Infectious Diseases and Control Interventions Against Them

•Exposure to an infectious agent does not always lead to an infection and vice versa.

•Infection: the entry, development, and multiplication of the infectious agent in the susceptible host

•Disease: possible outcomes of infection; may indicate physiologic dysfunction or pathologic reaction

•Incubation period: time interval between invasion by an infectious agent and the first appearance of signs and symptoms of the disease

•Communicable period: interval during which an infectious agent may be transferred directly or indirectly from an infected person to another person

Disease spectrum

•Persons with infectious diseases may exhibit a broad spectrum of disease that ranges from subclinical infection to severe and fatal disease.

•At the community level, the disease may occur in endemic, epidemic, or pandemic proportions.

• Endemic: the constant presence of a disease within a geographic area or a population

• Epidemic: the occurrence of disease in a community or region in excess of normal expectancy

• Pandemic: an epidemic occurring worldwide and affecting large populations

Which groups (a) in the United States and (b) worldwide are most severely affected by infectious diseases today? Why? Support with cited references.

Predict control interventions against infectious diseases. What do you think might happen at the three levels of prevention? Support with cited references.

Why are some infectious diseases re-emerging today? Support with cited references.

Identify BSN essential that pertains to this topic. Support with cited reference.

Identify QSEN competency that pertains to this topic. Support with cited reference.