6. Epidemiologic Investigation

Question 1

epidemiology definition

Answer 1

the study of health status of populations

Question 2

outbreak definition

Answer 2

a disease outbreak is the occurrence of cases of disease in excess of what would normally be expected in a defined community geographical area or season

Question 3

epidemic definition

Answer 3

the occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time

Question 4

CDC outbreak steps

Answer 4

1. confirm the existence of an epidemic
2. verify the diagnosis
3. develop a case definition
4. develop a case report form
5. count the cases
6. orient the data
7. analyze the data

Question 5

what is the most common cause of US food borne deaths

Answer 5

salmonella

Question 6

iceberg dilemma of disease investigation

Answer 6

confirmed linked

confirmed cases

sick cultured

sick seen by heath care

sick unseen in health system

subclinical

exposed

**picture iceberg most of the problems unseen

Question 7

step one of the out break steps. Confirm an outbreak

Answer 7

public health investigators used the pulse net system to identify cases of illness that were part of this outbreak

pulse net = receives DNA fingerprints of salmonella bacteria

Question 8

Step two of the out break steps. Verify diagnosis

Answer 8

in the case of salmonella the verification of the diagnosis of the patient is through culture and the verification of stereotype genetic typing

Question 9

step three of the out break steps. Case Definition

Answer 9

in the case of salmonella state and federal officials will use pulse net as the case definition of linked cases

included may be the history of consuming specific products or coming from a specific area

Question 10

step four of the out break steps. Case report form

Answer 10

standard reporting forms and collections process will aid in the investigation

Question 11

step six of the out break steps. Orient the data

Answer 11

time
place
person

Question 12

step seven of the out break steps. Test the hypothesis

Answer 12

this is more typically done in longer terms studies or with unknown diseases than in known outbreaks like salmonella

could involve research process evaluation animal testing ect.

Question 13

What are the most important step in the CDC outbreak steps?

Answer 13

1. confirm the existence of an epidemic
2. verify the diagnosis
3. develop a case definition

Question 14

point source outbreak with no propagation

Answer 14

normal bell curve looking

Question 15

point source with propagation

Answer 15

distribution of cases by onset of symptoms point source index case with propagated spread

Question 16

index case

Answer 16

index case is the first identified case in a group of related cases of a particular communicable or heritable disease