12.1 Communicable Disease

Question 1

Tramission

Answer 1

• Route that infectious agent is spreading through
• Skin to skin contact
• Bodily fluids
• Droplet

Question 2

Incubation

Answer 2

• The time that infectious agent takes to spread in one’s body before symptoms appear

Question 3

Communicability

Answer 3

• Time frame that organism is contagious

Question 4

Prodrome

Answer 4

• Early symptoms that may indicate a start of disease process before specific symptoms occur.

Question 5

Exanthema

Answer 5

• Widespread rash that occurs in children

Question 6

Chain of Infection

Answer 6

• Young children are susceptible hosts because they have immature immune systems (no antibodies to specific agents), a lot of hand to mouth activity, and pediatric patients have not completed all their immunizations yet.
• Infectious agent
• Resevoir
• Portal of exit
• Mode of transmission
• Portal of entry
• Susceptible Host

Question 7

Infectious Disease

Answer 7

• A disease caused by a microorganism and is potentially transferable to new individuals (may or may not be communicable)

Question 8

Communicable Disease

Answer 8

• A disease that is contagious and can be transmitted from one source to another. Not all infectious diseases are communicable.

Question 9

Direct/Indirect Transmission

Answer 9

Direct Transmission
- Occurs when there is physical contact between infected and susceptible host.

Indirect Transmission
- Not direct human to human contact during transmission. Can happen from contaminated surfaces, mosquitos or flies (vector).

Question 10

Immunity

Answer 10

Active Immunity
- An actual exposure to disease that triggers immune system to create antibodies specific to the disease process. Comes from actual exposure or vaccines.

Passive Immunity
- Antibodies to a disease were given to a person rather than producing their own antibodies. Typically occurs in newborns who acquire antibodies through the placenta or receiving IVIG. THIS IS IMMEDAITE BUT TEMPORARY IMMUNITY.

• Immunity from placenta typically only lasts 4 months.

Question 11

Herd Immunity

Answer 11

• When enough people are vaccinated against a certain disease, those germs cannot travel from person to person easily and the entire community is less likely to get the disease.
• Even when people who don’t get vaccinated will have protection because the the larger amount of people are protected.
• If a person does get sick, there is less chance of an outbreak because the majority of people are vaccinated.
• The specific disease may get wiped out all together from this
• Vaccinations are still required even if a disease has been eradicated because other countries may still be susceptible and someone may bring it back when traveling

Question 12

Transmission-Based Precautions

Answer 12

Standard Precautions
- Taken with all patients
- Hand hygiene
- Glove wearing

Contact
- Wearing gown and gloves
- Protection from direct contact with client or contaminated surfaces

Droplet
- Mask within 3-6 feet of patient

Airborne
- Gown, Gloves, N95 Respirator
- Negative pressure room
- TB, Varicella, Measles

• HANDWASHING IS BEST WAY TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION OF DISEASE