Cellular Basis for the Spread of Infectious Disease Flashcards
What is the first stage of an infectious disease?
Incubation period
What is observed in the incubation period?
No signs or symptoms
What is after the incubation period?
Prodromal period
What is observed in the prodromal period?
Vague, general symptoms
What is after the prodromal period?
Illness
What is observed in illness?
Most severe signs and symptoms
What is after illness?
Decline
What is observed in decline?
Declining signs and symptoms
What is after decline?
Convalescence
What is observed in convalescence?
No signs or symptoms
What is the most infectious stage?
Illness
What is epidemiology?
Study of disease transmission
What is the first component for the spread of disease?
Causative agent: pathogenic organism
What is causative agent: pathogenic organism?
Virus/bacteria/parasite
What is after causative agent: pathogenic organism?
Reservoir/source
What is reservoir/source?
Human/animal/fomite/food/water
What is after reservoir/source?
Means of exit: way out of body
What is involved in means of exit: way out of body?
Excretions/secretions/droplets
What is after means of exit: way out of the body?
Mode of transmission: method of spread
What is mode of transmission: method of spread?
contact/airborne/vector
What is after mode of transmission: method of spread?
Portal of entry: way into the body
What is portal of entry: way into the body?
Respiratory, GI, GU, Mucous, skin
What is after portal of entry: way into the body?
Person at risk
What is person at risk?
Young/elderly, immunocompromised
How can the chain of infection be broken at the causative agent: pathogenic organism?
Rapid detection and treatment
How can the chain of infection be broken at the reservoir/source?
Good hygiene, sterilisation, disinfection
How can the chain of infection be broken at the means of exit: way out of the body?
Water removal, disinfection
How can the chain of infection be broken at the mode of transmission: method of spread?
Airflow control/ bed spacing
How can the chain of transmission be broken at the portal of entry: way into the body?
Aseptic technique, catheter/wound care
How can the chain of transmission be broken at the person of risk?
Identifying at risk and targeting them for special care, vaccination and education
What is mortality?
The incidence of death in a population
What is morbidity?
The incidence of disease, including fatal and nonfatal diseases
What is incidence?
Number of new cases of the disease in a given period of time
What is prevalence?
Total number of new and existing cases in a population in a given time
What is endemic?
The amount of a particular disease that is usually present in a community
What is sporadic?
A disease that occurs infrequently or irregularly
What is epidemic?
An increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of disease above what is normally expected in tat population in that area
What is pandemic?
An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents usually affecting a large number of people
