Infection Prevention

Question 1

Define;

Endemic disease
Outbreak
Epidemic
Pandemic

Answer 1

Endemic disease: Usual background rate

Outbreak: 2 or more cases linked in time and place

Epidemic: An infection rate higher than usual background rate

Pandemic: Very high infection rate spreading across region, countries and continents

Question 2

What is Ro, Basic Reproduction Number

What does an Ro mean if it is less than 1, equal to 1, larger than 1

Answer 2

Ro: Average number of cases that one case generates over its infectious period, in an uninfected non-immune population

If>1, No. of cases is increasing

If=1, No. of cases is stable

If<1, No. of cases is decreasing

Question 3

What are 3 reasons for outbreaks/ epidemics/ pandemics

Answer 3

New pathogen
New hosts
New practice

Question 4

What is the infectious dose

Answer 4

Number of micro-organisms needed to cause infection

Question 5

What are some possible methods of infection prevention, in regards to the “Pathogen”

Answer 5

Reduction/ eradication of pathogen

Reduction/ eradication of vector

Question 6

What are some possible methods of infection prevention, in regards to the “Patient”

Answer 6

• Improved health

- Immunity (E.g Vaccination, maternal antibody)

Question 7

What are some possible methods of infection prevention, in regards to the “Practice”

Answer 7

• Avoidance of pathogen/ vector
• Protective clothing/ equipment
• Behavioural change

Question 8

What are some possible methods of infection prevention, in regards to the “Place”

Answer 8

Environmental engineering;

• Safe water and air
• Good quality housing
• Well designed healthcare facilities

Question 9

What are some GOOD and BAD consequences of infection prevention

Answer 9

Good;
- Decreased incidence/ elimination of disease/ organism

Bad;
- Decreased pathogen exposure-> Decreased antibody-> Increased susceptibility-> Outbreak

• Later average age of exposure-> Increased severity