8.1 Infection Prevention Flashcards
Give examples of infections that spread directly between humans
Influenza, Norovirus, Neisseria gonorrhoea
Give an example of a pathogen that transmits between people via a vector
Malaria
Define ‘endemic disease’
The usual background rate of a disease
Define an ‘outbreak’
Two or more cases linked in time and place
Define an ‘epidemic’
Rate of infection greater than the background rate
Define a ‘pandemic’
Very high rate of infection spreading around the world
What is Ro?
The average number of cases 1 case generates over the course of its infective period in an otherwise noninfected, non-immune population
What is antigenic shift?
Complete change in antigens in a pathogen
What is antigenic drift?
A slight change in antigens in a pathogen
Give 4 reasons for outbreaks of a disease
A new pathogen
An increase in susceptable hosts
Change of place
Change in behaviour
What is the ‘infectious dose’?
The number of microorganisms required to cause infection
What is herd immunity?
Some people in a population get vaccinated which protects others who are not vaccinated
What is a positive of infection prevention?
Elimination of diseases
Decreased disease incidence
What is a negative consequence of infection prevention?
Decreased exposure to pathogens
Later age of exposure
Give examples of pathogens that can cause infections in humans via an original source eg. Food
Food poisoning
Rabies
MERS
