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Pathogenic Properties of Infectious Organisms and Tissue Reactions

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The Infected Eye

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Abstract

In spite of an impressive history of progress made by science, medicine, and society as a whole to combat infections, infectious diseases continue to pose new problems. We are threatened by the appearance of new diseases such as Ebola virus and by the reemergence of old ones such as tuberculosis and infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. Pathogens have an impressive adaptability and diversity. Environmental changes, rapid global travel, population movements, and medicine itself through its use of antibiotics and immunosuppressive agents all increase the impact of infections. Infections must be considered in the etiologic differential diagnosis of symptoms affecting any ocular tissue. The major types of infectious agents that cause disease, with examples of specific microbes causing ocular infection, are described in this chapter. A discussion on the human immune system and host defense mechanisms will allow the reader to better understand the different types of inflammation and the cells involved in the process. Infection involves complicated interactions between microbes and hosts, and in most cases, a pathogenic process consisting of several steps is required for an infection to develop. A competent host has a complex array of physical and immunological defenses to prevent infection, and invading pathogens adapt mechanisms to overcome these progressive impediments. Understanding the various modes of invasion among bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, how these agents infect the host and cause damage to tissue, and the host responses to specific infections is the key to better diagnosis and treatment of ocular infections.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ocular Pathology Laboratory, New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine, 800 Washington Street, #6700, Boston, MA, 02111, USA

    Nora V. Laver MD

  2. Departments of Pathology, Ophthalmology, Neurosurgery and Neurology, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Anatomic Pathology, MC H179 500 University Drive, 850, Hershey, PA, 17033-0850, USA

    Charles S. Specht MD

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  1. Nora V. Laver MD
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Correspondence to Nora V. Laver MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Nora V. Laver

  2. Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health-Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

    Charles S. Specht

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Laver, N.V., Specht, C.S. (2016). Pathogenic Properties of Infectious Organisms and Tissue Reactions. In: Laver, N., Specht, C. (eds) The Infected Eye. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42840-6_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42840-6_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-42838-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42840-6

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