Health and Disease Overview

Defining Health and Disease

• Health encompasses a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
• Disease is a condition characterized by a malfunctioning or disruption in the normal state of an organism, often resulting in symptoms and impaired functioning.

Methods of Disease Transmission

• Direct Contact: Transmission through physical touch, such as skin-to-skin contact or exchange of bodily fluids.
• Indirect Contact: Transmission via contaminated objects or surfaces (fomites) or through airborne droplets.
• Vector-borne: Transmission by an intermediary organism, such as mosquitoes (malaria), ticks (Lyme disease).
• Foodborne: Transmission through consumption of contaminated food or water.
• Waterborne: Transmission through contaminated water sources.
• Airborne: Transmission through inhalation of airborne pathogens.

Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) - Causative Organisms

• Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus being particularly prevalent).
• Escherichia coli (E. coli).
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Klebsiella pneumoniae.
• Candida species (fungal infections).

Environmental Risks and Population Health

• Environmental hazards, such as pollution (air, water, soil), can significantly impact human health.
• Exposure to toxins, pollutants, and hazardous materials can lead to various health problems, including respiratory illnesses, cancers, and developmental problems.
• Climate change exacerbates existing health problems and creates new risks, such as heat-related illnesses and spread of infectious diseases.
• Depleted resources (clean water and food) and poor sanitation can create health problems.

Hospital-Acquired Infection Control Measures

• Hand hygiene: Frequent and thorough handwashing with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
• Proper disinfection and sterilization: Disinfecting equipment and surfaces to eliminate pathogens.
• Isolation precautions: Separating infected patients from those who are not, to prevent transmission through contact.
• Safe injection practices: Preventing contamination of injection equipment and medication.
• Vaccination programs: Immunizing healthcare personnel against infectious diseases.
• Environmental hygiene: Maintaining sanitary and sterile conditions in the hospital.
• Waste management and disposal: Safe and effective handling and disposal of infectious waste.
• Surveillance and monitoring: Tracking and reporting HAIs to understand trends and identify areas needing improvement.
• Education and training: Educating healthcare workers on infection control practices.