Chapter 4 Biofilms in Health and Medicine
Section 9 Normal Flora as a Source of Opportunistic Pathogens
Page 5 The Compromised Human Host
Copyright © Alfred B. Cunningham, John E. Lennox, and Rockford J. Ross, Eds. 2001-2010
Normal flora as a source of opportunistic pathogens
(S. epidermidis, S. mutans, P. aeruginosa, Candida albicans)
The compromised Human Host
Compromising factors
Disease
- Pathogen related
- Chronic infection
- Genetic
- Congenital defects/Anatomical anomalies
- Heart valve defects
- Heart valve defects
- Injury
- Age related factors
- Otitis media in children
- Legionellosis
- Overwhelming exposure to pathogens
- Case study Albuterol contaminated with P.a.
- Medical intervention – Iatrogenic/nosocomial exposure
- The myth of aseptic technique
- The medical staff as sources of infection
- Antibiotic therapy
- Importance of completing therapeutic course
- Importance of matching therapy to pathogen
- Surgery
- Implanted devices
- “Aseptic rejection” of prosthetic devices
- Temporary
- Urinary catheters
- Inhalation devices
- Permanent
- Prosthetic hips
- Pacemaker leads
Prevention techniques
Prophylactic antibiotic therapy
Antimicrobic treated materials
Case study – the St Jude’s heart valve sewing cuff
The value of probiotic therapy