1.1 Describe the different types of infection
Infections are naturally caused by diverse agents and negatively impact the human body with various mechanisms and different outcomes, requiring a thorough understanding of their distinct categories.
Bacterial infections are triggered by Bacteria which basically are single-celled microorganisms that possess a remarkable ability to thrive in many environments. Not all bacteria are harmful, though, but some are critical to bodily functions such as digestion. However uncontrolled bacterial proliferation can result in a range of diseases like strep throat or urinary tract infections. Bacterial infections often require antibiotics for treatment; as only such medication work on these specific bioorganisms (Schippa & Conte, 2009).
Viral Infections: Contrarily, viruses cannot survive outside host cells; thus they invade suitable hosts causing sickness by destroying cells in the process (Racaniello et al., 2015). Common colds to more severe afflictions like Ebola fall under this category. Antiviral drugs are used for handling viral attacks though not all viruses respond optimally to available medication.
Fungal Infections: Unlike previous types, fungal infections stem from inhaling harmful spores or through the skin or mucous membrane contact with infectious forms of fungi (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). Athlete’s foot is one instance via skin contact whereas histoplasmosis stems from inhalation. Antifungal medicines play a key role in mitigating such conditions.
Parasitic Infections: Single-celled parasites too can launch invasions inside human bodies mostly when it enter through contaminated food and water intake or insect bites thus leading to diseases like malaria and tapeworm disease (Desowitz & Stanley,1991).
Protozoan Infections: Lastly come protozoans causing illnesses from mild dysentery ref via amebiasis till ultimately culminating in severe conditions like African sleeping sickness caused by trypanosome protozoa (Fletcher et al., 2019).
In summary, diverse are the types of infections with varied causes and remedies too. Immutable here though is one key truism: infection control remains vital for human health.
Other answers in the full document:
- 1.2 Describe how the chain of infection can lead to the spread of infection
- 1.3 Explain how to identify individuals who have, or are at risk of, developing an infection
- 1.4 Identify actions that should be taken to reduce the risks of infection to individuals and others
- 1.5 Describe own role and responsibilities:
- identifying an outbreak or spread of infection
- actions to take once an infection outbreak or spread has been identified.
- 1.6 Describe own responsibilities for ensuring that cleaning and decontamination of environments and equipment is carried out according to the level of risk
- 1.7 Describe own role in supporting others to follow practices that reduce the spread of infection