Question

1.Describe infections caused by Pseudomonas?

2. What medical conditions predispose people to mycotic infections?

3. How do travel, immigration and AIDS all affect the epidemiology of parasitic infection?

Answer 1

1. Infection caused by Pseudomonas:

• Caused by bacteria, different strains of Pseudomonas.
• Infection caused in humans are mainly caused by strains- Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Pseudomonas are found in environment, soil, water, etc.
• In healthy individuals, the infection is causes mild infections.
• In immunocompromised people, severe infection may result, mostly in form of nosocomial infections (hospital related).
• Symptoms:

1. Mild symptoms:

a. Infection in skin- affecting hair follicles-mainly folliculitis.

• Redness
• Skin abscess
• Draining wounds

b. Infection of ear- affecting external ears-swimmer’s ear.

• Ear pain and swelling
• Itching inside ear
• Problem in hearing

c. Infection in eye-

• Swelling
• Itching and redness
• Inflammation
• Pus formation
• Vision impairment

2. Severe symptoms:

a. Infection in lungs- resulting in pneumonia.

• Chills
• Fever
• Cough
• Difficulty in breathing

b. Infection in blood- bacteremia

• Chills
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle and joint pain
• Treatment: Antibiotics- Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Gentamycin, Ceftazidime.

2. Medical condition that predispose people to mycosis:

• Mycoses are fungal diseases usually causing disease due to some predisposing conditions, in immunocompromised individuals.
• Mycosis fungi may cause infections: Cutaneous, sub-cutaneous, systemic, opportunistic infections.
• Some common mycoses causing fungi are: Candida, Cryptococcus, Trichophyton, Histoplasma, Blastomyces, Epidermophyton, Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus,
• Medical conditions may result in immunocompromised conditions:

a. Diabetes Mellitus

b. HIV infections/ AIDS

c. Chronic pulmonary disease

d. Neoplasms

e. Hepatic failure

f. Intravenous drug abuse

g. Organ transplantation

h. Cardiovascular surgeries

i. Severe burns

j. Malnutrition

k. Neutropenia

l. Corticosteroid/ Immunosuppressive therapies.

m. Alcoholism

a. Travel (Emigration):

• People travelling to endemic area may acquire or be exposed to parasites of the region.
• Travel history, including food, liquids, medication taken, activities like swimming, information on insect bites, provide probable diagnosis of a parasitic disease.
• The incubation period may be determined by calculating date of travel ad onset f symptoms.
• Some examples are Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Entamoeba histolytica.

b. Immigration:

• People immigrating from another region may bring parasite from endemic to nonendemic region for that specific parasite.
• High rate of intestinal parasites (protozoans and helminths) are associated with immigrants.
• A proper screening or treatment regime may be used for immigrants.

c. AIIDS.

• AIIDS patient may be associated with other infections related to parasites.
• These are more prevalent in low and middle- income countries.
• Parasitic infections associated with AIIDs patients are cryptococcosis, isosporiasis, microsporidiosis.