Chapter 3 Risk Assessment Paradigms As defined, risk assessment is the qualitative or quantitative characterization and estimation of potential adverse health effects associated with exposure of individuals or populations to…
Herpes Simplex Pathogenesis and Epidemiology Transmitted by direct contact. Invades skin locally producing skin vesicles by its cytolytic activity. Remains latent in the sensory ganglia. Reactivation is triggered by physical…
Herpesviruses are enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses (120–240 kb) encoding for more than 35 proteins. After an acute infection, lifelong latency follows with the potential for relapse to occur later in…
Leptospira There are two main species: Leptospira interrogans, which contains all of the pathogenic strains, and L. biflexa, a non-pathogen. L. interrogans has more than 200 serovariants that may be…
Pseudomonas spp. Most Pseudomonas spp. are environmental organisms that can cause opportunistic infections in a healthcare environment. Pseudomonas Aeruginosa This organism is widespread in the environment, but rare in the…
Salmonella There are two Salmonella species that account for the majority of human and animal infections: S. enterica and S. bongori. Salmonellosis Salmonella are host-adapted to animals and humans. Infection…
The Enterobacteriaceae are a large family (>20 genera and 100 species) of facultatively anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli that are easily cultured, reduce nitrate and ferment glucose. The wide diversity of named…
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a Gram-negative diplococcus, is most common in individuals between 15 and 35 years of age. It is almost exclusively spread by sexual contact. Pathogenesis…
