Communicable Disease Flashcards
define communicable disease
illness due to a specific infectious agent or its toxic product that arises through transmission of that agent or its product from an infected person, animal, inanimate reservoir to a susceptible host
what are the six essential elements of disease?
- infectious agent
- reservoir
- portal of exit
- mode of transmission
- portal of entry
- host
infectious agent
organisms that live on or in the body of a host and can produce disease
GOAL: to invade, grow, & produce
infectivity
the ability of an agent to invade, survive, and multiply in a host
pathogenicity
the ability of an agent to cause clinical disease in a susceptible host
virulence
the ability of an agent to cause severe disease in a host
reservoir
any person, animal, arthropod, plant, soil or substance in which an infectious agent normally lives, grows, and multiplies
from the reservoir the infectious agent can be transmitted to other susceptible hosts
portal of exit
path by which an infectious agent leaves the host or reservoir
EXAMPLES:
blood
nose/mouth
sexual organs
fecal waste
mode of transmission
how an infectious agent may be transmitted from its reservoir to a susceptible host
direct transmission
direct skin-to-skin contact or droplet spread
indirect transmission
the transfer of an infectious agent from reservoir to a host by suspended air particles, inanimate objects, or animate
airborne transmission
agents are carried by dust or droplets nuclei
vehicle-borne transmission
contaminated inanimate material or objects touch a person’s body or is ingested
vector-borne transmission
animate (living) vector bites or touches a person
mechanical transmission
infectious agent is spread by crawling or flying insects (flies, roaches) usually on their feet or mouth
biological transmission
infectious agent must multiply/undergo further development before arthropod can transmit the infective form of the infectious agent to humans
vector is on the inside of the agent
portal of entry
how the infectious agents enters a susceptible host
the portals of entry and exit for a specific infectious agents may be the same
susceptible host
a person or animal who is at risk of being infected by a disease
carrier
a person or animal that harbors the infectious agents, but does not demonstrate signs/symptoms of the disease
contact
exposure to a source of an infection; a person who has been exposed
risk factors
are characteristics that increase the likelihood that a person will acquire a specific disease
characteristics of the host
age, gender
characteristics of the infectious agent
infectivity, pathogenicity, and virulence
physical condition of the host
general health, nutritional status, stress
host immunity
the ability of the host to resist an invading organism
what is the most effective way to prevent or control disease
Break the Chain of Infection
what three links can the chain of infection be broken at
- reservoir (source)
- mode of transmission
- susceptible person
Break the Chain of Infection:
reservoir
personal hygiene
isolation
quarantine
surveillance
treatment
education
what is simplest, easiest, and most effective way to prevent germs
hand washing
-before preparing food
-before eating
-after coughing/sneezing
-after changing a diaper
-after using the bathroom
what are the Five F’s on personal hygiene
fingers
feet
face
front
fanny
isolation
the separation of infected persons to prevent transmission to susceptible persons
quarantine
the separation of potentially exposed but well persons
Break the Chain of Infection:
modes of transportation
environmental sanitation
food preparation and handling
insects/vector control
environmental
focuses on controlling pollution of the air, dust, soil, and water
food preparation and handling
contaminated food provides an ideal breeding ground for the proliferation of pathogens
insects/vector control
controls disease by identifying insects or rodents
knowing its habits
breeding habits
and feeding behavior
susceptible person
GOAL: protect the host from the infectious agent
immunization
used to boost the body’s immune defenses
herd immunity
(group immunity)
proportion of individuals in a community or population who are immune to a specific disease
routine immunizations
immunizations that are routinely given to prevent the spread of communicable diseases
prophylaxis
preventive measures taken to prevent disease
EXAMPLE: condoms
Public’s Health responsibility in communicable disease
Reference AFMAN 48-105 Public Surveillance (5F’s)
Report communicable disease
Collect and review morbidity and mortality data
