BMSC207 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Central Nervous System, Edema, Vacuole
Bacterial infections:
Systemic infections:
Bacteria can infect the blood as well as the blood vessels and heart•
Septicaemia refers to the presence of microbial infection of the blood that causes ill ness•
Bacteraemia refers specifically to bacterial septicaemia•
When bacteria remain fixed at the site of infection but release toxins into the blood, the condition is
called toxaemia
•
Septicaemia is characterised by fever (over 38C), chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, shortness of
malai se (feeling of general discomfort), and changes in mental status such as confusion, anxiety,
impending feeling of doom
•
These signs and symptoms can progress rapidly to septic shock, a condition of extremely low blood
pressure resulting from dil ation of blood vessels
•
Decrease in body temperature, decrease in or absence of urine output, rapid breathing, aberrant
clotting, increased heart rate, anxiety and death characterise septic shock
•
The mortality from septic shock can exceed 50%, depending on the bacterium and the overall health
the patient
•
Numerous bacteria are capable of causing septicaemia or toxemia.•
Tularaemia:
•
Lyme's disease:
Bubonic plague and pneumonic plague:
•
Lecture 3.1 - 15/8/16
Monday, 15 August 2016
10:39 AM
Lectures Page 1
Document Summary
Bacteria can infect the blood as well as the blood vessels and heart. Septicaemia refers to the presence of microbial infection of the blood that causes illness. When bacteria remain fixed at the site of infection but release toxins into the blood, the condition is called toxaemia. Septicaemia is characterised by fever (over 38c), chi lls, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, shortness of malai se (feeling of general discomfort), and changes in mental status such as confusion, anxiety, impending feeling of doom. These signs and symptoms can progress rapidly to septic shock, a condition of extremely low blood pressure resulting from dil ation of blood vessels. Decrease in body temperature, decrease in or absence of uri ne output, rapid breathing, aberrant clotting, increased heart rate, anxiety and death characterise septic shock. The mortality from septic shock can exceed 50%, depending on the bacterium and the overall health the patient. Numerous bacteria are capable of causing septicaemia or toxemia.
