Disease Surveillance Overview
37 Questions
2 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of passive surveillance?

  • To actively search for undiagnosed cases in the population
  • To track the historical trends of diseases
  • To conduct periodic health assessments in the community
  • To report all cases of reportable diseases to health authorities (correct)

    • Which level of government is responsible for overseeing interstate outbreaks?

  • Federal government (correct)
  • County government
  • State government
  • Local government

    • What distinguishes active surveillance from passive surveillance?

  • Active surveillance involves proactive data collection efforts (correct)
  • Active surveillance is used exclusively for historical data
  • Active surveillance is less expensive than passive surveillance
  • Active surveillance requires less data collection effort

    • Why is active surveillance seldom conducted on a routine basis?

    <p>It typically requires more resources and effort</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What might lead to an increase in reported cases of a disease?

    <p>A change in medical care practices revealing previously undiagnosed cases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does surveillance data typically involve when dealing with infectious diseases?

    <p>Data collected from local and state governments reported to the CDC</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common challenge of passive surveillance?

    <p>Underreporting of diseases due to reliance on physicians' reports</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the essential initial steps in creating a surveillance system?

    <p>Determining the diseases or conditions to be monitored</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What limitation does the use of incidence rate have in outbreak investigations?

    <p>It does not account for the total population in the affected area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the study of an outbreak, which aspect do epidemiologists prioritize to better understand the situation?

    <p>The location-based incidence rates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What important factor did John Snow investigate in his cholera outbreak study?

    <p>The locations of cholera deaths.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can understanding the characteristics of persons affected by an outbreak assist epidemiologists?

    <p>It clarifies the underlying causes and issues of the outbreak.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'epidemic time curve' refer to in outbreak investigations?

    <p>A graphical representation of the number of cases over time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an epidemic primarily defined as?

    <p>A sudden increase in disease cases above expected levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of epidemic threshold in determining outbreaks?

    <p>It compares reported disease percentages to expected levels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the public misconception about polio lead to after the inactivated vaccine introduction?

    <p>Less concern about immunizing children</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What technique is used for rapid detection of bioterrorism-related epidemics?

    <p>Syndromic surveillance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor indicates a potential failure of a vaccine to produce satisfactory immunity?

    <p>A consistent increase in disease rates post-vaccination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the goal of syndromic surveillance?

    <p>To quickly identify and characterize potential syndromes consistent with biological agents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happened to polio rates after the introduction of the oral vaccine in 1960?

    <p>They declined significantly</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which years did a recurrent spike in polio cases occur after the initial decline following the inactivated vaccine?

    <p>1958 and 1959</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is considered the foundation of disease control efforts?

    <p>Epidemiologic surveillance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is essential to know in advance for effective disease surveillance?

    <p>The intensity of the planned surveillance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best defines the case definition in disease surveillance?

    <p>It is based on clinical findings, laboratory results, and epidemiologic data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one objective of the surveillance of infectious diseases?

    <p>To determine the effectiveness of vaccine programs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes active surveillance from passive surveillance?

    <p>Active surveillance involves proactive data collection, while passive relies on reports of cases from healthcare providers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which federal agency is primarily responsible for surveillance and investigation of acute diseases?

    <p>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of analysis is typically needed for disease surveillance?

    <p>Epidemiological data analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Pneumonia-related deaths should be included in which type of surveillance?

    <p>Infectious disease surveillance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of public health agencies during disease outbreaks?

    <p>Investigate disease outbreaks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a component of the standard approach to investigating disease outbreaks?

    <p>Developing a cure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do practicing physicians play in disease outbreak investigations?

    <p>They make important contributions to detecting and reporting outbreaks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following diseases is transmitted by mosquitoes?

    <p>Dengue fever</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does surveillance contribute to public health?

    <p>It forms the foundation for controlling disease</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key part of hypothesis testing in disease outbreak investigations?

    <p>Collecting laboratory data</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which public health responsibility includes communication to appropriate health professionals?

    <p>Investigating disease outbreaks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of characterizing time, place, and person in outbreak investigations?

    <p>Identifying patterns of the outbreak</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Surveillance of Disease

    • Surveillance is the process of collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data on the incidence of death, diseases, and injuries.
    • It is considered the foundation of disease control efforts
    • The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is the federal agency responsible for surveillance of most acute diseases.
    • The CDC conducts surveillance if requested by a state or if an outbreak has the potential to affect more than one state.
    • Data are passed from local and state governments to the CDC.
    • The federal government has jurisdiction over interstate commerce, including interstate implications.
    • State governments have jurisdiction over intrastate implications.

    Creating a Surveillance System

    • Clear objectives regarding the diseases or conditions to be covered are essential.
    • The case definition is usually based on clinical findings, laboratory results, and epidemiologic data on:
      • Time
      • Place
      • Characteristics of affected persons

    Methods and Functions of Disease Surveillance

    • Active Surveillance:
      • Requires periodic telephone calls, electronic contact, or personal visits to obtain data.
      • More labor-intensive and costly.
      • Less frequently used for routine purposes.
    • Passive Surveillance:
      • Physicians, clinics, laboratories, and hospitals are required to report diseases.
      • Expected to record all cases of reportable disease that come to their attention

    Detection and Documentation of Outbreaks

    • The percentage of patients with reportable diseases actually reported varies considerably.
    • Seasonal variation is common amongst many infectious diseases.

    Characterize Epidemic By Time, Place, and Person

    • Time:
      • Epidemic time curve can be used to track the spread of an outbreak.
      • Example: Figure 3-14 shows shigellosis among students at a summer camp.
    • Place:
      • Spot map and incidence rates by location are helpful tools.
      • Example: John Snow's spot map of cholera deaths in London, 1854
    • Person:
      • Knowing the characteristics of affected persons clarifies the problem and its cause.
      • Example: Incidence of Measles in Residents of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, by Age Group.

    Investigation of Epidemics

    • Standard Approach to Investigation:
      • Making a diagnosis
      • Establishing a case definition
      • Determining whether there is a definite outbreak
      • Characterize time, place, and person
      • Develop and test hypotheses, pattern of spread, and mode of transmission
      • Test hypotheses using laboratory data or research methods

    Surveillance for Bioterrorism

    • Special surveillance techniques are being developed for rapid detection of major increases in the most likely biological agents.
    • Syndromic surveillance:
      • Goal is to characterize "syndromes" consistent with agents of particular concern and to prime the system to report any such syndromes quickly
      • Provides an early warning of bioterrorism problems.

    The Failure of a Vaccine to Produce Satisfactory Immunity

    • This can be detected by:
      • A lack of change in disease rates
      • An increase in disease rates after an initial decrease
      • An increase in disease rates in a recently vaccinated group

    Importance of Surveillance

    • Setting disease control policy:
      • Surveillance data can inform policies to protect public health.
    • Investigation of Disease Outbreaks:
      • Surveillance data and information are crucial for effective investigation and response to outbreaks.
    • Communication with Appropriate Authorities:
      • Key for successful implementation of disease control measures
      • Includes communicating with:
        • Appropriate authorities
        • Appropriate health professionals
        • Public
    • Professional Knowledge:
      • Contributes to the fund of knowledge about the causes and control of outbreaks

    Example of Preparedness and Response to a Global Health Threat

    • Surveillance of Disease Activity is the foundation of public health control of disease.
    • Example: Figure 3-14 shows the impact of the two types of polio vaccines in the United States, and how the introduction of vaccines affected rates of paralytic disease.
    • The figure also illustrates how recurrent polio spikes occurred after the initial introduction of vaccines, and how the continued use of the oral vaccine resulted in the eventual decline of polio cases.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    BioEpi Prefinals 1 PDF

    Description

    Explore the critical process of disease surveillance, which involves collecting and analyzing data on diseases and injuries. This quiz covers the roles of the CDC and the importance of clear objectives in creating effective surveillance systems.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser