Respiratory diseases Flashcards
What is the incubation period for most respiratory diseases?
2-10 days usually 3-4 days
What reservoirs are there for influenza?
Birds, pigs, humans
What does minor antigenic shift of influenza cause?
Seasonal epidemics (DEC-MAR in northern hemisphere)
What does major antigenic shift cause?
Pandemics
Which influenza is the most severe?
A
How is influenza transmitted?
Aerosol droplets from coughs or sneezes, hand-to-hand, personal contact, fomite transmission
Who is at risk of influenza?
Extremes of ages, immunocompromised, healthcare workers, those who lack personal hygiene
Who gets which vaccine?
Children receive nasal vaccine - prevents them from spreading it to others
Elderly receive injection - prevents severe illness
How else can influenza be prevented?
Hand hygiene, PPE, social distancing, good infection control measures
How is avian flu transmitted?
Bird to human, cannot be spread human to human
Close contact with birds
How can you control bird flu?
Cull affected birds, disinfect farms, control poultry movement, vaccinate workers, PPE, antivirals, biosecurity
What should be done before an outbreak of flu?
International surveillance, vaccine research, preparation
How do you control a pandemic flu?
Identify cases - mass testing
Treatment of cases and isolation
Contact tracing
Infection control - hand hygiene, PPE, isolation of patients, reduce social contact, environmental cleaning
Antiviral medication
Develop vaccine and mass vaccination programme
Travel restrictions, social distancing, school closures etc.
How is legionellosis transmitted?
Inhalation of aerosol containing bacteria
Usually from stagnant water sources - showers, pools, hot tub, air con etc.
CANNOT be transmitted from human-to-human
Who does legionellosis affect?
Women, over 50’s, heavy smokers
