BIOS 242 Week 6 Disease Worksheet
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Chamberlain University
BIOS-242 Fundamentals of Microbiology
Prof. Name
Date
Disease Worksheet
The following disease worksheet presents a comprehensive summary of various infectious diseases, including their causative pathogens, characteristics, virulence factors, clinical signs, pathogenesis, epidemiology, and strategies for treatment and prevention. Each entry offers valuable insight into how specific pathogens affect the human body and how such infections are managed or avoided.
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS)
What pathogen causes the disease?
Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a gram-positive bacterium that can survive on surfaces for extended periods ranging from hours to weeks.
What type of pathogen is it?
The pathogen is bacterial in origin.
Which body system is affected?
This condition primarily affects the skin.
What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
Virulence factors include exfoliative toxins, adhesins, capsule formation, enzymes like coagulase, lipase, hyaluronidase, and staphylokinase.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Common symptoms include irritability, fatigue, fever, widespread redness of the skin, and fluid-filled blisters. In severe cases, large areas of skin peel off in sheets.
How does the disease develop and spread (pathogenesis and epidemiology)?
The condition results from exfoliative toxins produced by approximately 5% of S. aureus strains. The infection often originates in the nasal or oral cavity or the umbilical region in newborns. It affects about 56 per 100,000 individuals annually.
What are the treatment and prevention strategies?
Treatment requires intravenous antibiotics. Preventative measures include strict hygiene and reducing the risk of primary S. aureus infections.
Necrotizing Fasciitis
What pathogen causes the disease?
Necrotizing fasciitis is primarily caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and sometimes Staphylococcus aureus.
What type of pathogen is it?
It is bacterial.
Which body system is affected?
The disease targets soft tissues, particularly deep fascia.
What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
Major virulence elements include M proteins and polysaccharide capsules, which enhance immune evasion and tissue destruction.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Patients experience extreme localized pain, swelling, fever, muscle aches, and skin changes resembling a sunburn.
How does the disease develop and spread (pathogenesis and epidemiology)?
This infection rapidly spreads through connective tissues, causing extensive damage. It affects 0.40 per 100,000 adults and 0.08 per 100,000 children annually.
What are the treatment and prevention strategies?
Prompt treatment with IV antibiotics and surgical debridement is necessary. Proper wound care and hygiene practices are crucial for prevention.
Chickenpox and Shingles
What pathogen causes the disease?
The causative agent is the Varicella-zoster virus (VZV).
What type of pathogen is it?
It is a viral infection.
Which body system is affected?
Chickenpox primarily impacts the skin, while shingles affects the nervous system.
What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
The virus has a latent phase and an incubation period of approximately 10–20 days.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Chickenpox symptoms include fatigue, fever, and a vesicular rash. Shingles presents with a painful rash, sometimes followed by long-term nerve pain.
How does the disease develop and spread (pathogenesis and epidemiology)?
Transmission occurs through inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with lesions. Over 95% of individuals in the U.S. contract chickenpox by adulthood.
What are the treatment and prevention strategies?
Vaccination is the primary prevention method. Antiviral medications are prescribed for treatment.
Trachoma
What pathogen causes the disease?
Trachoma is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.
What type of pathogen is it?
It is a bacterial pathogen.
Which body system is affected?
The infection affects the eyes.
What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
The pathogen utilizes elementary and reticulate body forms to complete its intracellular life cycle.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Chronic eye infection, eyelid inflammation, and eventual corneal scarring are common symptoms.
How does the disease develop and spread (pathogenesis and epidemiology)?
Globally, around 229 million individuals are affected, often leading to blindness after repeated infections.
What are the treatment and prevention strategies?
Antibiotics are effective in treatment, and improved hygiene practices help prevent the disease.
Bacterial Meningitis
What pathogen causes the disease?
Multiple bacteria can cause meningitis, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Listeria monocytogenes, and Streptococcus agalactiae.
What type of pathogen is it?
It is bacterial.
Which body system is affected?
This condition affects the central nervous system.
What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
These include surface adhesive proteins and polysaccharide capsules, aiding immune evasion and penetration of the blood-brain barrier.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Symptoms include a stiff neck, fever, severe headache, confusion, photophobia, and in some cases, a skin rash.
How does the disease develop and spread (pathogenesis and epidemiology)?
The bacteria often enter through the bloodstream and then reach the meninges, causing inflammation.
What are the treatment and prevention strategies?
Immediate administration of intravenous antibiotics and corticosteroids is essential. Prevention focuses on hygiene and avoiding sharing items like utensils.
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD)
What pathogen causes the disease?
vCJD is caused by an infectious prion protein.
What type of pathogen is it?
It is a prion, a misfolded protein.
Which body system is affected?
The disease impacts the brain.
What are the virulence factors of the pathogen?
The abnormal prion acts like an enzyme, converting normal proteins into its pathogenic form.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Symptoms include personality changes, memory loss, visual disturbances, speech difficulties, and insomnia.
How does the disease develop and spread (pathogenesis and epidemiology)?
The prion multiplies rapidly by converting normal prion proteins, leading to neurodegeneration. It is currently incurable and universally fatal.
What are the treatment and prevention strategies?
There is no known cure; prevention includes avoiding consumption of contaminated beef products.
BIOS 242 Week 6 Disease Worksheet
Table: Summary of Remaining Diseases
| Disease | Pathogen | Pathogen Type | Body System Affected | Virulence Factors | Signs & Symptoms | Pathogenesis & Epidemiology | Treatment & Prevention |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Septicemia | Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae | Bacterial | Cardiovascular, Major Organs | Capsule, adhesion, facultative anaerobe | Fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, discolored skin | Affects 1.7 million U.S. adults annually; systemic inflammatory response | Antibiotics, circulatory support, avoiding risky behavior |
| Endocarditis | Viridans streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Bacterial | Heart | Capsule, endotoxins, exotoxins | Chest pain, swollen legs/abdomen, joint pain, fatigue | Infection of damaged heart tissue; 2.6–7 cases per 100,000 annually | Antibiotics, proper dental care and hygiene |
| Lyme Disease | Borrelia burgdorferi | Bacterial | Joints, Nervous System, Skin | Manganese usage to evade immune system | Rash, fatigue, fever, headache | Tick-borne disease, most common vector-borne illness in NA and Europe | Antibiotics, tick avoidance, insect repellent |
| Infectious Mononucleosis | Epstein-Barr Virus | Viral | Blood, Bone Marrow | B-cell latency, immune evasion | Fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, rash | Spread via saliva; ~500 cases per 100,000 in the U.S. annually | Rest, hydration, good nutrition; avoid sharing personal items |
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Bacterial Meningitis.
Ghosh, S., & Rajesh, G. (2020). Understanding Infectious Mononucleosis. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 221(2), 298–310.
Johnson, J. (2022). Trachoma and Eye Health. Global Health Journal, 15(4), 112–118. National Institutes of Health. (2020). Lyme Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment.
BIOS 242 Week 6 Disease Worksheet
World Health Organization. (2021). Global Health Estimates: Leading Causes of Death.