cell genomes to reproduce |
| Recombinant DNA Product | Application |
|---|---|
| Atrial natriuretic peptide | Treatment of heart disease (e.g., congestive heart failure), kidney disease, high blood pressure |
| DNase | Treatment of viscous lung secretions in cystic fibrosis |
| Erythropoietin | Treatment of severe anemia with kidney damage |
| Factor VIII | Treatment of hemophilia |
| Hepatitis B vaccine | Prevention of hepatitis B infection |
| Human growth hormone | Treatment of growth hormone deficiency, Turner’s syndrome, burns |
| Human insulin | Treatment of diabetes |
| Interferons | Treatment of multiple sclerosis, various cancers (e.g., melanoma), viral infections (e.g., Hepatitis B and C) |
| Tetracenomycins | Used as antibiotics |
| Tissue plasminogen activator | Treatment of pulmonary embolism in ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction |
| Biological Safety Levels | Description | Examples | CDC Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| BSL-4 | Microbes are dangerous and exotic, posing a high risk of aerosol-transmitted infections, which are frequently fatal without treatment or vaccines. Few labs are at this level. | Ebola and Marburg viruses | Maximum |
| BSL-3 | Microbes are indigenous or exotic and cause serious or potentially lethal diseases through respiratory transmission. | Mycobacterium tuberculosis | High |
| BSL-2 | Microbes are typically indigenous and are associated with diseases of varying severity. They pose moderate risk to workers and the environment. | Staphylococcus aureus | Moderate |
| BSL-1 | Microbes are not known to cause disease in healthy hosts and pose minimal risk to workers and the environment. | Nonpathogenic strains of Escherichia coli | Low |
| Protocol | Definition | Common Application | Common Agents |
|---|---|---|---|
| For Use on Fomites | |||
| Disinfection | Reduces or destroys microbial load of an inanimate item through application of heat or antimicrobial chemicals | Cleaning surfaces like laboratory benches, clinical surfaces, and bathrooms | Chlorine bleach, phenols (e.g., Lysol), glutaraldehyde |
| Sanitization | Reduces microbial load of an inanimate item to safe public health levels through application of heat or antimicrobial chemicals | Commercial dishwashing of eating utensils, cleaning public restrooms | Detergents containing phosphates (e.g., Finish), industrial-strength cleaners containing quaternary ammonium compounds |
| Sterilization | Completely eliminates all vegetative cells, endospores, and viruses from an inanimate item | Preparation of surgical equipment and of needles used for injection | Pressurized steam (autoclave), chemicals, radiation |
| For Use on Living Tissue | |||
| Antisepsis | Reduces microbial load on skin or tissue through application of an antimicrobial chemical | Cleaning skin broken due to injury; cleaning skin before surgery | Boric acid, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine (betadine) |
| Degerming | Reduces microbial load on skin or tissue through gentle to firm scrubbing and the use of mild chemicals | Handwashing | Soap, alcohol swab |
| Mode of Action | Target | Drug Class |
|---|---|---|
| Inhibit cell wall biosynthesis | Penicillin-binding proteins | β-lactams: penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems |
| Peptidoglycan subunits | Glycopeptides | |
| Peptidoglycan subunit transport | Bacitracin | |
| Inhibit biosynthesis of proteins | 30S ribosomal subunit | Aminoglycosides, tetracyclines |
| 50S ribosomal subunit | Macrolides, lincosamides, chloramphenicol, oxazolidinones | |
| Disrupt membranes | Lipopolysaccharide, inner and outer membranes | Polymyxin B, colistin, daptomycin |
| Inhibit nucleic acid synthesis | RNA | Rifamycin |
| DNA | Fluoroquinolones | |
| Antimetabolites | Folic acid synthesis enzyme | Sulfonamides, trimethoprim |
| Mycolic acid synthesis enzyme | Isonicotinic acid hydrazide | |
| Mycobacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase inhibitor | Mycobacterial ATP synthase | Diarylquinoline |
| Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Natural or Semisynthetic | Spectrum of Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interact directly with PBPs and inhibit transpeptidase activity | Penicillins | Penicillin G, penicillin V | Natural | Narrow-spectrum against gram-positive and a few gram-negative bacteria |
| Ampicillin, amoxicillin | Semisynthetic | Narrow-spectrum against gram-positive bacteria but with increased gram-negative spectrum | ||
| Methicillin | Semisynthetic | Narrow-spectrum against gram-positive bacteria only, including strains producing penicillinase | ||
| Cephalosporins | Cephalosporin C | Natural | Narrow-spectrum similar to penicillin but with increased gram-negative spectrum | |
| First-generation cephalosporins | Semisynthetic | Narrow-spectrum similar to cephalosporin C | ||
| Second-generation cephalosporins | Semisynthetic | Narrow-spectrum but with increased gram-negative spectrum compared with first generation | ||
| Third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins | Semisynthetic | Broad-spectrum against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including some β-lactamase producers | ||
| Fifth-generation cephalosporins | Semisynthetic | Broad-spectrum against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including MRSA | ||
| Monobactams | Aztreonam | Semisynthetic | Narrow-spectrum against gram-negative bacteria, including some β-lactamase producers | |
| Carbapenems | Imipenem, meropenem, doripenem | Semisynthetic | Broadest spectrum of the β-lactams against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including many β-lactamase producers | |
| Large molecules that bind to the peptide chain of peptidoglycan subunits, blocking transglycosylation and transpeptidation | Glycopeptides | Vancomycin | Natural | Narrow spectrum against gram-positive bacteria only, including multidrug-resistant strains |
| Block transport of peptidoglycan subunits across cytoplasmic membrane | Bacitracin | Bacitracin | Natural | Broad-spectrum against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria |
| Molecular Target | Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Bacteriostatic or Bactericidal | Spectrum of Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30S subunit | Causes mismatches between codons and anticodons, leading to faulty proteins that insert into and disrupt cytoplasmic membrane | Aminoglycosides | Streptomycin, gentamicin, neomycin, kanamycin | Bactericidal | Broad spectrum |
| Blocks association of tRNAs with ribosome | Tetracyclines | Tetracycline, doxycycline, tigecycline | Bacteriostatic | Broad spectrum | |
| 50S subunit | Blocks peptide bond formation between amino acids | Macrolides | Erythromycin, azithromycin, telithromycin | Bacteriostatic | Broad spectrum |
| Lincosamides | Lincomycin, clindamycin | Bacteriostatic | Narrow spectrum | ||
| Not applicable | Chloramphenicol | Bacteriostatic | Broad spectrum | ||
| Interferes with the formation of the initiation complex between 50S and 30S subunits and other factors | Oxazolidinones | Linezolid | Bacteriostatic | Broad spectrum |
| Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Spectrum of Activity | Clinical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interacts with lipopolysaccharide in the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, killing the cell through the eventual disruption of the outer membrane and cytoplasmic membrane | Polymyxins | Polymyxin B | Narrow spectrum against gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains | Topical preparations to prevent infections in wounds |
| Polymyxin E (colistin) | Narrow spectrum against gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains | Oral dosing to decontaminate bowels to prevent infections in immunocompromised patients or patients undergoing invasive surgery/procedures. Intravenous dosing to treat serious systemic infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens |
||
| Inserts into the cytoplasmic membrane of gram-positive bacteria, disrupting the membrane and killing the cell | Lipopeptide | Daptomycin | Narrow spectrum against gram-positive bacteria, including | Complicated skin and skin-structure infections and bacteremia caused by gram-positive pathogens, including MRSA |
| Mechanisms of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Spectrum of Activity | Clinical Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase activity and blocks transcription, killing the cell | Rifamycin | Rifampin | Narrow spectrum with activity against gram-positive and limited numbers of gram-negative bacteria. Also active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. | Combination therapy for treatment of tuberculosis |
| Inhibits the activity of DNA gyrase and blocks DNA replication, killing the cell | Fluoroquinolones | Ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin | Broad spectrum against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria | Wide variety of skin and systemic infections |
| Metabolic Pathway Target | Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Spectrum of Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Folic acid synthesis | Inhibits the enzyme involved in production of dihydrofolic acid | Sulfonamides | Sulfamethoxazole | Broad spectrum against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria |
| Sulfones | Dapsone | |||
| Inhibits the enzyme involved in the production of tetrahydrofolic acid | Not applicable | Trimethoprim | Broad spectrum against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria |
| Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Clinical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inhibit ergosterol synthesis | Imidazoles | Miconazole, ketoconazole, clotrimazole | Fungal skin infections and vaginal yeast infections |
| Triazoles | Fluconazole | Systemic yeast infections, oral thrush, and cryptococcal meningitis | |
| Allylamines | Terbinafine | Dermatophytic skin infections (athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch), and infections of fingernails and toenails | |
| Bind ergosterol in the cell membrane and create pores that disrupt the membrane | Polyenes | Nystatin | Used topically for yeast infections of skin, mouth, and vagina; also used for fungal infections of the intestine |
| Amphotericin B | Variety of systemic fungal infections | ||
| Inhibit cell wall synthesis | Echinocandins | Caspofungin | Aspergillosis and systemic yeast infections |
| Not applicable | Nikkomycin Z | Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) and yeast infections | |
| Inhibit microtubules and cell division | Not applicable | Griseofulvin | Dermatophytic skin infections |
| Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Clinical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inhibit electron transport in mitochondria | Naphthoquinone | Atovaquone | Malaria, babesiosis, and toxoplasmosis |
| Inhibit folic acid synthesis | Not applicable | Proguanil | Combination therapy with atovaquone for malaria treatment and prevention |
| Sulfonamide | Sulfadiazine | Malaria and toxoplasmosis | |
| Not applicable | Pyrimethamine | Combination therapy with sulfadoxine (sulfa drug) for malaria | |
| Produces damaging reactive oxygen species | Not applicable | Artemisinin | Combination therapy to treat malaria |
| Inhibit DNA synthesis | Nitroimidazoles | Metronidazole, tinidazole | Infections caused by Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, and Trichomonas vaginalis |
| Not applicable | Pentamidine | African sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis | |
| Inhibit heme detoxification | Quinolines | Chloroquine | Malaria and infections with E. histolytica |
| Mepacrine, mefloquine | Malaria |
| Mechanism of Action | Drug Class | Specific Drugs | Clinical Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inhibit microtubule formation, reducing glucose uptake | Benzimidazoles | Mebendazole, albendazole | Variety of helminth infections |
| Block neuronal transmission, causing paralysis and starvation | Avermectins | Ivermectin | Roundworm diseases, including river blindness and strongyloidiasis, and treatment of parasitic insects |
| Inhibit ATP production | Not applicable | Niclosamide | Intestinal tapeworm infections |
| Induce calcium influx | Not applicable | Praziquantel | Schistosomiasis (blood flukes) |
| Inhibit RNA synthesis | Thioxanthenones | Lucanthone, hycanthone, oxamniquine | Schistosomiasis (blood flukes) |
| Mechanism of Action | Drug | Clinical Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Nucleoside analog inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis | Acyclovir | Herpes virus infections |
| Azidothymidine/zidovudine (AZT) | HIV infections | |
| Ribavirin | Hepatitis C virus and respiratory syncytial virus infections | |
| Vidarabine | Herpes virus infections | |
| Sofosbuvir | Hepatitis C virus infections | |
| Non-nucleoside noncompetitive inhibition | Etravirine | HIV infections |
| Inhibit escape of virus from endosomes | Amantadine, rimantadine | Infections with influenza virus |
| Inhibit neuraminidase | Oseltamivir, zanamivir, peramivir | Infections with influenza virus |
| Inhibit viral uncoating | Pleconaril | Serious enterovirus infections |
| Inhibition of protease | Ritonavir | HIV infections |
| Simeprevir | Hepatitis C virus infections | |
| Inhibition of integrase | Raltegravir | HIV infections |
| Inhibition of membrane fusion | Enfuvirtide | HIV infections |
| Affix | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cyto- | cell | cytopenia: reduction in the number of blood cells |
| hepat- | of the liver | hepatitis: inflammation of the liver |
| -pathy | disease | neuropathy: a disease affecting nerves |
| -emia | of the blood | bacteremia: presence of bacteria in blood |
| -itis | inflammation | colitis: inflammation of the colon |
| -lysis | destruction | hemolysis: destruction of red blood cells |
| -oma | tumor | lymphoma: cancer of the lymphatic system |
| -osis | diseased or abnormal condition | leukocytosis: abnormally high number of white blood cells |
| -derma | of the skin | keratoderma: a thickening of the skin |
| Characteristic | Endotoxin | Exotoxin |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Gram-negative bacteria | Gram-positive (primarily) and gram-negative bacteria |
| Composition | Lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide | Protein |
| Effect on host | General systemic symptoms of inflammation and fever | Specific damage to cells dependent upon receptor-mediated targeting of cells and specific mechanisms of action |
| Heat stability | Heat stable | Most are heat labile, but some are heat stable |
| LD50 | High | Low |
| Disease | Current Week (Jan 2, 2016) | Median of Previous 52 Weeks | Maximum of Previous 52 Weeks | Cumulative Cases 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campylobacteriosis | 406 | 869 | 1,385 | 46,618 |
| Chlamydia trachomatis infection | 11,024 | 28,562 | 31,089 | 1,425,303 |
| Giardiasis | 115 | 230 | 335 | 11,870 |
| Gonorrhea | 3,207 | 7,155 | 8,283 | 369,926 |
| Disease | Pathogen | Year Discovered | Affected Regions | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIDS | HIV | 1981 | Worldwide | Contact with infected body fluids |
| Chikungunya fever | Chikungunya virus | 1952 | Africa, Asia, India; spreading to Europe and the Americas | Mosquito-borne |
| Ebola virus disease | Ebola virus | 1976 | Central and Western Africa | Contact with infected body fluids |
| H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) | H1N1 virus | 2009 | Worldwide | Droplet transmission |
| Lyme disease | Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium | 1981 | Northern hemisphere | From mammal reservoirs to humans by tick vectors |
| West Nile virus disease | West Nile virus | 1937 | Africa, Australia, Canada to Venezuela, Europe, Middle East, Western Asia | Mosquito-borne |
| Types of Defenses | |
|---|---|
| Physical defenses | Physical barriers |
| Mechanical defenses | |
| Microbiome | |
| Chemical defenses | Chemicals and enzymes in body fluids |
| Antimicrobial peptides | |
| Plasma protein mediators | |
| Cytokines | |
| Inflammation-eliciting mediators | |
| Cellular defenses | Granulocytes |
| Agranulocytes | |
| Defense | Examples | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular barriers | Skin, mucous membranes, endothelial cells | Deny entry to pathogens |
| Mechanical defenses | Shedding of skin cells, mucociliary sweeping, peristalsis, flushing action of urine and tears | Remove pathogens from potential sites of infection |
| Microbiome | Resident bacteria of the skin, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract | Compete with pathogens for cellular binding sites and nutrients |
| Defense | Examples | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Chemicals and enzymes in body fluids | Sebum from sebaceous glands | Provides oil barrier protecting hair follicle pores from pathogens |
| Oleic acid from sebum and skin microbiota | Lowers pH to inhibit pathogens | |
| Lysozyme in secretions | Kills bacteria by attacking cell wall | |
| Acid in stomach, urine, and vagina | Inhibits or kills bacteria | |
| Digestive enzymes and bile | Kill bacteria | |
| Lactoferrin and transferrin | Bind and sequester iron, inhibiting bacterial growth | |
| Surfactant in lungs | Kills bacteria | |
| Antimicrobial peptides | Defensins, bacteriocins, dermicidin, cathelicidin, histatins | Kill bacteria by attacking membranes or interfering with cell functions |
| Plasma protein mediators | Acute-phase proteins (C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, ferritin, fibrinogen, transferrin, and mannose-binding lectin) | Inhibit the growth of bacteria and assist in the trapping and killing of bacteria |
| Complements C3b and C4b | Opsonization of pathogens to aid phagocytosis | |
| Complement C5a | Chemoattractant for phagocytes | |
| Complements C3a and C5a | Proinflammatory anaphylatoxins | |
| Cytokines | Interleukins | Stimulate and modulate most functions of immune system |
| Chemokines | Recruit white blood cells to infected area | |
| Interferons | Alert cells to viral infection, induce apoptosis of virus-infected cells, induce antiviral defenses in infected and nearby uninfected cells, stimulate immune cells to attack virus-infected cells | |
| Inflammation-eliciting mediators | Histamine | Promotes vasodilation, bronchoconstriction, smooth muscle contraction, increased secretion and mucus production |
| Leukotrienes | Promote inflammation; stronger and longer lasting than histamine | |
| Prostaglandins | Promote inflammation and fever | |
| Bradykinin | Increases vasodilation and vascular permeability leading to edema |
| Properties | IgG monomer | IgM pentamer | Secretory IgA dimer | IgD monomer | IgE monomer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy chains | γ | μ | α | δ | ε |
| Number of antigen-binding sites | 2 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Molecular weight (Daltons) | 150,000 | 900,000 | 385,000 | 180,000 | 200,000 |
| Percentage of total antibody in serum | 80% | 6% | 13% (monomer) | <1% | <1% |
| Crosses placenta | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Fixes complement | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Fc binds to | phagocytes | – | – | – | mast cells and basophils |
| Function | Neutralization, agglutination, complement activation, opsonization, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. | Neutralization, agglutination, and complement activation. The monomer form serves as the B-cell receptor. | Neutralization and trapping of pathogens in mucus. | B-cell receptor. | Activation of basophils and mast cells against parasites and allergens. |
| Class | Surface CD Molecules | Activation | Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helper T cells | CD4 | APCs presenting antigens associated with MHC II | Orchestrate humoral and cellular immunity |
| Involved in the activation of macrophages and NK cells | |||
| Regulatory T cells | CD4 | APCs presenting antigens associated with MHC II | Involved in peripheral tolerance and prevention of autoimmune responses |
| Cytotoxic T cells | CD8 | APCs or infected nucleated cells presenting antigens associated with MHC I | Destroy cells infected with intracellular pathogens |
| Subtype | Functions |
|---|---|
| TH1 cells | Stimulate cytotoxic T cells and produce memory cytotoxic T cells |
| Stimulate macrophages and neutrophils (PMNs) for more effective intracellular killing of pathogens | |
| Stimulate NK cells to kill more effectively | |
| TH2 cells | Stimulate B cell activation and differentiation into plasma cells and memory B cells |
| Direct antibody class switching in B cells | |
| TH17 cells | Stimulate immunity to specific infections such as chronic mucocutaneous infections |
| Memory helper T cells | “Remember” a specific pathogen and mount a strong, rapid secondary response upon re-exposure |
| Natural acquired | Artificial acquired | |
|---|---|---|
| Passive | Immunity acquired from antibodies passed in breast milk or through placenta | Immunity gained through antibodies harvested from another person or an animal |
| Active | Immunity gained through illness and recovery | Immunity acquired through a vaccine |
| Class | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live attenuated | Weakened strain of whole pathogen | Cellular and humoral immunity | Difficult to store and transport | Chickenpox, German measles, measles, mumps, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, yellow fever |
| Long-lasting immunity | Risk of infection in immunocompromised patients | |||
| Transmission to contacts | Risk of reversion | |||
| Inactivated | Whole pathogen killed or inactivated with heat, chemicals, or radiation | Ease of storage and transport | Weaker immunity (humoral only) | Cholera, hepatitis A, influenza, plague, rabies |
| No risk of severe active infection | Higher doses and more boosters required | |||
| Subunit | Immunogenic antigens | Lower risk of side effects | Limited longevity | Anthrax, hepatitis B, influenza, meningitis, papillomavirus, pneumococcal pneumonia, whooping cough |
| Multiple doses required | ||||
| No protection against antigenic variation | ||||
| Toxoid | Inactivated bacterial toxin | Humoral immunity to neutralize toxin | Does not prevent infection | Botulism, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus |
| Conjugate | Capsule polysaccharide conjugated to protein | T-dependent response to capsule | Costly to produce | Meningitis (Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitides) |
| No protection against antigenic variation | ||||
| Better response in young children | May interfere with other vaccines |
| Granule Component | Activity |
|---|---|
| Heparin | Stimulates the generation of bradykinin, which causes increased vascular permeability, vasodilation, bronchiole constriction, and increased mucus secretion |
| Histamine | Causes smooth-muscle contraction, increases vascular permeability, increases mucus and tear formation |
| Serotonin | Increases vascular permeability, causes vasodilation and smooth-muscle contraction |
| Chemical Mediator | Activity |
|---|---|
| Leukotriene | Causes smooth-muscle contraction and mucus secretion, increases vascular permeability |
| Prostaglandin | Causes smooth-muscle contraction and vasodilation |
| TNF-α (cytokine) | Causes inflammation and stimulates cytokine production by other cell types |
| Common Name | Cause | Signs and Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Allergy-induced asthma | Inhalation of allergens | Constriction of bronchi, labored breathing, coughing, chills, body aches |
| Anaphylaxis | Systemic reaction to allergens | Hives, itching, swelling of tongue and throat, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, shock |
| Hay fever | Inhalation of mold or pollen | Runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing |
| Hives (urticaria) | Food or drug allergens, insect stings | Raised, bumpy skin rash with itching; bumps may converge into large raised areas |
| Common Name | Cause | Signs and Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) | IgG from mother crosses the placenta, targeting the fetus’ RBCs for destruction | Anemia, edema, enlarged liver or spleen, hydrops (fluid in body cavity), leading to death of newborn in severe cases |
| Hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTR) | IgG and IgM bind to antigens on transfused RBCs, targeting donor RBCs for destruction | Fever, jaundice, hypotension, disseminated intravascular coagulation, possibly leading to kidney failure and death |
| Red blood cell type | A | B | AB | O |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isohemagglutinins | Anti-B | Anti-A | Neither Anti-A nor Anti-B | Anti-A and Anti-B |
| Antigens on red blood cell | A antigen | B antigen | A and B antigens | Neither A nor B antigens |
| Subcategory | Antigen | Effector Mechanism | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soluble antigen | Activated macrophages damage tissue and promote inflammatory response | Contact dermatitis (e.g., exposure to latex) and delayed-type hypersensitivity (e.g., tuberculin reaction) |
| 2 | Soluble antigen | Eosinophil recruitment and activation release cytokines and pro-inflammatory chemicals | Chronic asthma and chronic allergic rhinitis |
| 3 | Cell-associated antigen | CTL-mediated cytotoxicity | Contact dermatitis (e.g., contact with poison ivy) and tissue-transplant rejection |
| Type I | Type II | Type III | Type IV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Immune reactant | IgE | IgG or IgM | IgG and IgM | T cells |
| Antigen form | Soluble antigen | Cell-bound antigen | Soluble antigen | Soluble or cell-bound antigen |
| Mechanism of activation | Allergen-specific IgE antibodies bind to mast cells via their Fc receptor. When the specific allergen binds to the IgE, cross-linking of IgE induces degranulation of mast cells. | IgG or IgM antibody binds to cellular antigen, leading to complement activation and cell lysis. IgG can also mediate ADCC with cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. | Antigen-antibody complexes are deposited in tissues. Complement activation provides inflammatory mediators and recruits neutrophils. Enzymes released from neutrophils damage tissue. | TH1 cells secrete cytokines, which activate macrophages and cytotoxic T cells. |
| Examples of hypersensitivity reactions | Local and systemic anaphylaxis, seasonal hay fever, food allergies, and drug allergies | Red blood cell destruction after transfusion with mismatched blood types or during hemolytic disease of the newborn. | Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus | Contact dermatitis, type I diabetes mellitus, and multiple sclerosis |
| Disease | Cause | Signs and Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Addison disease | Destruction of adrenal gland cells by cytotoxic T cells | Weakness, nausea, hypotension, fatigue; adrenal crisis with severe pain in abdomen, lower back, and legs; circulatory system collapse, kidney failure |
| Celiac disease | Antibodies to gluten become autoantibodies that target cells of the small intestine | Severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, anemia, malnutrition |
| Diabetes mellitus (type I) | Cytotoxic T-cell destruction of the insulin-producing β cells of the pancreas | Hyperglycemia, extreme increase in thirst and urination, weight loss, extreme fatigue |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) | Cytotoxic T-cell destruction of the myelin sheath surrounding nerve axons in the central nervous system | Visual disturbances, muscle weakness, impaired coordination and balance, numbness, prickling or “pins and needles” sensations, impaired cognitive function and memory |
| Myasthenia gravis | Autoantibodies directed against acetylcholine receptors within the neuromuscular junction | Extreme muscle weakness eventually leading to fatal respiratory arrest |
| Psoriasis | Cytokine activation of keratinocytes causes rapid and excessive epidermal cell turnover | Itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales; commonly affects elbows, knees, scalp, back, face, palms, feet |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | Autoantibodies, immune complexes, complement activation, phagocytes, and T cells damage membranes and bone in joints | Joint inflammation, pain and disfigurement, chronic systemic inflammation |
| Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) | Autoantibodies directed against nuclear and cytoplasmic molecules form immune complexes that deposit in tissues. Phagocytic cells and complement activation cause tissue damage and inflammation | Fatigue, fever, joint pain and swelling, hair loss, anemia, clotting, a sunlight-sensitive “butterfly” rash, skin lesions, photosensitivity, decreased kidney function, memory loss, confusion, depression |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| abscess | localized collection of pus |
| bulla (pl., bullae) | fluid-filled blister no more than 5 mm in diameter |
| carbuncle | deep, pus-filled abscess generally formed from multiple furuncles |
| crust | dried fluids from a lesion on the surface of the skin |
| cyst | encapsulated sac filled with fluid, semi-solid matter, or gas, typically located just below the upper layers of skin |
| folliculitis | a localized rash due to inflammation of hair follicles |
| furuncle (boil) | pus-filled abscess due to infection of a hair follicle |
| macules | smooth spots of discoloration on the skin |
| papules | small raised bumps on the skin |
| pseudocyst | lesion that resembles a cyst but with a less defined boundary |
| purulent | pus-producing; suppurative |
| pustules | fluid- or pus-filled bumps on the skin |
| pyoderma | any suppurative (pus-producing) infection of the skin |
| suppurative | producing pus; purulent |
| ulcer | break in the skin; open sore |
| vesicle | small, fluid-filled lesion |
| wheal | swollen, inflamed skin that itches or burns, such as from an insect bite |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acne | Propionibacterium acnes | Comedones (whiteheads, blackheads); papules, pustules, nodules, or pseudocysts | Not transmissible; clogged pores become infected by normal skin microbiota (P. acnes) | Erythromycin, clindamycin |
| Anthrax (cutaneous) | Bacillus anthracis | Eschar at site of infection; may lead to septicemia and can be fatal | Entry of B. anthracis endospores through cut or abrasion | Penicillin, erythromycin, or tetracycline |
| Cellulitis | Streptococcus pyogenes | Localized inflammation of dermis and hypodermis; skin red, warm, and painful to the touch | Entry of S. pyogenes through cut or abrasion | Oral or intravenous antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) |
| Erysipelas | S. pyogenes | Inflamed, swollen patch of skin, often on face; may be suppurative | Entry of S. pyogenes through cut or abrasion | Oral or intravenous antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) |
| Erythema nodosum | S. pyogenes | Small red nodules, often on shins | Associated with other streptococcal infection | None or anti-inflammatory drugs for severe cases |
| Impetigo | Staphylococcus aureus, S. pyogenes | Vesicles, pustules, and sometimes bullae around nose and mouth | Highly contagious, especially via contact | Topical or oral antibiotics |
| Necrotizing fasciitis | S. pyogenes, Klebsiella, Clostridium, others | Infection of fascia and rapidly spreading tissue death; can lead to septic shock and death | Entry of bacteria through cut or abrasion | Intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics |
| Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) | S. aureus | Erythema and severe peeling of skin | Infection of skin and mucous membranes, especially in children | Intravenous antibiotics, fluid therapy |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute bacterial conjunctivitis | Haemophilus influenzae | Inflammation of conjunctiva with purulent discharge | Exposure to secretions from infected individuals | Broad-spectrum topical antibiotics |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral herpes | Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) | May cause initial systemic symptoms; cold sores | Highly contagious via direct contact with infected individuals | Acyclovir, penciclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir |
| Papillomas | Human papillomavirus (HPV) | Common warts, plantar warts, flat warts, filiform warts, and others | Contact with infected individuals | Topical salicylic acid, cantharidin |
| Type of Tinea | Location on the Body |
|---|---|
| Tinea corporis (ringworm) | Body |
| Tinea capitis (ringworm) | Scalp |
| Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) | Feet |
| Tinea barbae (barber’s itch) | Beard |
| Tinea cruris (jock itch) | Groin |
| Tinea unguium (onychomycosis) | Toenails, fingernails |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tineas | Trichophyton spp., Epidermophyton spp., Microsporum spp. | Itchy, ring-like lesions (ringworm) at sites of infection | Contact with dermatophytic fungi, especially in warm, moist environments conducive to fungal growth | Terbinafine, miconazole, clotrimazole, griseofulvin |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loiasis | Loa loa | Recurring fever and localized Calabar swelling, itching, and skin or eye pain during subcutaneous migration of worms | Larvae transmitted between humans by deerfly vector | Diethylcarbamazine, albendazole |
| Disease | Pathogen | Available Vaccine(s)[1] |
|---|---|---|
| Chickenpox/shingles | Varicella-zoster virus | Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine |
| Common cold | Rhinovirus | None |
| Diphtheria | Corynebacterium diphtheriae | DtaP, Tdap, DT, Td, DTP |
| Epiglottitis, otitis media | Haemophilus influenzae | Hib |
| Influenza | Influenza viruses | Inactivated, FluMist |
| Measles | Measles virus | MMR |
| Pertussis | Bordetella pertussis | DTaP, Tdap |
| Pneumonia | Streptococcus pneumoniae | Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) |
| Rubella (German measles) | Rubella virus | MMR |
| Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) | SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) | None |
| Tuberculosis | Mycobacterium tuberculosis | BCG |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute otitis media (AOM) | Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, others | Earache, possible effusion; may cause fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea | Often a secondary infection; bacteria from respiratory tract become trapped in eustachian tube, cause infection | None | Cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones | None |
| Pertussis (whooping cough) | Bordetella pertussis | Severe coughing with “whoop” sound; chronic cough lasting several months; can be fatal in infants | Inhalation of respiratory droplets from infected person | Direct culture of throat swab, PCR, ELISA | Macrolides | DTaP, Tdap |
| Streptococcal pharyngitis, scarlet fever | Streptococcus pyogenes | Fever, sore throat, inflammation of pharynx and tonsils, petechiae, swollen lymph nodes; skin rash (scarlet fever), strawberry tongue | Direct contact, inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person | Direct culture of throat swab, rapid enzyme immunoassay | β-lactams | None |
| Tuberculosis | Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Formation of tubercles in lungs; rupture of tubercles, leading to chronic, bloody cough; healed tubercles (Ghon complexes) visible in radiographs; can be fatal | Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person | Mantoux tuberculin skin test with chest radiograph to identify Ghon complexes | Isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide | BCG |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haemophilus pneumonia | Haemophilus influenzae | Cough, fever or low body temperature, chills, chest pain, headache, fatigue | Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person or asymptomatic carrier | Culture on chocolate agar, serotyping of blood or cerebrospinal fluid samples | Cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones | Hib |
| Mycoplasma pneumonia (walking pneumonia) | Mycoplasma pneumoniae | Low fever, persistent cough | Inhalation of respiratory droplets or aerosols from infected person | Culture with penicillin, thallium acetate | Macrolides | None |
| Pneumococcal pneumonia | Streptococcus pneumoniae | Productive cough, bloody sputum, fever, chills, chest pain, respiratory distress | Direct contact with respiratory secretions | Gram stain, blood agar culture with optichin and sodium deoxycholate, quellung reaction | β-lactams, macrolides, fluoroquinolones | Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) |
| Sign/Symptom | Common Cold | Influenza |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Low (37.2 °C [99 °F]) | High (39 °C [102.2 °F]) |
| Headache | Common | Common |
| Aches and pains | Mild | Severe |
| Fatigue | Slight | Severe |
| Nasal congestion | Common | Rare |
| Sneezing | Common | Rare |
| Influenza A virus | Influenza B virus | Influenza C virus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Severity | Severe | Moderate | Mild |
| Animal reservoir | Yes | No | No |
| Genome segments | 8 | 8 | 7 |
| Population spread | Epidemic and pandemic | Epidemic | Sporadic |
| Antigenic variation | Shift/drift | Drift | Drift |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickenpox (varicella) | Varicella-zoster virus | In children, fever, chills, pustular rash of lesions that burst and form crusty scabs; in adults, more severe symptoms and complications (e.g., pneumonia) | Highly contagious via contact with aerosols, particles, or droplets from infected individual’s blisters or respiratory secretions | Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine |
| Common cold | Rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, coronaviruses, others | Runny nose, congestion, sore throat, sneezing, headaches and muscle aches; may lead to otitis media, pharyngitis, laryngitis | Highly contagious via contact with respiratory secretions or inhalation of droplets or aerosols | None |
| Influenza | Influenza viruses A, B, C | Fever, chills, headaches, body aches, fatigue; may lead to pneumonia or complications such as Reye syndrome. Highly virulent strains may cause lethal complications | Highly contagious between humans via contact with respiratory secretions or inhalation of droplets or aerosols. Influenza A virus can be transmitted from animal reservoirs. | Vaccines developed yearly against most prevalent strains |
| Measles | Measles virus (MeV) | High fever, conjunctivitis, sore throat, macular rash becoming confluent, Koplik’s spots on oral mucosa; in severe cases, can lead to fatal pneumonia or encephalitis, especially in children | Highly contagious via contact with respiratory secretions, skin rash, or eye secretions of infected individual | MMR |
| Shingles | Varicella-zoster virus | Painful lesions on face or trunk lasting several weeks; may cause postherpetic neuralgia (chronic pain) or spread to organs in severe cases | Nontransmissible; occurs when dormant virus is reactivated, generally many years after initial chicken-pox infection | Herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacterial vaginosis (BV) | Gardnerella vaginalis, Bacteroides spp., Fusobacterium spp., others | Often asymptomatic; vaginal discharge, burning, odor, or itching | Opportunistic infection caused by imbalance of normal vaginal microbiota | Vaginal smear | Clindamycin, metronidazole, tinidazole |
| Chlamydia | Chlamydia trachomatis | Often asymptomatic; in men, urethritis, epididymitis, orchitis; in women, urethritis, vaginal discharge or bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, increased risk of cervical cancer | Sexual contact or from mother to neonate during birth | NAAT, urine sample, vaginal swab, culture | Azithromycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, ofloxacin, or levofloxacin |
| Gonorrhea | Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Urethritis, dysuria, penile or vaginal discharge, rectal pain and bleeding; in females, pelvic pain, intermenstrual bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease, salpingitis, increased risk of infertility or ectopic pregnancy; in disseminated infections, arthritis, endocarditis, meningitis | Sexual contact | Urine sample or culture, NAAT, PCR, ELISA | Ceftriaxone, azithromycin |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs/Vaccines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genital herpes | Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2) | Recurring outbreaks of skin vesicles on genitalia and elsewhere; asymptomatic in many individuals | Sexual contact or contact with open lesions | Viral culture, PCR, ELISA | Acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir |
| Human papillomas | Human papillomavirus (HPV) (various strains) | Genital warts or warts in other areas | Direct contact, including sexual | Pap smear | Imiquimod, podofilox, sinecatechins |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trichomoniasis | Trichomonas vaginalis | Urethritis, vaginal or penile discharge; redness or soreness of female genitalia | Sexual contact | Wet mounts, NAAT of urine or vaginal samples; OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test, Affirm VPII Microbial Identification Test | Metronidazole, tinidazole |
| Vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) | Candida spp., especially C. albicans | Dysuria; vaginal burning, itching, discharge | Transmissible by sexual contact, but typically only causes opportunistic infections after immunosuppression or disruption of vaginal microbiota | Culture, Affirm VPII Microbial Identification Test | Fluconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole, nystatin |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dental caries | Streptococcus mutans | Discoloration, softening, cavities in teeth | Non-transmissible; caused by bacteria of the normal oral microbiota | Visual examinations, X-rays |
Oral antiseptics (e.g., Listerine) |
| Group | Virulence Factors and Genes | Signs and Symptoms | Diagnostic Tests | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) | Heat stable enterotoxin similar to cholera toxin | Relatively mild, watery diarrhea | Culturing, PCR | Self-limiting; if needed, fluoroquinolones, doxycycline, rifaximin, TMP/SMZ; antibiotic resistance is a problem |
| Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) | Inv (invasive plasmid) genes | Relatively mild, watery diarrhea; dysentery or inflammatory colitis may occur | Culturing, PCR; testing for inv gene; additional assays to distinguish from Shigella | Supportive therapy only; antibiotics not recommended |
| Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) | Locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) pathogenicity island | Severe fever, vomiting, nonbloody diarrhea, dehydration; potentially fatal | Culturing, PCR; detection of LEE lacking Shiga-like toxin genes | Self-limiting; if needed, fluoroquinolones, doxycycline, rifaximin, TMP/SMZ; antibiotic resistance is a problem |
| Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) | Verotoxin | May be mild or very severe; bloody diarrhea; may result in HUS | Culturing; plate on MacConkey agar with sorbitol agar as it does not ferment sorbitol; PCR detection of LEE containing Shiga-like toxin genes | Antibiotics are not recommended due to the risk of HUS |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholera | Vibrio cholerae | Severe diarrhea and fluid loss, potentially leading to shock, renal failure, and death | Ingestion of contaminated water or food | Culture on selective medium (TCBS agar); distinguished as oxidase positive with fermentative metabolisms | Generally none; tetracyclines, azithromycin, others if necessary |
| Clostridium difficile infection | Clostridium difficile | Pseudomembranous colitis, watery diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dehydration; in severe cases, perforation of the colon, septicemia, shock, and death | Overgrowth of C. difficile in the normal microbiota due to antibiotic use; hospital-acquired infections in immunocompromised patients | Detection of toxin in stool, nucleic acid amplification tests (e.g., PCR) | Discontinuation of previous antibiotic treatment; metronidazole or vancomycin |
| E. coli infection | ETEC, EPEC, EIEC, EHEC | Watery diarrhea, dysentery, cramps, malaise, fever, chills, dehydration; in EHEC, possible severe complications such as hematolytic uremic syndrome | Ingestion of contaminated food or water | Tissue culture, immunochemical assays, PCR, gene probes | Not recommended for EIEC and EHEC; fluoroquinolones, doxycycline, rifaximin, and TMP/SMZ possible for ETEC and EPEC |
| Peptic ulcers | Helicobacter pylori | Nausea, bloating, burping, lack of appetite, weight loss, perforation of stomach, blood in stools | Normal flora, can also be acquired via saliva; fecal-oral route via contaminated food and water | Breath test, detection of antibodies in blood, detection of bacteria in stool sample or stomach biopsy | Amoxicillin, clarithromycin metronidazole, tetracycline, lansoprazole; antacids may also be given in combination with antibiotics |
| Staphylococcal food poisoning | Staphylococcus aureus | Rapid-onset nausea, diarrhea, vomiting lasting 24–48 hours; possible dehydration and change in blood pressure and heart rate | Ingestion of raw or undercooked meat or dairy products contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxins | ELISA to detect enterotoxins in uneaten food, stool, or vomitus | None |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norovirus gastroenteritis | Noroviruses | Fever, diarrhea, projectile vomiting, dehydration; generally self-limiting within two days | Highly contagious via direct contact or contact with contaminated food or fomites | Rapid enzyme immunoassay confirmed with RT-qPCR | None |
| Rotavirus gastroenteritis | Rotaviruses | Fever, diarrhea, vomiting, severe dehydration; recurring infections can lead to malnutrition and death | Fecal-oral route; children and elderly most susceptible | Enzyme immunoassay of stool sample, latex agglutination assays, RT-PCR | Preventive vaccine recommended for infants |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giardiasis | Giardia lamblia | Diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps, gas, greasy stool, dehydration if severe; sometimes malabsorption syndrome | Contact with infected individual or contaminated fomites; ingestion of contaminated food or water | Stool O&P exam; ELISA, direct fluorescence antibody assays | Metronidazole, tinidazole |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascariasis | Ascaris lumbricoides | Eggs in fecally contaminated food or water | Microscopic examination of the stool, imaging | Shortness of breath, cough, nausea, diarrhea, blood in stool, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue | Self-limiting within 1 to 2 years; albendazole and mebendazole if needed |
| Enterobiasis (pinworm) | Enterobius vermicularis | Fecal–oral route | Observation of eggs or worms from anal area; examination of samples under fingernails | Itching around the anus, abdominal pain, insomnia, irritation of female genital tract | Mebendazole, albendazole, pyrantel pamoate |
| Strongyloidiasis | Strongyloides stercoralis | Often asymptomatic; cough (sometimes bloody), skin rash, abdominal pain, diarrhea; in immunosuppressed patients, may become disseminated, causing serious and potentially fatal complications | Soil-dwelling larvae penetrate the skin, usually bare feet | Microscopic observation of larvae in stool; serological testing for antigens | Ivermectin, albendazole |
| Tapeworms (taeniasis) | Taenia solium, T. saginata, T. asiatica, Diphyllobothrium latum | Asymptomatic or mild GI distress; cysts in muscle, eye, or brain (cysticercosis); brain cysts can cause headaches, seizures, or death | Ingestion of raw or undercooked pork or beef from infected animal | Observation of worm segments or microscopic eggs in stool; CT or MRI to detect cysts | Praziquantel, niclosamide |
| Trichinosis | Trichinella spiralis, other Trichinella spp. | Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, headache, cough, chills, light sensitivity, muscle pain, fever, conjunctivitis; in severe cases may affect motor coordination, breathing, heart function | Ingestion of raw or undercooked pork or other meat of infected animal | Observation of cysts in muscle biopsy, enzyme immunoassay | Albendazole, mebendazole |
| Whipworm (trichuriasis) | Trichuris trichiura | Abdominal pain, anemia, diarrhea (possibly bloody), rectal prolapse | Ingestion of eggs in fecally contaminated food | Microscopic observation of eggs in stool | Albendazole, mebendazole, ivermectin |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lyme disease | Borrelia burgdorferi | Early localized: bull’s eye rash, malaise, headache, fever, muscle stiffness; early disseminated: stiff neck, facial paralysis, arthritis, carditis; late-stage: arthritis, meningitis, possibly fatal | From deer, rodent, bird reservoirs via tick vector | IFA, serology, and ELISA | Amoxicillin, doxycycline, penicillin G, chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone |
| Plague | Yersinia pestis | Bubonic: buboes, fever, internal hemorrhaging; septicemic: fever, abdominal pain, shock, DIC, necrosis in extremities; pneumonic: acute pneumonia, respiratory failure, shock. All forms have high mortality rates. | Transmitted from mammal reservoirs via flea vectors or consumption of infected animal; transmission of pneumonic plague between humans via respiratory aerosols | Culture of bacteria from lymph, blood, or sputum samples; DFA, ELISA | Gentamycin, fluoroquinolones, others |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIDS/HIV infection | Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) | Flu-like symptoms during acute stage, followed by long period of clinical latency; final stage (AIDS) includes fever, weight loss, wasting syndrome, dementia, and opportunistic secondary infections leading to death | Contact with body fluids (e.g., sexual contact, use of contaminated needles) | Serological tests for antibodies and/or HIV antigens; nucleic acid test (NAT) for presence of virus | Antiretroviral therapy (ART) using various combinations of drugs |
| Burkitt lymphoma | Epstein-barr virus (human herpesvirus-4 [HHV-4]) | Rapid formation of malignant B-cell tumors, oral hairy leukoplakia; fatal if not promptly treated | Contact with body fluids (e.g., saliva, blood, semen); primarily affects patients immune-compromised by HIV or malaria | CT scans, tumor biopsy | Intensive alternating chemotherapy regimen |
| Ebola virus disease (EVD) | Ebola virus | Fever, headache, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhaging in gastrointestinal tract, organ failure; often fatal | Contact with body fluids (e.g., blood, saliva, sweat, urine, feces, vomit); highly contagious | ELISA, IgM ELISA, PCR, virus isolation | None |
| Infectious mononucleosis | Epstein-Barr Virus (HHV-4), cytomegalovirus (HHV-5) | Pharyngitis, fever, extreme fatigue; swelling of lymph nodes, spleen, and liver | Contact with body fluids (e.g., saliva, blood, semen) | Tests for antibodies to various EBV-associated antigens | None |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protozoa | |||||
| Malaria | Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae, P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. knowlesi |
Extreme fever, chills, myalgia, nausea, and vomiting, possibly leading to organ failure and death | Between humans via Anopheles mosquito vectors | Blood smear, EIA | Chloroquine, atovaquone, artemether, and lumefantrine |
| Toxoplasmosis | Toxoplasma gondii | Tissue cysts; in pregnant women, birth defects or miscarriage | Contact with feces of infected cat; eating contaminated vegetables or undercooked meat of infected animal | Serological tests, direct detection of pathogen in tissue sections | Sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine, spiramycin |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Antimicrobial Drugs | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botulism | Clostridium botulinum | Blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing and breathing, nausea, vomiting, often fatal | Ingestion of preformed toxin in food, ingestion of endospores in food by infants or immunocompromised adults, bacterium introduced via wound or injection | Antitoxin; penicillin (for wound botulism) | None |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis | Haemophilus influenzae | Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, stiff neck, confusion | Direct contact, inhalation of aerosols | Doxycycline, fluoroquinolones, second- and third-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenems | Hib vaccine |
| Listeriosis | Listeria monocytogenes | Initial flu-like symptoms, sepsis and potentially fatal meningitis in susceptible individuals, miscarriage in pregnant women | Bacterium ingested with contaminated food or water | Ampicillin, gentamicin | None |
| Meningococcal meningitis | Neisseria meningitidis | Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, stiff neck, confusion; often fatal | Direct contact | Cephalosporins or penicillins | Meningococcal conjugate |
| Neonatal meningitis | Streptococcus agalactiae | Temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, feeding difficulty, irritability, limpness, seizures, bulging fontanel, stiff neck, opisthotonos, hemiparesis, often fatal | Direct contact in birth canal | Ampicillin plus gentamicin, cefotaxime, or both | None |
| Pneumococcal meningitis | Streptococcus pneumoniae | Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, stiff neck, confusion, often fatal | Direct contact, aerosols | Cephalosporins, penicillin | Pneumococcal vaccines |
| Tetanus | Clostridium tetani | Progressive spasmatic paralysis starting with the jaw, often fatal | Bacterium introduced in puncture wound | Penicillin, antitoxin | DTaP, Tdap |
| Disease | Pathogen | Signs and Symptoms | Transmission | Diagnostic Tests | Antimicrobial Drugs | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease and other TSEs | Prions | Memory loss, confusion, blurred vision, uncoordinated movement, insomnia, coma, death | Exposure to infected nerve tissue via consumption or transplant, inherited | Tissue biopsy | None | None |
| Poliomyelitis | Poliovirus | Asymptomatic or mild nausea, fever, headache in most cases; in neurological infections, flaccid paralysis and potentially fatal respiratory paralysis | Fecal-oral route or contact with droplets or aerosols | Culture of poliovirus, PCR | None | Attenuated vaccine (Sabin), killed vaccine (Salk) |
| Rabies | Rabies virus (RV) | Fever, headaches, hyperactivity, hydrophobia, excessive salivation, terrors, confusion, spreading paralysis, coma, always fatal if not promptly treated | From bite of infected mammal | Viral antigen in tissue, antibodies to virus | Attenuated vaccine, rabies immunoglobulin | Attenuated vaccine |
| Zika virus infection | Zika virus | Fever, rash, conjunctivitis; in pregnant women, can cause fetal brain damage and microcephaly | Between humans by Aedes spp. mosquito vectors, also may be transmitted sexually or via blood transfusion | Zika virus RNA assay, Trioplex RT-PCR, Zika MAC-ELISA test | None | None |
- Full names of vaccines listed in table: Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib); Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (DtaP); tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap); diphtheria and tetanus (DT); tetanus and diphtheria (Td); diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DTP); Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) ↵