Infection & Transmission
Pathophysiology Course
Physiology of infection
Incubation: The time from exposure to an
infectious agent until the onset of symptoms.
Viral or bacterial particles replicate during the
incubation stage.
Prodromal: The infectious agent continues
replicating, which triggers the body’s immune
response & mild, nonspecific symptoms (infectious)
Acute: Time when a person shows apparent
signs & symptoms (manifestations).
Local signs
Pain, swelling, redness, warmth, exudate
Purulent exudate: bacterial infections
Serous exudate: viral infections
Systemic Signs
Top Tested Key Terms
Modes of Transmission
Vector: insect or animal carrier host
Example: Contraction of west Nile virus
via mosquito bite
Memory Trick
Measles
Tuberculosis
Vector - west nile Virus
Aerosol: Small particles from the respiratory tract
travel AIRBORNE transmission because droplets
are very small and can travel long distances.
Example: Measles, Tuberculosis (TB),
Varicella, COVID-19
Varicella
Covid-19
Memory Trick
COVID think CovAIR
Droplet: Respiratory or saliva expelled from
Pertussis
infected individual
Fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, nausea
Example: Pertussis, Influenza,
Meningitis, Pneumonia
Direct contact: No intermediary host. Spread
via touching of infectious lesions or direct contact
with blood/ body secretions.
Example: HIV, Herpes, Hepatitis C
Influenza
Meningitis
Memory Trick
Incubation
Droplet
P - Pertussis
I - Influenza
M - Meningitis
P - Pneumonia
1. Surgical Mask & Goggles
2. Single room
ATI
Teach unlicensed personnel
to wear a mask
H - coHHHntact
Pneumonia
Airborne
M - Measles
T - TB (Tuberculosis)
V - Varicella (shingles/chickenpox)
1. N95 mask - Staff
2. Neg. Pressure Room
3. Door closed
4. Transport - Patient wears
surgical mask
MEMORY TRICK
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On AIR with MTV
“PIMP my ride” the old TV show
like DROPPing lowrider
ON AIR