Unit 4222-265 Causes and spread of Infection. outcome1: Understand the causes of infections 1:1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Infections are the result of the body’s inability to fight off microorganisms that cause disease or infection: Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria are organisms that are found almost everywhere. They are found naturally in humans, as well as plants and animals.
1.1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Bacteria: A bacteria is a single celled organism, they are either a parasite or live independently. Bacteria have three basic shapes. Antibiotics can usually kill them; A few examples of bacteria could be meningitis, Ear infections, and conjunctivitis. Fungi :A Fungus is a spore producing organism and can live as a single celled yeast or as a larger multi-cellular mould.
Causes and Spread of Infection The differences between Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are Bacteria are found everywhere ie, air, water, soil, animals, people and food. It is a single cell micro-organism that retrieves its nutrition from the environment. Bacteria can only be seen through a microscope. They are shaped like short rods, spheres or spirals. It is stated on www.biologyinfo.com that, “Not all bacteria are harmful.
Causes and spread of infection Understand the causes of infection Outcome 1 Identify the differences between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites All 4 are different types of pathogens Bacteria is a single celled organism that multiply by themselves. They live within and on most living and non-living things. The majority of bacteria are harmless and beneficial to the human body but some can cause infectious diseases. A bacterium usually affects one part of the body and doesn’t spread across or through the body. Bacterial infections are normally treated with a course of antibiotics.
Antibiotics are produced by microorganism because they inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms; they are effective in low concentrations and act on specific species of microorganisms. 3. List four different ways that the antibiotics work to destroy or inhibit microorganisms and for each give named example of an antibiotic exhibiting this type of mechanism. (Note: you need to indicate the different processes or structures affected not simply variations or subsets of a process) Inhibit cell-wall formation: blocks a specific cross linking step in the bacteria in the process of reproduction. E.g.
1.2 Identify common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites The most common illnesses and infections that occur due to bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are Dioreah, Vomiting, Influenza, Nail infections, Tick bites, Colds, Skin Conditions, Digestive Problems ( Parasites - Worms ) and in some cases, Death. 1.3 Describe what is meant by “Infection” and “Colonisation” As defined by : www.freedictionary.com INFECTION Invasion by and multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms in a bodily part or tissue, which may produce subsequent tissue injury and progress to overt disease through a variety of cellular or toxic mechanisms. This means that Infection is the process of infecting or being infected. COLONISATION A mass of microorganisms in a culture that originates from a single cell. This means that when either a Virus, Bacteria, Fungi or parasites in the single form, gather and join to make one mass of either Virus, Bacteria, Fungi or parasites.
Although they are eukaryotes like plants and animals, the major difference is that fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike the cell walls of plants, which contain cellulose. Fungi lack the chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis and must therefore live as parasites or saprophytes Parasites: plant or animal that at some stage of its existence obtains its nourishment from another living organism called the host. Parasites may or may not harm the host, but they never benefit it. They include members of many plant and animal groups, and nearly all living things are at some time hosts to parasitic forms. Many bacteria are parasitic on external and internal body surfaces; some of these invade the inner tissues and cause disease.
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.
P1: Explain how infections are caused by different pathogens: * Bacteria * Fungi * Protozoa * Parasites * Viruses Bacteria: Pathogens are microorganisms such as viruses or bacteria and these cause diseases in the body. Bacteria is a pathogen and are microscopic living cells that multiply at a rapid speed, once inside the body they spread toxins making the individual ill. Bacteria can cause diseases such as; * food poisoning * cholera * typhoid * whooping cough * gonorrhoea - a sexually transmitted disease Bacteria can travel in many things such as food, water or even through the air. For example if an individual is sitting next to someone that keeps on sneezing, the individual will eventually
Outcome1 Understand the causes of infection 1.1 Baceria is living annd can multiply, bacteria can be difficult to destroy and can survive for long periods. Viruses are smaller than bacteria, theey can only multiply in living cells. Viruses are not living. Fungibis an organism which lives by fedding on other organisms. Parasites survive by feeding from its host.