Session 7 - Infection Prevention Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two ways an infection can spread?

A

From a non-human source to humans.

From person to person (through either indirect or direct contact).

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2
Q

What are some examples of non-human sources?

A

Environmental: chickenpox

Food/water: salmonella (food-poisoning)

Animals: rabies

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3
Q

What are some examples of person to person infections?

A

Influenza

Norovirus

Neisseria gonorrhoea

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4
Q

What is an example of “indirect” transmission from person to person?

A

This happens via vectors.

Example of tansmision via vectors: mosquitos tramission of malaria.

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5
Q

What are the consequences of transmission?

A
  • Endemic disease
  • Outbreak
  • Epidemic
  • Pandemic
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6
Q

What is an endemic disease?

A

A disease with an incidence of the normal range.

Example: chicken pox in children

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7
Q

What is an outbreak of a disease?

A

Two or more cases linked in time and place.

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8
Q

What is a disease epidemic?

A

A rate of infection that is greater than the usual background rate.

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9
Q

What is a disease pandemic?

A

A very high rate of infection spreading across many regions, countries, and continents.

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10
Q

What are some reasons for a disease outbreak?

A
  • New pathogen
  • New hosts
  • New practice
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11
Q

What factors could a new pathogen have that would result in an outbreak?

A
  • Antigens
  • Virulence factors
  • Antibacterial resistance
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12
Q

What reasons could new hosts have to cause an outbreak?

A
  • Non-immunes (never encountered pathogen before)
  • Healthcare effects (comorbidities)
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13
Q

What reasons could new practice have to cause an outbreak?

A
  • Social
  • Healthcare
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14
Q

What is the main factor that determine transmissibility?

A

The infectious dose

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15
Q

What is the infectious dose?

A

The number of micro-organisms required to cause infection.

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16
Q

How can the infectious dose vary?

A

Can vary by the following:

  • micro-organism
  • presentation of the micro-organism
  • immunity of potential host
17
Q

How does infectious dose affect the tranmissibility of a disease?

A

The larger the infectious dose, the more difficult it is to be affected by the pathogen.

18
Q

What can we act on to prevent the spread of infections?

A
  • Pathogen (including the vector)
  • Patient
  • Preactice
  • Place
19
Q

What actions can be taken against pathogens to prevent infections?

A

Reduce/ eradicate pathogens:

  • antibacterials (including disinfectants)
  • decontamination
  • sterilisation

Reduce/ eradicate vectors:

  • eliminate vector breeding sites
20
Q

What actions can be taken on patients to prevent infections?

A

Improved health

  • nutrition
  • medical treatment

Immunity

  • passive (e.g. maternal antibody, IV immunoglobulin)
  • active (e.g. vaccination)
21
Q

What is ‘herd ammunity’?

A

The concept of majority people being vaccinated, and therefore unable to contribute the spread of an infection.

This by proxy, protects those who aren’t vaccinated.

22
Q

What actions can be taken on practices to prevent infections?

A

Avoidance of a pathogen or its vector

  • geographic (“don’t go there”)
  • protective clothing, equipment

Behavioural

  • safe sex
  • safe disposal of sharps
  • food and drink preparation
23
Q

What actions can be taken on a place to prevent infections?

A

Environmental engineering

  • safe water
  • safe air
  • good quality housing
  • well designed healthcare facilities
24
Q

What are some of the consequences of good infection prevention?

A
  • Decreased incidence or elimination of a disease/ organism

Examples: smallpox, polio

25
Q

What are some consequences of bad infection prevention?

A
  • Decreased exposure to pathogen leads to decreased immune stimulus. This increases susceptibility and can lead to a potential outbreak.
  • Later average age of exposure leading to more severe infection
    • Examples: polio, chicken pox