Infectious Disease Control Measures.
ANSWER
Principles related to the occurrence and transmission of communicable and infectious diseases:
Agent-Host-Environment Model: The occurrence of communicable and infectious diseases is often understood through this model, which considers the interplay between the infectious agent, the host (the individual who can become infected), and the environment. Understanding the characteristics of the agent (e.g., bacteria, virus, or parasite), the host (e.g., human susceptibility and immunity), and the environment (e.g., social, physical, and economic factors) helps in preventing and controlling these diseases.
Transmission Modes: Communicable diseases can be transmitted through various modes, including direct transmission (person-to-person contact), indirect transmission (via contaminated objects or vectors), airborne transmission (through respiratory droplets), and foodborne or waterborne transmission. Understanding these modes is crucial in designing preventive measures.
Incubation Period: Communicable diseases have incubation periods, during which the infected individual may not show symptoms but can still transmit the disease to others. This highlights the importance of identifying and isolating cases to prevent further spread.
Herd Immunity: Achieving a sufficient level of immunity within a population, often through vaccination, can help prevent outbreaks by reducing the number of susceptible individuals.
Surveillance and Reporting: Timely surveillance and reporting systems are crucial for monitoring disease trends, identifying outbreaks, and implementing control measures.
Three focus areas in Healthy People 2020 and their objectives related to communicable and infectious diseases:
Immunization and Infectious Diseases:
Objective: Increase immunization rates and reduce the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Activities: Promoting vaccination programs, educating the public about the importance of immunization, and ensuring access to vaccines.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs):
Objective: Prevent and control STIs through various interventions.
Activities: Promoting safe sexual practices, offering screening and treatment for STIs, and providing education about STIs and their prevention.
Healthcare-Associated Infections:
Objective: Reduce the incidence of healthcare-associated infections.
Activities: Implementing infection control measures in healthcare settings, monitoring and reporting infections, and promoting hand hygiene and other preventive practices.
Nursing activities for the control of infectious diseases at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention:
Primary Prevention:
Education and promotion of vaccination to prevent disease occurrence.
Health education on hand hygiene, safe food handling, and sexual practices.
Implementing infection control practices in healthcare settings.
Community outreach and education to raise awareness about disease prevention.
Secondary Prevention:
Early detection and case identification through screening and surveillance.
Isolation and quarantine measures to prevent disease spread.
Contact tracing to identify and test potentially exposed individuals.
Partner notification and treatment in the case of STIs.
Tertiary Prevention:
Providing medical treatment and care for individuals diagnosed with infectious diseases.
Preventing complications and managing chronic infectious diseases.
Supportive care, counseling, and patient education for those with chronic infections.
An example of a communicable disease that was believed to be eradicated and has reemerged is Measles. Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but it has seen a resurgence in recent years due to declining vaccination rates in some communities. This resurgence is largely attributed to vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. Outbreaks of measles have occurred in various parts of the country, emphasizing the importance of vaccination and maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent its resurgence. Public health efforts continue to focus on education, outreach, and immunization to control and prevent measles outbreaks.
QUESTION
Description
Communicable Disease and Infectious Disease.
According to the World Health Orgnization, an emerging infectious disease (EID) is an infectious disease that has appeared in a population for the first time, or that may have existed previously but is rapidly increasing in incidence or geographic range (WHO). Outbreaks are the occurrence of disease cases in excess of what would normally be expected for a community, geographical area or season (WHO). Examples of recent outbreaks affecting public health in United States include Group A Streptococcus, Pertussis, Zika, Mumps, and Measles.
Read chapter 25 of the class textbook and review the attached PowerPoint presentation. Once done answer the following questions;
- Discuss the principles related to the occurrence and transmission of communicable and infectious diseases.
- Describe the three focus areas in Healthy People 2020 and the objectives that apply to communicable and infectious diseases.
- Identify and discuss nursing activities for the control of infectious diseases at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention.
- Identify and discuss a communicable and/or infectious disease that it was believed to be eradicated and have reemerged now. For example; measles.