Cellular basis for the spread of infectious diseases Flashcards
What are the five stages of an infectious disease?
Incubation : microbe attaches and starts to grow (no symptoms)
Prodromal period : start to feel unwell
Illness : all signs and symptoms occur, most likely for disease to be transmitted
Decline : immune system attacks microbes, pathogens get killed
Convalescence : symptoms gone, back to normal health
Disease related to time it takes for stages to occur
Depending on disease the time it takes for the stages to occur differ but illness stage is relatively the same (one to two weeks)
What are the six components of the chain infection?
Causative agent
Reservoir/source
Means of exit
Mode of transmission
Portal of entry
Person at risk
What is the causative agent in the chain of infection?
Virus/Bacteria/Parasite
The microorganism which has the ability to cause disease
What is the reservoir in the chain of infection?
Human/animal/fomite/food/water
Where the microorganism can survive
What is the means of exit in the chain of infection?
Excretions/secretions/droplets
The way the microorganisms leave the reservoir/body
What is the mode of transmission in the chain of infection?
Contact/airborne/vector
This describes how microorganisms are transmitted from one person or place to another
What is the portal of entry in the chain of infection?
Respiratory/GI/GU/Mucous/Skin
How the infection enters another individual
What is the person at risk in the chain of infection?
Young/Elderly/Immunocompromised
The person who is vulnerable to infection
How can we break the chain of infection?
Rapid detection and treatment (drugs and antibiotics)
Good hygiene/sterilisation/disinfection
Waste removal/disinfection
Airflow control/spacing people out
Aseptic technique catheter/wound care
Identifying those at risk and targeting them for vaccination
What is the definition of mortality?
The incidence of death in a population/death rate
What is the definition of morbidity?
Refers to the incidence of disease, including fatal and non fatal diseases
What is the definition of incidence?
The number of new cases of the disease in a given period of time
What is the definition of prevalence?
The total number of new and existing cases in a population in a given time
What is the definition of endemic?
Amount of a particular disease that is usually present in a community
