Epidemiology (BE #2)

Question 1

define epidemiology

Answer 1

study of frequency & distribution of disease

Question 2

define epidemic

Answer 2

a patter of disease transmission in a short time that affects many members of population (flu)

Question 3

define pandemic

Answer 3

epidemic that spreads world wide

Ex. AIDS, flu

Question 4

define endemic

Answer 4

steady frequency over long period of time; #s too low to constitute a public health concern

Ex. chicken pox, lyme

Question 5

define sporadic

Answer 5

diseases occurring only occasionally in a population (tetanus, rabies)

Question 6

What 6 diseases account for 90% of deaths from infectious disease?

Answer 6

1. influenza
2. HIV/AIDS
3. tuberculosis
4. malaria
5. measles
6. diarrheal illnesses

Question 7

What does CDC stand for?

Answer 7

Center for Disease Control & Protection

Question 8

Differentiate between morbidity rate & mortality rate.

Answer 8

morbidity: total # of individuals affected by a disease (prevalence or incidence) during a set period in relation to the total # in the population (expressed as # of cases per 100,000 people per year)

mortality rate: the # of deaths due to a disease in a population during a specific period in relation to the total population (expresses as # of deaths per 100,000 people per year).

Question 9

Four sources of info for epidemiologists.

Answer 9

1. vital statisitics
2. census data
3. CDC disease reports
4. surveys, questionnaires, interviews, hospital records

Question 10

incidence rate

Answer 10

of new cases within a set population during a specified period of time divided by the total # of people in the population. Measures the growth or spread of disease.

Question 11

prevalence rate

Answer 11

number of people who have a certain disease at any particular time (old and new cases) divided by the total # of people in the population.

Question 12

What 4 organisms cause 1/2 of all nosocomial infections?

Answer 12

1. Escherichia coli
2. Enterococcus sporogenes
3. Staphylococcus aureus
4. Pseudomonas

Question 13

name 3 factors fostering nosocomial infections.

Answer 13

1. immunocompromised patients
2. invasive medical procedures
3. antibiotic resistance

Question 14

What bacterial species is a common cause of nosocomial UTI infections?

Answer 14

Escherichia coli

Question 15

What bacterial species is a common cause of surgical wound infections?

Answer 15

Staphylococcus aureus

Question 16

What bacterial species is a common cause of respiratory nosocomial infections?

Answer 16

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Question 17

What bacterial species is a common cause of nosocomial skin infections in newborns?

Answer 17

Staphylococcus aureus

Question 18

What bacterial species is a common cause of nosocomial skin infections in burn victims?

Answer 18

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 19

How can nosocomial infections be controlled?

Answer 19

1. Hospitals hire hospital epidemiologists
2. once an epidemic is recognized, take cultures from hospital workers
3. patient isolation - reverse isolation separates infection-prone patients from sources of infection
4. enforce CDC program
5. teat every patient as if they are infected with AIDS

Question 20

Define prophylaxis

Answer 20

prevention

Question 21

Explain reverse isolation.

Answer 21

isolating a patient who is susceptible to acquiring a nosocomial infection (like someone who is immunocompromised)

Question 22

Name 5 notifiable diseases (must be reported to CDC)

Answer 22

1. anthrax
2. botulism - food borne
3. cholera
4. diptheria
5. hepatitis

Question 23

Why are diseases like HPV and Herpes not notifiable?

Answer 23

They are extremely prevalent and many people are asymptomatic.

Question 24

Explain the iceberg effect and give an example.

Answer 24

B/c the disease is so prevalent the # of known cases is just the “tip of the iceberg.” There are many more unknown cases. Ex. Hep A, HPV, herpes