The word pathogen comes from two Greek words: pathos, meaning suffering, and the suffix -genes, meaning “producer of something.” The pathogen is the factor responsible for causing disease. Pathogens are divided into animate and inanimate. Biological and animate infectious agents include microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and also prions. Among the inanimate, there are chemical pathogens: poisons, toxic substances, as well as corrosive and physical substances, such as, for example, ionizing radiation.
Although pathogens these cause many diseases, from minor to life-threatening, not all of them bacteria are pathogenic. In fact, there are many species in the human body that are an integral part of our microflora. Some microorganisms are useful and very important for biological processes such as digestion and the proper functioning of the immune system. But the bacteria are real pathogenic their task is to infect the body – their aim is to spread, survive and cause a given disease in it.
Pathogens are transferred in a manner direct or indirect. Infection with a pathogenic agent may occur through:
- air-droplet pathway: the in-body pathogen is released through sneezing, coughing and even laughing. It is contained in spray drops of body fluid: saliva and discharge from the nasal cavity. If a pathogen has been “suspended” in the air, there is a chance that it will spread to another human who inhales contaminated air;
- drinking contaminated water or direct contact with it;
- eating contaminated and improperly processed food;
- contact with an infected animal. The pathogen can spread to humans through insect bites, direct contact with wild or even domestic animals and their faeces.
Contact with potentials cannot be completely avoided pathogensbut you can try to minimize the risk of contracting infectious diseases. The key is here proper hygiene – you should remember to wash your hands after using the toilet, especially in the public space. We also wash our hands thoroughly after coming home. When it comes to eating, it is important to properly heat-treat raw food products, especially meat. If it is part of our diet, it is worth buying it from a proven source. Disinfect household surfaces that are exposed to germs (worktops, cutting boards). Replace your washing-up sponges regularly when you are not using the dishwasher.
Diseases caused by pathogens
The World Health Organization WHO has published the second list the eight most dangerous pathogens in December 2018. They cause diseases that must be given as much priority as possible in order to avoid an outbreak in the near future. The following diseases caused by viral pathogens:
- Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever caused by the CCHF virus (Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever),
- Ebola and Marburg virus,
- Lassa fever, which is a viral hemorrhagic fever,
- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS),
- Nipah virus,
- Rift Valley Fever (RVF),
- Zika virus (ZIKV, ZIKAV),
- disease X, which is a mysterious potential disease, the pathogen of which is not yet known as a pathogen. It is assumed that a global epidemic caused by this pathogen may break out in the future, so taking appropriate action will help prepare for a possible epidemic.
Also read: 8 diseases for which there is still no cure
Bacterial pathogens
According to research carried out on bacterial pathogens WHO distinguishes 12 drug-resistant families of bacteria that pose a significant threat to human health. The urgent priority is to develop drugs to combat these diseases pathogens. Examples of dangerous bacterial pathogens constitute:
Critical priority
- Acinetobacter baumannii, resistant to carbapenems,
- Enterobacteriaceae, enterobacteria resistant to carbapenems, produce ESBLs, i.e. bacterial beta-lactamase enzymes characterized by an extended spectrum of activity,
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant blue oil.
High priority
- Campylobacter ssp. odporne na fluorochinolony,
- Enterococcus faecium resistant to vancomycin,
- Helicobacter pylori, resistant to clarithromycin,
- Salmonellae resistant to fluoroquinolones,
- Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility or resistance to vancomycin
- Neisseria gonorrhoeae, gonorrhea resistant to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins.
Medium priority
- Haemophilus influenzae, ampicillin-resistant influenza rod,
- Shigella spp. resistant to fluoroquinolones,
- Streptococcus pneumoniae, penicillin insensitive disease.
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