Background and Surveillance + Chain of Infection

Question 1

What are the five steps of background and surveillance?

Answer 1

Data collection
Data analysis
Data interpretation
Data dissemination
Link to action
CALID

Question 2

What are the types of background and surveillance?

Answer 2

Passive, active, sentinel, and syndromic

Question 3

What is sensitivity?

Answer 3

Sensitivity: true case detected by surveillance / total true cases

Question 4

What is predictive value positive?

Answer 4

Predictive value positive: true case detected by surveillance / total positives detected by surveillance

Question 5

What is the spectrum of disease?

Answer 5

Range of illness in an individual, from asymptomatic to fatal

Question 6

What is the primary method of data collection in passive surveillance?

Answer 6

Data Collection: Passive surveillance collects data continuously as cases are diagnosed or identified by healthcare providers.

Question 7

Who typically initiates reporting in passive surveillance?

Answer 7

Reporting in passive surveillance is generally not initiated by public health authorities but rather responds to the occurrence of cases.

Question 8

How does passive surveillance utilize existing systems?

Answer 8

Passive surveillance relies on existing healthcare and laboratory reporting systems to identify and collect data on cases.

Question 9

What is a potential limitation of passive surveillance in terms of reporting?

Answer 9

Delayed Reporting: Data may not be reported in real-time, leading to potential delays in identifying outbreaks or trends.

Question 10

How does passive surveillance compare to active surveillance in terms of resource requirements?

Answer 10

Resource-Efficient: Passive surveillance is generally less resource-intensive than active surveillance because it doesn’t require dedicated personnel to actively seek out cases.

Question 11

What kind of information might passive surveillance miss out on?

Answer 11

Limited Case Details: Passive surveillance may not always capture detailed clinical or epidemiological information on cases, as it depends on what healthcare providers and laboratories routinely collect and report.

Question 12

What is proactive data collection in active surveillance?

Answer 12

Proactive data collection in active surveillance involves actively seeking out cases or data through methods like regular field visits, interviews, surveys, or laboratory testing.

Question 13

How does active surveillance ensure consistency and accuracy in data collection?

Answer 13

Active surveillance often follows a structured data collection protocol, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the information gathered.

Question 14

In what contexts is active surveillance typically used?

Answer 14

Active surveillance is typically used when monitoring specific diseases, conditions, or health-related events, such as infectious disease outbreaks, chronic diseases, or adverse drug reactions.

Question 15

What is the advantage of real-time monitoring in active surveillance?

Answer 15

Real-time monitoring in active surveillance allows for quick data collection, which is crucial for identifying and responding to outbreaks or other public health emergencies promptly.

Question 16

How does active surveillance contribute to public health responses?

Answer 16

Active surveillance establishes a feedback loop where the identification of cases or trends triggers public health responses, such as the implementation of control measures or further investigation.

Question 17

What is the primary focus of sentinel surveillance?

Answer 17

Sentinel surveillance primarily focuses on collecting data from a smaller subset of sites, instead of every healthcare facility or source, making it resource-efficient.

Question 18

Why is ongoing monitoring important in sentinel surveillance?

Answer 18

Ongoing monitoring in sentinel surveillance provides timely data on disease prevalence or incidence, enabling early outbreak detection and pattern changes.

Question 19

How is representativeness achieved in sentinel surveillance?

Answer 19

Sentinel sites are selected based on demographic, geographic, or relevant criteria to ensure that the collected data reflects the characteristics of the larger population.

Question 20

Give an example of diseases monitored through sentinel surveillance.

Answer 20

Sentinel surveillance is often used to monitor diseases like influenza, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases of public health importance.

Question 21

What happens to data collected from sentinel sites in sentinel surveillance?

Answer 21

Data from sentinel sites are reported to public health authorities, where it’s analyzed and used for appropriate public health actions.

Question 22

What is one of the primary goals of sentinel surveillance?

Answer 22

One of the primary goals of sentinel surveillance is to serve as an early warning system for specific diseases, triggering extensive investigation and response when needed.

Question 23

How does sentinel surveillance enhance resource efficiency?

Answer 23

Sentinel surveillance is more cost-effective than comprehensive systems, as it directs resources to specific sites or diseases of particular concern, optimizing resource allocation.

Question 24

What are the data sources for syndromic surveillance?

Answer 24

Data sources for syndromic surveillance include healthcare facilities (e.g., emergency room visits, outpatient visits), laboratory reports, over-the-counter medication sales, school absenteeism records, and social media posts.

Question 25

How does syndromic surveillance differ from traditional diagnosis-based surveillance?

Answer 25

Syndromic surveillance focuses on patterns of symptoms or clinical presentations rather than specific diagnoses. For example, it monitors flu-like symptoms or gastrointestinal distress.

Question 26

What is a key advantage of syndromic surveillance in terms of timeliness?

Answer 26

Syndromic surveillance provides near real-time data, enabling rapid identification of potential outbreaks and prompt public health responses.

Question 27

How does syndromic surveillance detect unusual patterns in data?

Answer 27

Syndromic surveillance uses statistical algorithms and data analysis techniques to identify unusual patterns or spikes in syndrome-specific data, which may indicate outbreaks or health-related events.

Question 28

How does syndromic surveillance contribute to public health as an early warning system?

Answer 28

Syndromic surveillance serves as an early warning system, enabling public health officials to respond to emerging threats before they become widespread or severe.

Question 29

How is syndromic surveillance adaptable in monitoring public health?

Answer 29

Syndromic surveillance can be adapted to various diseases or health events, making it a versatile tool for monitoring public health.

Question 30

Agent:

Answer 30

Definition: Something that can cause disease
Examples: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, protozoa, parasites

Question 31

Resorvoir:

Answer 31

Definition: The place where the agent lives and grows
Examples: Environment, other people, animals, food

Question 32

Portal of Exit:

Answer 32

Definition: Where the agent leaves the reservoir
Examples: Open wounds, mouth

Question 33

Modes of Transmission:

Answer 33

Definition: How the agent transfers from the reservoir to the new host
Examples:
Direct transmission
Person to person
Indirect
Carried by something like air that isn’t the official reservoir

Question 34

Portal of entry:

Answer 34

Definition: An opening where the agent enters the host
Examples: Fecal-Oral, STIs, Open wounds, mucous membranes

Question 35

Susceptible host:

Answer 35

Definition: Someone who can’t resist the agent
Examples: Demographics, genetics, pre-existing conditions, immunity

Question 36

Levels of prevention:

Answer 36

Primordial: Avoiding risk by general population health
Primary: Specific prevention, like vaccination
Secondary: Early screening before symptoms
Tertiary: Slowing or stopping disease
Quaternary: Avoiding over-treatment

Question 37

Infectious dose:

Answer 37

Definition: The amount of pathogen required to infect the host

Question 38

Period of Communicability:

Answer 38

Definition: The period during which you can spread the disease to another host