Communicable Diseases Flashcards

1
Q

6 functions of public health

A
health protection
health surveillance
disease and injury prevention
population health assessment
health promotion
emergency preparedness and response
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2
Q

endemic

A

the steady presence of a disease in a defined geographic area or population

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3
Q

outbreak/epidemic

A

when the new cases of a disease exceed the normal occurrence during a given period of time

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4
Q

pandemic

A

when a disease spread affects a large number of populations worldwide

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5
Q

purpose of immune systems

A

respond to foreign proteins (antigens) in the body with the intention to resist infection

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6
Q

how we acquire immunity

A

active = host produces antibodies in response to an antigen
passive = host receives antibodies produced by another source
both have natural and artificial

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7
Q

benefits of vaccination

A

considered the most significant achievement in preventative medicine in north america
incidence of new cases of select diseases drop by 100%
prevention of morbidity and mortality in those vaccinated and those around them (herd immunity)
benefit to health and savings in direct health care costs

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8
Q

bacterial diseases that are vaccine preventable

A
streptococcus pneumoniae
diphtheria (corynebacterium diptheriae)
tetanus (clostridium tetani)
pertussis (bordetella pertussis)
neisseria meningities
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9
Q

viral diseases that are vaccine preventable

A

influenza (influenza A and B)
hepatitis B
measles, mumps, rubella, varicella
HPV

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10
Q

influenza

A

RNA virus
types A B and C
typing is based on types of surface proteins
A has subtypes B and C do not
A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics while type C causes mild respiratory illness
A and B strains are included in each years influenza vaccine

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11
Q

transmission and symptoms of influenza

A

transmission = via droplets or contact with respiratory secretions of infected individuals
symptoms = fever, respiratory illness (cough, sore throat, nasal congestion), headache, myalgia (muscle pain), malaise (body weakness)
rare symptoms = encephalopathy (brain disease), acute respiratory distress syndrome

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12
Q

influenza incubation

A

incubation = 1 day before symptoms develop and 5 days after becoming ill
period person is contagious (communicability) = depends on age and health of person, influenza can spread from individuals with no symptoms

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13
Q

complications of influenza

A

pneumonia (bacterial and viral)
ear and sinus infections
dehydration
worsening of chronic health conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes

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14
Q

groups at high risk of complications

A

adults older than 65 and those living in long term care facilities
children under 2 (all children under 5)
persons with chronic illness
immunosuppressed individuals
women who are pregnant or postpartum (within 2 weeks after delivery)
indigenous populations
obese individuals

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15
Q

impact of influenza

A

causes about 12,000 hospitalizations and 4,000 deaths in canada each year
in 2015-2016 there were 61 deaths from influenza, 1655 hospitalizations, and 263 people admitted to ICUs

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16
Q

influenza vaccine development

A

each february WHO provides a recommendation on the strains to be included in the vaccine for the northern hemisphere
two A viruses and one B virus are selected based on the characteristics of the current circulating influenza virus strains
a new vaccine is reformulated each year to protect against new influenza infections

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17
Q

FluWatch program objectives

A

detect flu outbreaks as early as possible
provide timely up to date information on flu activity in canada and abroad to health professionals
monitor circulating strains of the flu virus and assess their sensitivity to antiviral medications
provide information that WHO can use to make its recommendations on the best vaccine for seasonal flu shots

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18
Q

who is eligable for flu shots

A

all people 6 months of age or older who live, work, or go to school in alberta are eligible for a flu vaccine at no charge

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19
Q

population health approach

A
measure and analyze health status and SEDoH
review evidence
multiple strategies
intersectoral collaboration
upstream
accountable for outcomes
public involvement
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20
Q

socio-ecological determinants of health

A
income and social status
social support networks
social environments
education
work and working conditions
physical environments
biology and genetic endowment
personal health practices and coping skills
healthy childhood development
health services
culture 
gender
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21
Q

pneumococcal disease

A

infectious agent = streptococcus pneumoniae
acute and serious illness caused by the bacterium streptococcus pneumoniae
92 serotypes recognized worldwide, 15 of which cause the majority of disease

22
Q

severity of streptococcus pneumoniae

A

pneumococcal pneumonia is the most common community-acquired bacterial pneumonia
estimated to affect approximately 100 of every 100,000 adults each year
complications = bacteremia, meningitis

23
Q

vaccination for pneumococcal

A

infants and children pneumococcal vaccination at 2, 4, and 12 months of age
high risk groups get an additional dose at 6 months
adults = 65 years and older, high risk related to living situations or chronic illness, some high risk groups receive a booster

24
Q

diphtheria

A

infectious agent = corynebacterium diptheriae

caused by release of diphtheria toxin by strains of corynebacterium diptheriae

25
Q

mode of transmission for diphtheria

A

respiratory droplets
direct contact with exudate of respiratory secretions of infected people and exudate from skin lesions
most respiratory infections occur in dry cold months and are associated with crowded conditions

26
Q

severity of diphtheria toxin

A
complications = if left untreated leads to multi-organ toxicity 
heart damage (myocarditis)
nerve damage (neurotoxin)
renal failure (kidney damage)
fatality rate 5-10%
27
Q

epidemiological history of diphtheria

A

in 1924 = 9000 cases reported in canada and was one of the most common causes of death in children aged 1-5
routine immunization initiated in 1930
by 1950 = substantial decrease in cases seen
in alberta from 1981-2003 there were 5 cases reported

28
Q

tetanus mode of transmission

A

disease caused by release of the tetanus toxin (tetanospasmin) by the bacterium C. tetani
organism is found commonly in soil and environment
infection usually starts in a wound by organism in an anaerobic environment (leading to spore germination, growth and subsequent toxin production)

29
Q

clinical presentation of tetanus

A

prevents release of inhibitory neurotransmitters leading to sustained contractions and various muscle groups, lock jaw
can affect both peripheral and autonomic nervous system

30
Q

severity of tetanus

A

cases often require extensive ICU care

death usually from respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest (dysrhythmias)

31
Q

epidemiological history of tetanus

A

1920-1930 = 40-50 deaths/year in canada
toxoid vaccine introduced in 1940
between 2000 and 2013 in canada a total of 42 cases were reported (over 60 years of age accounted for 55% of the cases)
between 1983-2003 in alberta a total of 10 cases (recent cases in males over 50 who lived in rural areas)

32
Q

epidemiology of tetanus

A

outside of the developed world it continues to be an epidemic especially after natural disasters
over 10,000 cases/year worldwide
by 2000, 135 countries had eliminated neonatal tetanus and annual deaths fell 75% from about 790,000 newborns a year to around 200,000 per year
generally due to the practice of putting earth/dung on the umbilical area for healing

33
Q

vaccination for tetanus

A

boosters are required every 10 years

34
Q

pertussis transmission

A

infectious agent = bacterium called bordetella pertussis
spread through droplets in the air from an infected persons cough or sneeze
can also be spread through coming into contact with discharges from an infected persons nose or throat

35
Q

stages of pertussis

A

catarrhal stage = lasts 7-10 days, discharge from nose, tearing, low grade fever, sneezing, cough, clinically indistinguishable from a viral upper respiratory tract infection
paroxsymal stage = 1-6-10 weeks, proxysms (bursts) of coughing fits followed by a long inspiratory “whoop”
after 2-3 months the paroxysmal stage is followed by the convalescent phase = paroxysms decrease and cough gradually improves

36
Q

severity of pertussis

A

serious complications most often in infants
pneumonia, lumbar strain, rib fractures, collapsed lung, subdural hematoma, seizures, ecephalopathy (hypoxia)
babies younger than 1 = 1 out of 4 get pneumonia, 1 out of 100 will have convulsions, 3 out of 5 will have apnea, 1 out of 300 will develop encephalopathy (disease of the brain), 1 out of 100 die

37
Q

incubation and communicability

A

symptoms appear between 7 to 10 days after exposure but could be delayed up to 20
most contagious during the first two weeks when symptoms resemble those of a common cold
contagiousness declines rapidly after that but may last up to three weeks
people are no longer contagious after five days of treatment with appropriate antibiotics

38
Q

reasons for increasing incidence of pertussis

A

waning vaccine induced immunity of adults and adolescents
increased circulation of B. pertussis
decreased use of pertussis vaccine
heightened awareness of pertussis amongst healthcare providers
increased use of more accurate testing
increased public health reporting

39
Q

neisseria meningitis

A

gram negative bacteria that colonizes in the oropharynx

40
Q

transmission of neisseria meningitis

A

usually via direct contact with nasal secretions
can be transmitted via aerosols/respiratory droplets from colonized individuals
period of communicability in those with invasive disease usually lasts until 24 hours after institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy

41
Q

severity of neiserria meningitis

A
complications = meningococcal meningitis
sepsis
pneumonia
conjunctivitis
pericarditis
42
Q

epidemiological trends for neisseria meningitidis

A

believed that 5-10% of the adult population carries neisseria meningitidis in their throat at any given time
since 1950 the incidence has remained at less than 2.1 per 100,000
in canada less than 1 per 100,000
the epidemiology changes overtime with regards to serotypes causing disease

43
Q

measles in 2013-2014

A

from 2000-2013 in the calgary zone had 20 cases spread out over that period
as of july 2013 nearly 30 cases in 6 provinces (BC, AB, ON, QB, NB, PEI)
as of april 2014 there were 22 cases in alberta
2018 there were 27 cases in canada with 6 in alberta

44
Q

why is varicella dangerous

A

very unpleasant itchy rash which can cause permanent scarring
pneumonia and swelling of the brain
pregnant women exposed to chicken pox may giver birth to babies with severe deformities

45
Q

modes of transmission for hepatitis B

A

perinatal = breastfeeding ok as long as neonate receives HBV vaccine and HBlg at birth
transfusion
sexual transmission
nosocomial infection (infected healthcare workers)
organ transplant

46
Q

epidemiological trends of HBV

A

prevalence of HBV carriers in north america is 0.1-2%
highest areas of infection are in asia (10-20%) including china, se asia, sub-saharan africa
range in world prevalence due to age at infection
in asia more people are infected in utero or at an early age

47
Q

ethical principles

A

respect for autonomy
nonmaleficence
beneficence
distributive justice

48
Q

respect for autonomy

A

rights of individual to self-determination

this is rooted in societys respect for individuals ability to make informed decisions about personal matters

49
Q

nonmaleficence

A

first do no harm

it is more important to not harm than to do them good

50
Q

beneficence

A

actions that promote the well being or best interest of others

51
Q

distributive justice

A

society has the duty to the individual in need

everyone has the right to receive equitable access to the basic needs of life including healthcare

52
Q

role of public health in communicable disease management

A

collect, analyze, and communicate cases of a reportable disease
support and advice for treating health care providers
identification of potential contacts
provision of preventative vaccinations
outbreak control