Medical Microbiology & Immunology: Influenza Infection Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of influenza infection, a significant human respiratory pathogen. It begins with an examination of the influenza virus, its biology, and global impact, highlighting biological, social, and economic factors contributing to the disease's emergence. The report then delves into the infection and transmission process, detailing how the virus spreads and enters the human body. The immune response to the virus is discussed, including innate and humoral responses. Clinical manifestations, such as fever, cough, and fatigue, are outlined. Finally, the report covers the diagnosis, treatment, and control of influenza, including diagnostic methods like RT-PCR, antiviral drugs, and preventive measures such as vaccination and personal protective equipment, referencing guidelines from the WHO and other health organizations.

Running head: INFLUENZA INFECTION
INFLUENZA INFECTION
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Authors note:

1INFLUENZA INFECTION
Table of Contents
PART 1 (The Enemy – Microbes): 2
PART 2: Infection and Transmission of Disease: 2
PART 3: Immune response: 3
Part 4: clinical manifestation: 3
PART 5 (The Victory – Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control) 3

2INFLUENZA INFECTION
PART 1 (The Enemy – Microbes):
Influenza viruses referred to significant human respiratory pathogens that affected more
than 1 million people every year. Sullivan et al. (2017), highlighted that in Australia,
approximately 52000 cases of flu were reported in 2018 where 1137 deaths were observed. The
influenza virus is a member of Orthomyxoviridae. It is single-stranded, negative-sense and
segmented RNA virus which is differentiated based on two viral envelop protein haemagglutinin
and neuraminidase (Smith et al. 2019). Four genera of this family present in nature whereas only
genera A and B are clinically relevant for humans as these two viruses have the potential
virulence factor for infecting disease (Smith et al. 2019). The biological factor such as antigenic
shift and drift are the reason behind infection. Children less than 5 years, older adults over 65
years and people with the weak immune system are the biological factors behind the infection.
Considering social factors, poor sanitizations and hygiene of the people living in disadvantaged
areas crucial contributing factors behind the emergence of disease (Orr et al. 2016). Considering
economic factors, individuals with low economic status failed to receive adequate health care
access and live in poor sanitization while they are infected with the virus which further gives rise
to the infection.
PART 2: Infection and Transmission of Disease:
Individuals with the flu can transmit the infection up to others within their 6feet away.
Three ways of transmission include direct contact with infected individuals, indirect contact with
contaminated things and through inhalation of virus-containing aerosols (Orr et al. 2016).
Infected aerosols enter to the mouths as noses of people who are nearby and infect the respiratory
tract.

3INFLUENZA INFECTION
The influenza virus attached to tracheal and alveoli cells of the human when a healthy
human is in contact with infected individuals through the droplet. The entry point of the
infection can be a surgical wound or an open wound.
PART 3: Immune response:
The increase of the temperature is the common response when the body encounters an
antigen such as a virus. Considering innate response, neutrophil and macrophages secrete
cytokines such as interleukin and also increase viral-specific cytotoxic t lymphocytes which kills
the viral infection. On the other hand, when the antigen is detected in the body, the influenza-
specific humoral immune response includes IgM, IgG, and IgA (Carroll 2017). Secretory IgA
antibodies are formed locally and transported along with the mucus of the respiratory tract by
trans-epithelial transport for providing local protection by inhibition from infection.
Part 4: clinical manifestation:
Patients who are experiencing influenza experience symptoms such as fever, muscle
aches, cough, runny nose, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue (Orr et al. 2016). The
patients also may experience dysphonia, sore throat, or swollen lymph nodes.
PART 5 (The Victory – Diagnosis, Treatment, and Control)
Prevention and management of the influenza virus need a multi-layered approach where
spreading is required to minimize health care workers, patients, and visitors. The common
diagnosis of the infection include RT-PCR and associated with other methods where blood and
sputum of the infected individuals are tested for detecting viral load (Www.who.int 2019).
Rapid influenza diagnostic tests are also a diagnostic option but have low sensitivity and
reliability.

4INFLUENZA INFECTION
Considering the treatment Influenza vaccine facilitate the development of immunity
against the virus by stimulating the activation of antibodies that are specific to the disease. An
antiviral drug such as Oseltamivir, a neuraminidase inhibitor is needed to provide to the patients
(Www.health.nsw.gov.au, 2019). The viral neuraminidases inhibitor is to block the enzyme that
enables that virion release and hence it is most suitable for preventing infection. Personal
protective equipment can prevent control. In Australia, Australian Guidelines for the Prevention
and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010) design protocol which suggested that personal
protective equipment is one of the most common and crucial preventive measures for
transmission for both patient and workers(Www.health.nsw.gov.au, 2019). The personal
protective equipment includes goggles, mask, protective cloth and gloves to prevent
transmission. The world health organization also take initiatives to prevent a sudden outbreak of
infection (Www.health.nsw.gov.au 2019). WHO collaborates with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE),
in order to control along with preventing the spread and providing possible intervention to
manage and prevent an Outbreak (Www.who.int 2019). The proper hand hygiene and food
hygiene is required to employ for prevention of infection. WHO guided five moments for hand
hygiene can be employed. Hence, proper health literacy is required to provide to the population
through health promotion campaign.

5INFLUENZA INFECTION
References:
Sullivan, S. G., Chilver, M. B., Carville, K. S., Deng, Y. M., Grant, K. A., Higgins, G., ... and
Tran, T. 2017. Low interim influenza vaccine effectiveness, Australia, 1 May to 24 September
2017. Eurosurveillance, 22(43).
Www.who.int 2019. Influenza (Avian and other zoonotic). [Online] Who.int. Available at:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(avian-and-other-zoonotic)
[Accessed 23 Aug. 2019].
Smith, D. W., Barr, I. G., Loh, R., Levy, A., Tempone, S., O’Dea, M., ... and Effler, P. V. 2019.
Respiratory Illness in a Piggery Associated with the First Identified Outbreak of Swine Influenza
in Australia: Assessing the Risk to Human Health and Zoonotic Potential. Tropical medicine and
infectious disease, 4(2), 96.
Orr, E., Bennett, N., Bradford, J., Johnson, S., Bull, A., Richards, M. J., and Worth, L. J. 2016.
Hand hygiene monitoring in residential aged care: National and international perspectives with
relevance to Australian facilities. Infection, Disease & Health, 21(3), 129.
Carroll, P. 2017. Practice update: Influenza and influenza vaccines. AJP: The Australian Journal
of Pharmacy, 98(1160), 64.
Www.health.nsw.gov.au 2019. Influenza control guideline - Control Guidelines. [online]
Health.nsw.gov.au. Available at:
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/controlguideline/Pages/influenza.aspx [Accessed 14
Aug. 2019].
Www.who.int 2019. Influenza (Avian and other zoonotic). [Online] Who.int. Available at:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(avian-and-other-zoonotic)
[Accessed 23 Aug. 2019].