Microbial infections disease

Rapid sub-typing of bacteria is needed for protection of public health and in civil-, criminal-, or terror-related forensics. Distinction of microbiological sub-types can signal important differences that affect the health risk from microbial infection and treatment strategies for disease. It can also be used to monitor the emergence of mutant strains.1 In cases of nosocomial (hospital-incurred) infections and outbreaks, sub-typing capability could be used as an alternative for identifying the route by which infection spreads. Many studies... 

Human illness, as a result of microbial infection, is an ever-increasing public health crisis. Children often represent the most at-risk population. Worldwide every year billions of cases of microbial infection occur and millions of deaths can be directly attributed to microbial pathogens.1 The Centers for Disease Control estimates that microbial infections are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, with approximately 75,000 deaths attributable to microbial pathogens annually.2 Not only are there serious physical health effects associated with microbial infections, but the cost of health care associated with microbial infections is shocking. For example, in the United States alone, upper respiratory tract infections in children under the age of 15 account for more than 50 million visits to a doctor s office each year.3... 

The term pharmaceutical includes more than 4,000 chemicals used to control and treat different kinds of diseases in humans and animals. Pharmaceuticals include analgesics, anti-inflammatories, anti-epileptics, (l-blockers, compounds used to prevent and treat parasites and microbial infections (parasiticides and antibiotics) and those for combating cancer. Hormones are also a class of pharmaceuticals but due to their particular involvement in endocrine disruption, they have been discussed in a separate section (see above). 

Hamann also reviewed a range of cow-specific and environmental factors that affect the risk of microbial infection and mastitis disease progression in dairy cows (see Table 11.2). 

The parasites which cause plant diseases may be spread by wind, rain, insects, birds, snails, slugs, and earthworms, transplant soil, nursery grafts, vegetative propagation (especially in strawberries, potatoes, and many flowers and ornamentals), contaminated equipment and tools, infected seed stock, pollen, dust storms, irrigation water, and people. Figure 3.8 illustrates the effects of microbial infection of various fruit trees. 

Nongenetically Associated Diseases. Different organs differ quantitatively, and often qualitatively, in their enzyme makeup. When the cells of a specific organ are damaged through microbial infection or mechanical or chemical injury, the enzymes of those cells are liberated into the blood... 

Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution in ulcerative keratitis since their effects on comeal microbial infections and enzymolysis are not known and there is anecdotal evidence of comeal "melting" associated with their use. It should be noted that carprofen, an arylpropionic acid NSAID, has been shown to increase the expression of MMP9 zymogen in equine chondrocytes in vitro. Suppression of comeal angiogenesis by topical NSAIDs is likely to impede local comeal defense mechanisms and subsequently delay repair, particularly in deep stromal injury. Concurrent topical bactericidal antibiotics should always be used in conjunction with topical NSAIDs in ulcerative disease in all cases, the therapeutic benefits of topical NSAID therapy should be weighed against the possibility of any untoward effects. 

Blackcurrants are being studied in laboratory experiments to test for potential activity against heart disease, cancer, microbial infections, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer s disease. In a 2008 study in Italy, blackcurrants were used in a nutraceutical product called Pantescal to study subjects allergic to common airborne allergens, revealing that allergy biomarkers were decreased by the treatment. 

Biron CA, Gazzinelli RT. Effects of IL-12 on immune responses to microbial infections A key mediator in regulating disease outcome. Curr Opin Immunol 1995 7 485-96. 

Mastitis, an inflammatory reaction of the mammary gland, usually resulting from a microbial infection, is a widespread disease seen in cattle throughout the world. The major bacterial species that are responsible for bovine mastitis are Staphylococcus aureus. Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, and E. coli. Of these, the first three cause a contagious route of transmission, whereas Streptococcus uberis and... 

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