Opportunistic infection

Meningitis is an infection that causes swelling of the meninges, the membrane that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord that can be viral, bacterial and even fungal but very rare. It is most commonly a viral infection first followed by bacterial infection. Viral Meningitis is a mild form and can clear up on it's own and is caused by a group of viruses known as enteroviruses. These viruses can be spread through food, water, or contaminated objects. Several strains of bacteria can cause…

C. botulinum is a toxic bacteria deadly to humans. It is found in soils, and decaying animal carcasses throughout the world. It is an obligate anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive, rod shaped bacteria. Botulism was discovered by Émile van Ermengem in 1897 after a contaminated piece of ham poisoned thirty people. He was the first to isolate the bacteria, and determined that C. botulinum was capable of producing heat-resistant endospores. He is also credited with discovering the deadly toxin C.…

From the beginning of mankind, man has looked for a way to heal illnesses. Jonas Salk found a cure for one of the severely worst illnesses in the history of man, polio. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine was a great discovery of his time, and it is still being used today to eliminate polio worldwide. His discovery of a vaccine against polio was one which was collected of killed viruses producing the antibodies to help the body defeat the disease without inducing it. As the argument heats up between…

Introduction Hepatitis is a condition of the liver inflammation that may be caused by bacterial or viral infection, parasitic infestation, alcohol, drugs, toxins or transfusion of incompatible blood. Hepatitis viruses, which can be sexually transmitted, represent a heterogeneous group of genetically unrelated viruses that target the hepatocytes (liver cells), causing hepatitis. The hepatitis viruses are remarkably different in their physical structure pathology, and epidemiology. And although…

Zika virus can be spread during both the daytime and nighttime by a mosquito that carries the virus. A pregnant woman who is infected with Zika can pass the virus to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth, which can cause serious birth defects. It is unknown whether pregnant women are more likely to develop symptoms of the disease compared to the general population. A person infected with Zika can spread the disease with a sex partner during the time of unprotected sex. There is…

Public Health Problem Severe acute respiratory syndrome also known as SARS was caused by an unfamiliar animal coronavirus that highly took advantage of the “wet markets” in southern China to adapt and succeed as an infectious virus between humans. Hospitals and international travel were the main pathways that led to a local outbreak and eventually to a global scale. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) between November 2002 and July 2003, the outbreak of SARS caused 8,096 cases and…

“Hepatitis” means the inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Hepatitis A is a vaccine- preventable, acute liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A Virus. The Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) is a small, non-enveloped, positive, single stranded RNA virus classified from the Picornaviridae family. Hepatitis A is one of the most common infectious form of…

“Eleven of Indiana’s forty-four solved cases were caused by noroviruses, the most common cause of foodborne illness.” (“Indiana Gets an F for Foodborne Illnesses”). Fast food is a huge part in most American’s daily life. Most of us eat fast food at least 3-5 times a week. Foodborne illnesses are a problem in our community and country. Many foodborne illnesses are spreading in the United States (US). “Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48…

You know inflammation is bad. But do you know just how bad it is and that it affects every single aspect of your health? Inflammation is at the root cause of all pain and disease. It is responsible for arthritis pain and stiffness, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, thyroid issues, cancer and more. Most of us, at one time or another in our lives, will suffer from the effects of inflammation. Even sadder, most will turn to traditional medicine and be prescribed medications that will only…

particularly burn victims. “In hospitals, where the most serious infections occur, Pseudomonas can be spread on the hands of healthcare workers or by equipment that gets contaminated and is not properly cleaned.” (CDC 2014) The surface of a burn area provides the ideally environment for P. aeruginosa to quickly colonize and multiply. As burns heal, it develops a thick, scrablike crust. This crust acts as shield for the infection,…