W4 L4 Epidemiology

Question 1

Define epidemiology

Answer 1

The study of the occurrence, spread and control of disease

Question 2

Define communicable disease

Answer 2

Any infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another

Question 3

Define contagious disease

Answer 3

An infectious disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another

Question 4

Define zoonotic disease

Answer 4

An infectious disease that humans catch from animals

Question 5

Give examples of animals that can carry zoonotic disease

Answer 5

• Birds
• rodents
• cats and dogs
• mosquitos
• cattle

Question 6

Define incidence

Answer 6

Number of new cases within a population at a certain time

Question 7

Define morbidity rate

Answer 7

The number of new cases of disease over a defined period of time specifically defined number of individuals (sickness)

Question 8

Define mortality

Answer 8

The ratio of the number of people who have died from a particular disease over a specific time period in a specific region.

Question 9

Define endemic

Answer 9

a disease that is always present

Question 10

Define epidemic

Answer 10

A disease that is occuring in great than usual numbers within a specific geographical region.

Question 11

Define pandemic

Answer 11

A disease that is occurring in epidemic proportions in many countries

Question 12

What are the components in the chain of infection?

Answer 12

1. Infectious agent
2. Reservoir
3. Portal of exit
4. Mode of transmission
5. Portal of entry
6. Susceptible Host

Question 13

Define reservoir

Answer 13

Places in the enviroment where the pathogen lives

Question 14

Define infectious agent

Answer 14

Pathogen that causes disease

Question 15

Define Portal of exit

Answer 15

They way which infectious agent leaves the reservoir

Question 16

Define Portal of entry

Answer 16

The way the infectious agent can enter a new host

Question 17

Define susceptible host

Answer 17

Can be any person

Question 18

Describe variants of potential carriers

Answer 18

Humans, animals, soil, water, fomites, food

Question 19

Are human most likely to spread disease to another human?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

Define carrier

Answer 20

A person who is infected with a particular pathogen (not causing problem)

Question 21

Define Passive Carrier

Answer 21

A person who carries a disease causing pathogen (without having had the disease)

Question 22

Define convalescent carrier

Answer 22

A person who can transmit a particular pathogen while recovering from an infectious disease.

Question 23

Define Active Carrier

Answer 23

A person who has completely recovered from a particular disease but continues to harbor the disease-causing pathogen indefinitely

Question 24

List 5 principle modes of infectious disease transmission

Answer 24

1. Contact
2. Airborne
3. Vector
4. Droplets
5. Vehicular

Question 25

List common ways the communicable diseases are transmitted between humans

Answer 25

• Direct skin-skin contact
• Direct via mucous-to-mucous membrane
• Indirect - airborne coughing sneezing
• Indirect through contaminated water
• Indirect via fomites
• Indirect via contact with contaminated blood

Question 26

Give examples of what can be used to break the chain of infection

Answer 26

• Diagnosis and treatment
• Cleaning
• Hand hygiene
• Isolation
• PPE
• Immunisations

Question 27

Define healthcare associated-infections

Answer 27

Infections that are acquired within the healthcare facility

Question 28

Define community associated infections

Answer 28

Infections that are acquired outside a healthcare facility