BIOSCIENCE 1 - University Assignment: Tetanus and S. Aureus Infection

This bioscience assignment provides an in-depth analysis of tetanus and Staphylococcus aureus infections. It begins by defining tetanus, discussing its causative agent, and explaining the importance of booster shots. The assignment then explores the signs and symptoms of wound infections, differentiating between signs and symptoms. It delves into the inflammatory response, detailing the process of wound healing, and the role of vasodilation, and the causes of swelling and purulent discharge. The assignment also examines the causes and benefits of fever. Furthermore, the assignment distinguishes between exogenous and endogenous sources of Staphylococcus aureus infection, considering both environmental and host-related factors. Finally, the assignment discusses the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection with Augmentin, explaining its effectiveness and benefits. The references used are also included.

Running head: BIOSCIENCE
Bioscience
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

1Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
Answer to Question 1
1.1
Tetanus is the infectitious disease caused by the organism Clostridium tetani. It is a
pathogenic bacteria, anaerobic in nature and has a rod shaped structure. The probability of
contracting this infectious disease is very high. Thus, tetanus booster diseases are recommended
after every 10 years one the first shot is taken. The spores of the C. Tetani are present in the
environment in soil, manure; dust and form develop as full form bacteria after entering the host.
They are extremely hardy and produce exotoxin that is fatal to human body. It results in
convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles and lockjaw. They are resistant to the antiseptics and heat.
Since, Mary has suffered a wound; there is a high chance of infection, if contacted with the
spores (Brüggemann et al., 2015). Thus, this organism is of concern in the present case study .
1.2
The guidelines mentioned by the “Australian Immunisation Handbook”, instruct that the
tetanus booster shots should be given to prevent tetanus infection. If an individual is at risk of
developing the infection must receive the booster. Booster shots are best when patient is
experiencing the puncture wound and even if never received in the past. In this case, Mary’s
wound appears to be tetanus prone. She has suffered wound of 4 cm cut and hence it is justified
to give booster dose (immunise.health.gov.au, 2017).

2Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
Answer to Question 2
2.1
After the administration of the tetanus booster, the three wound observations are-
1. Redness at the wound edges and increase in temperature
2. Swelling in the area around cut or wound
3. Odorous and purulent discharge
A sign is the objective information of disease, whereas the subjective evidence is the
symptom. The person other than the patent suffering from illness can observe sign. On the
contrary, the patients can only recognise the symptoms and it is not evident to third person
(Marieb & Hoehn, 2016). In this, case the above three observations are thus signs and not
symptoms. Swelling, redness of the wound ad discharge is visible to everyone and the rise in
temperature is evident by hot skin.
2.2
Mary’s deep wound in her calf due to gardening has resulted in immune response in her
body. Immune response stimulates the inflammatory reactions that involves cascade of events.
The first stage of the wound healing is the inflammatory process, which is followed by the
proliferation and maturation. The classic signs of inflammatory response are heat, pain, redness,
fever and swelling. The process of homeostasis begins after the wound has been inflicted. The
blood vessels tend to dilate to allow the antibodies, enzymes, white blood cells, and nutrients to
enter into the affected area. Increase flow of blood in the affected area is due to vasodilation of

3Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
the arterioles. It helps to promote good healing of infection. During this process, the classical
signs tend to manifest. This is followed by the rebuild of wound with new, healthy granulation
tissue, via the process of angiogenesis. A healthy wound is reddish for pinkish colour, whereas
an infected wound is evident by a darker tissue. To prevent the infection the immune system
releases some chemical including kinins, Prostaglandins, histamines, and complement system,
which also causes the classical symptoms ((Craft & Gordon, 2015).
2.3
Increase in capillary permeability and flow of blood in the affected area due to
vasodilation of the arterioles leads top swelling. Release of chemicals such as kinins and
prostaglandins also increases the permeability at the wound site. When the fluid leaks from the
wound swelling is prominent as the tissue spaces are fluid filled (Deer & Stewart, 2016).
2.4
The inflammatory response results in the necrosis of the bacterial cells leaving its tissue
debris to discharge from the wound. Thus, the discharge contains proteinous exudates, and is
odorous and purulent. The process of necrosis is the part of wound healing (Deer & Stewart,
2016).
Answer to Question 3
3.1
Fever is individual is characterised by abnormal rise in temperature of the body. It is the
natural human body response to the invading foreign bodies with the potential to cause disease.
Mary had deep wound in her calf and the infection due to staphylococcus aureus caused the

4Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
fever. The inflammatory response is the main cause of increase in temperature. Pyrogens are
chemicals that are released as the action of macrophages and leucocytes, which attack the
foreign particles or antigens as the body’s defense mechanism. The pyrogen alters the
thermostat function of the body that is maintained by the hypothalamus area of the brain
containing neuron clusters. Temperature rises in response to the action of pyrogen on them
(Sköld-Chiriac et al., 2015).
3.2
The benefits of fevers are as follow-
 The stimulation of natural defense mechanism with increase in metabolic rate of
cells
 Stimulation of liver and spleen cells for iron and zinc sequestration and
prevention of bacterial invasion (Sköld-Chiriac et al., 2015)
Answer to Question 4
4.1
The staphylococcus aureus mediated infection can occur due to exogenous or endogenous
source of contamination. The endogenous source of infection is present in the host body prior to
the onset of injection. Mary’s infection was due to staphylococcus aureus, which may be the
normal microbiota of her skin. Which microorganism is commonly present in sweat glands, nose
and the layers under the skin. This pathogen can easily grow in moist environment. In Marry’s
case, the bacteria might have been exposed to the wound via nasal droplet due to favourable
condition. Opportunistic infections occur due to transmission of pathogens between two different

5Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
parts of the same individual. Opportunistic infections commonly occur via skin wound (Lee &
Bishop, 2016).
4.2
Exogenous sources of infection are present outside the host body and infections occur
due to factors present in the external environments. In Mary’s case, the health care setting, where
she received the tetanus booster could be the exogenous source of infection. In the health care
associated infections, Staphylococcus aureus infection is highly represented. These hospital-
acquired infections are also called as nosocomial infection, caused by plethora of
microorganisms present in the setting. In hospital patients with wide range of infections and
illness visit and there is a high chance of cross contamination. Cross infection is the process of
transmitting microorganisms from one patient to another. It may happen so that Mary was
exposed to other infected patient. Alternatively, Mary’s infection may have also occurred due to
lack of hand hygiene of the health care professional who administered the booster shot to the
patient. Health care providers are common carriers of pathogens as they come in contact with
different patients (Delves et al., 2017).
Answer to Question 5
1.1
As per the swab test, Mary was diagnosed with Staphylococcus aureus mediated
infection. In this condition, it was effective intervention to administer the drug Augmentin. It is
the first choice of antibiotic to treat common infections of skin, ear etc. This drug belongs to the
group penicillin and is made of two componenets clavulanate potassium and amoxicillin. As per
the literature evidence, this antibiotic is highly effective against the Staphylococcus aureus, a

6Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
methicillin resistant strain. This is the one of the most powerful infection causing pathogens and
is resistant to methicillin,a strong antibiotic. However, augmentin can fight this infection and has
low chances of failure (Assis et al., 2017).
1.2
Augmentin is effective against wide range of infections, because of the two main
components. This drug is also effective against the sinusitis, ear infection, urinary tract
infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis. There are several benefits of this drug. It is effective
against the isolates of different susceptible bacteria due to beta-lactamase inhibiting capacity
(Bullock & Manias, 2017).

7Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
References
Assis, L. M., Nedeljković, M., & Dessen, A. (2017). New strategies for targeting and treatment
of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Drug Resistance Updates, 31, 1-14.
Brüggemann, H., Brzuszkiewicz, E., Chapeton-Montes, D., Plourde, L., Speck, D., & Popoff, M.
R. (2015). Genomics of Clostridium tetani. Research in microbiology, 166(4), 326-331.
Bullock, S., & Manias, E. (2017). Fundamentals of pharmacology (8th ed.). Frenchs Forest,
Australia: Pearson Australia.
Craft, J., & Gordon, C. (Eds.). (2015). Understanding pathophysiology (2nd Australian and New
Zealand ed.). Chatswood, Australia: Elsevier. Available Online
Deer, T. R., & Stewart, C. D. (2016). Wound healing. In Atlas of Implantable Therapies for Pain
Management (pp. 89-92). Springer New York.
Delves, P. J., Martin, S. J., Burton, D. R., & Roitt, I. M. (2017). Essential immunology. John
Wiley & Sons.
Department of Health. (2017). 4.19 Tetanus. Retrieved from
http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/
Handbook10home~handbook10part4~handbook10-4-19
Lee, G., & Bishop, P. (Eds.). (2016). Microbiology and infection control for health professionals
(6th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Pearson Australia.
Marieb, E.N., & Hoehn, K. (2016). Human anatomy & physiology (10th global ed.). Harlow,
United Kingdom: Pearson Education.

8Answer to Question 1BIOSCIENCE
Sköld-Chiriac, S., Nord, A., Tobler, M., Nilsson, J. Å., & Hasselquist, D. (2015). Body
temperature changes during simulated bacterial infection in a songbird: fever at night and
hypothermia during the day. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218(18), 2961-2969.