Communicable diseases Flashcards
Diptheria
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: lymph nodes / swollen neck
Epidemiology: rare, mortality 5-10% higher in children
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: Human
Transmission: Contact / droplet / animal
Surveillance: Notifiable
Control measures: vaccine, antibiotics, barrier nursing
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Agent: Bacteria
Clinical features: ‘whooping’ cough and vomiting
Epidemiology: epidemics every 3-4 years, worse in children
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: Humnan
Transmission: Droplet
Surveillance: Notifiable
Control measures: Vaccine, antibiotics
Tetanus
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: muscular contractions and stiff jaw
Epidemiology: Low in UK
Diagnosis: Clinical
Reservoir: soil / animal faeces
Transmission: dirty wounds, needles
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: source control / vaccine
Polio
Agent: Virus
Clinical features: headache, fever (paralysis in rare cases)
Epidemiology: Eradicated in UK
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: faecal-oral
Surveillance: notifiable and WHO notification
Control measures: vaccine
Hib (haemophilus influenzae)
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: causes meningitis (headache, still neck, fever)
Epidemiology: mainly affects children
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: droplet
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: vaccine, antibiotics
Pneumococcus
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: causes pneumonia, meningitis, septicaemia
Epidemiology: infants / elderly
Diagnosis: CSF
Reservoir: human
Transmission: direct contact
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: vaccine and antibiotics
Meningococcal disease
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: fever, vomiting, photophobia, deafness
Epidemiology: mortality c. 10%
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: droplet
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: schools, vaccine, antibiotics
Tuberculosis
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: lungs - cough, long latency
Epidemiology: mostly declining, but increases in urban areas e.g. London (worldwide major issue)
Diagnosis: chest x-ray, sputum smear or culture
Reservoir: human
Transmission: droplet
Surveillance: notifiable, TB control boards
Control measures: Directly observed treatment, selective BCG vaccine
Mumps
Agent: Virus
Clinical features: swelling and tenderness of parotid glands
Epidemiology: fallen in UK since MMR vaccine - increases in 2009-10
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: airborne or droplet spread
Surveillance: Notifiable disease
Control measures: vaccination,
Rubella
Agent: Virus
Clinical features: usual mild symptoms (fever) - can lead to birth defects and miscarriage
Epidemiology: mainly affects primary school children, pregnant women at increased risk
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: direct contact
Surveillance: notifiable disease
Control measures: vaccination and case finding
Human papilloma virus (HPV)
Agent: virus
Clinical features: associated with cervical and other cancers, genital warts
Epidemiology: 50% of sexually active women infected with HPV
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: sexually transmitted and vertical transmission
Surveillance: vaccine coverage, cancer registries
Control measures: screening, vaccination
MRSA
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: skin infection, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, septicaemia, toxic shock
Epidemiology: increasing - linked to poor infection control
Diagnosis: gram staining
Reservoir: human
Transmission: direct contact / environemnt
Surveillance: enhanced hospital surveillance
Control measures: infection control and isolation of cases in hospital, testing on admission
clostridium difficile
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: diarrhoea
Epidemiology: increasing - associated with hospitals and care homes / elderly
Diagnosis: stool testing
Reservoir: human
Transmission: faecal-oral
Surveillance: hospital surveillance
Control measures: isolation + PPE
Campylobacter
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: diarrhoea
Epidemiology: most common GI infection, increasing in UK
Diagnosis: stool culture
Reservoir: birds
Transmission: faecal-oral, uncooked meat
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: cooking practices, hand hygiene
Cholera
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: watery diarrhoea, vomiting
Epidemiology: rare in the UK
Diagnosis: stool culture / PCR
Reservoir: water
Transmission: faecal-oral, contaminated water
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: hygiene and sanitation
cryptosporidiosis
Agent: Protozoa
Clinical features: water diarrhoea, stomach pains
Epidemiology: most common in children
Diagnosis: stool microscopy
Reservoir: human / animal / environment
Transmission: faecal-oral, swimming pools
Surveillance:
Control measures: swimming pools treated with UVB lightt
shigellae
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: dysentery
Epidemiology: low in UK
Diagnosis: stool culture
Reservoir: human
Transmission: faecal-oral, contaminated water/food
Surveillance: notifiable, enhance surveillance
Control measures: hand hygiene, water treatment
E coli
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: diarrhoea
Epidemiology: higher risk in children, linked to food borne outbreaks
Diagnosis: food and stool samples
Reservoir: cattle
Transmission: faecal-oral, contaminated food/water
Surveillance: food poisoning and HUS notifiable
Control measures:
salmonellae
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: diarrhoea
Epidemiology: declining due to vaccination of poultry, elderly, infants, CEV at highest risk
Diagnosis: stool culture
Reservoir: birds
Transmission: contaminated food, faecal-oral
Surveillance: notifiable disease
Control measures: food hygiene, poultry vaccination
Enteric fever (typhoid fever)
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: gastroenteritis, fever, diarrhoea
Epidemiology: low in UK, high in developing countries
Diagnosis: blood, urine, faeces culture
Reservoir: human
Transmission: food borne, person to person
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: antibiotic treatment, sanitation and hygeine
Norovirus
Agent: virus
Clinical features: diarrhoea and vomiting
Epidemiology: seasonal with winter epidemics, occur in hospitals and care homes
Diagnosis: stool PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: faecal-oral, environment, contaminated food
Surveillance: surveillance from lab reports
Control measures: infection control (hand hygiene / food hygeine)
Listeriosis
Agent: Bacteria
Clinical features:
Epidemiology: pregnant women at increased risk, CEV, 65+
Diagnosis: CSF
Reservoir: animal/soil/water
Transmission: food borne / faecal-oral
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: food hygiene / antibiotics
Hepatitis A
Agent: virus
Clinical features: fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, jaundice
Epidemiology: associated with travel, decreased in UK
Diagnosis: antibody testing
Reservoir: human
Transmission: faecal-oral, contaminated food and blood exposure, secondary household transmission
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: vaccination and antibody treatment for contacts
Hepatitis B
Agent: virus
Clinical features: fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, increased risk of liver cirrhosis and cancer
Epidemiology: endemic in parts of the world, higher risk among IDU, prisons and staff
Diagnosis: antibody testing
Reservoir: human
Transmission: mainly IDU
Surveillance: notifiable,
Control measures: vaccination for high risk groups, post exposure prophylaxis
Hepatitis C
Agent: virus
Clinical features: fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, increased risk of liver cirrhosis and cancer
Epidemiology: major cause of liver disease worldwide, biggest risk factor IDU and penetrative sex, higher risk in MSM
Diagnosis: antibody testing
Reservoir: human
Transmission: blood borne via sex, IDU, perinatal,
Surveillance: notifiable, hep C national register
Control measures: needle exchanges, contact tracing
Influenza
Agent: virus, type a more several
Clinical features: fever, headache, cough
Epidemiology: seasonal, elderly and CEV at most risk, 3-30000 excess winter deaths
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human (birds - avian)
Transmission: airborne
Surveillance: surveillance databases
Control measures: flu vaccination , hand hygeine
Influenza
Agent: virus, type a more several
Clinical features: fever, headache, cough
Epidemiology: seasonal, elderly and CEV at most risk, 3-30000 excess winter deaths
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human (birds - avian)
Transmission: airborne
Surveillance: surveillance databases
Control measures: flu vaccination , hand hygiene
Legionella
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: anorexia, malaise, myalgia, - legionnaires develops into pneumonia
Epidemiology: 300 case per year (50% contracted abroad), high risk include diabetics, elderly, heavy drinkers, smokers
Diagnosis: sputum culture
Reservoir: water
Transmission: inhalation - airborne droplets / aerosols e..g cooling units
Surveillance: none
Control measures: antibiotics, source control
Clamydia
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: most cases asymptomatic, can lead to infertility
Epidemiology: most common bacterial STI, highest incidence 16-24, incidence increasing
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: sex, vertical
Surveillance: GUM clinics
Control measures: screening programme, testing, antibiotic treatment, contact tracing
Gonorrhoea
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: many asymptomatic, discharge, lower abdominal pain. Men - inflamed urethra (burning sensation)
Epidemiology: Second most common bacteria STI, men more likely to have symptoms, high risk 16-24, MSM, urban areas
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission:
Surveillance:
Control measures:
Syphilis
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: several stages - primary ulcers, secondary widespread legions, tertiary - formation of growths and affects nervous system. Congenital - transmitted during pregnancy or birth.
Epidemiology: 16-24, MSM, risk for pregancy
Diagnosis: microscopy
Reservoir: human
Transmission: sexually
Surveillance: enhanced surveillance and GUMCad returns
Control measures: contact tracing and treatment
Herpes
Agent: virus
Clinical features: painful lesions in mouth and gums or genitals
Epidemiology: 4 % prevalence in England and Wales
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: sexually contact
Surveillance:
Control measures: no cure, symptoms can come back and then be infectious again, not having sex during period of infectiousness and wearing a condom
HIV
Agent: Virus (retrovirus)
Clinical features: early - flu like, leads to immunosuppression (loss of CD4+ cells), opportunistic infections and AIDS
Epidemiology: Major epidemic in 80s , prevalence increasing due to increased survival, 24% undiagnosed, incidence decreasing but not in high risk groups
Diagnosis: HIV antibody test
Reservoir: human
Transmission: sexual contact and blood products
Surveillance: HIV and AIDS reporting system
Control measures:
Malaria
Agent: protozoa (single celled parasite)
Clinical features: flu like symptoms in 3 stages: chills, fever, sweating. can cause renal failure.
Epidemiology: travel associated in UK, high risk children and women, sickle cell protective
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human and mosquito
Transmission: vector - mosquitos
Surveillance: notifiable disease
Control measures: bite prevention, mosquito control, bed nets etc.
Dengue fever
Agent: virus
Clinical features: sudden fever, headache, myalgia, vomiting, rash
Epidemiology: travel associated in the UK
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human and mosquito
Transmission: vector (mosquito)
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: bite avoidance (no treatment)
Lyme disease
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: fever, headache, rash - later arthritis, neurological and cardiovascular
Epidemiology: increasing in UK, risk to forest walking
Diagnosis: serology
Reservoir: rodent and deer
Transmission: rick
Surveillance: enhanced surveillance
Control measures: tick control, antibiotics
Ebola
Agent: virus
Clinical features: sudden fever, malaise, diarrhoea, vomiting, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, can cause haemorrhagic fever, case fatality 50%
Epidemiology: 2014/15 - largest outbreak in W Africa
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: unknown (maybe bats)
Transmission: person to person (even after death)
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: strict isolation, infection control, vaccine in development
Lassa
Agent: Virus
Clinical features: 80% asymptomatic, 20% fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, cardiovascular issues, cough, haemorrhagic fever,
Epidemiology: mainly affects W Africa
Diagnosis: CRF
Reservoir: rats / mice
Transmission: person to person
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: isolation and barrier nursing.
Chicken pox / shingles
Agent: virus (varicella-voster / herpes)
Clinical features: fever, malaise, rash, becoming scabs. complications include pneumonia.
Epidemiology: pregnant women and neonates higher risk. Endemic worldwide - chickenpox more common on children and shingles in adults
Diagnosis: clinical
Reservoir: human
Transmission: person to person, droplet or airborne, highly infectious
Surveillance:
Control measures: vaccine for CEV, school exclusion for 5 days
CJD
Agent: prion
Clinical features: psychiatric symptoms, loss of full body movement, muscle spams, fatal 12-24 months after onset
Epidemiology: classic (mainly 50+) and variant (mostly children)
Diagnosis: clinical
Reservoir: cattle
Transmission: consumption of meat, infected surgical instruments
Surveillance: national surveillance programme
Control measures: all cases investigated in detail and meat not used
scabies
Agent: mite
Clinical features: skin infestation - rash
Epidemiology: 30 year cycle for pandemics, more common in institutionalised living
Diagnosis: microscopy of skin scratchings
Reservoir: human
Transmission: contact with infected clothing / bedding, close contact
Surveillance:
Control measures: Ointment treatment - cases and contacts
scarlet fever
Agent: bacteria
Clinical features: sore throat, fever, rash
Epidemiology: mainly children, slight increases in recent years
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: human
Transmission: airborne droplets
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: antibiotics, school exclusion
Monkeypox
Agent: virus
Clinical features: fever, headache, myalgia, skin eruption,
Epidemiology: predominantly west Africa. Central African (Congo) clade more severe
Diagnosis: PCR
Reservoir: animals
Transmission: close contact person to person, animal to human
Surveillance: notifiable
Control measures: smallpox vaccine, isolation,
