Questions and Answers
What is a reservoir of infection?
A source that is living or an inanimate object that provides a pathogen with adequate conditions for survival, multiplication, and an opportunity for transmission.
What are human reservoirs known as?
Define carriers.
People with signs and symptoms of a disease that can transmit the disease.
What are animal reservoirs known as?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a non-living reservoir?
Signup and view all the answers
What is direct contact transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
What is indirect contact transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
Define fomite.
Signup and view all the answers
What is droplet transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
What is vehicle transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
Define vector.
Signup and view all the answers
What is mechanical transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
What is biological transmission?
Signup and view all the answers
What does HAI stand for?
Signup and view all the answers
Define compromised host.
Signup and view all the answers
What are emerging infectious diseases?
Signup and view all the answers
What is epidemiology?
Signup and view all the answers
Define descriptive epidemiology.
Signup and view all the answers
What is analytical epidemiology?
Signup and view all the answers
What is experimental epidemiology?
Signup and view all the answers
What does CDC stand for?
Signup and view all the answers
Define morbidity.
Signup and view all the answers
What is mortality?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a notifiable infectious disease?
Signup and view all the answers
Define morbidity rate.
Signup and view all the answers
What is the mortality rate?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Reservoir of Infection
- A reservoir of infection is a source, either living or inanimate, that allows pathogens to survive, multiply, and be transmitted to hosts.
Carriers
- Human reservoirs are termed carriers, which can transmit diseases with or without symptoms.
- Carrying pathogens can occur even in asymptomatic individuals, posing a risk to others.
Zoonoses
- Animal reservoirs, known as zoonoses, involve diseases that can be transmitted from animals (wild or domestic) to humans.
Non-Living Reservoir
- Non-living reservoirs include soil and water, which can harbor pathogens and facilitate disease transmission.
Transmission Methods
- Direct Contact Transmission: Disease is spread through direct physical contact between a source and a susceptible host.
- Indirect Contact Transmission: Involves nonliving organisms acting as intermediaries for disease transmission.
- Fomite: Nonliving objects, like cups or syringes, can indirectly transmit infections.
- Droplet Transmission: Microbes spread through droplets less than one meter from the reservoir to the host.
- Vehicle Transmission: Pathogens are transmitted via mediums such as air, water, or food.
- Vector: Animals that transport pathogens from one host to another.
- Mechanical Transmission: Pathogens are carried externally on the feet of animals, which can then be spread by host contact.
- Biological Transmission: Occurs when a vector, such as an insect, bites an infected individual, transmitting the disease.
Healthcare-Associated Infections
- HAI (Health Care-Associated Infections): Infections acquired in healthcare settings, also known as nosocomial infections.
Compromised Hosts
- A compromised host has reduced resistance to infections due to factors like disease, therapies, or physical trauma.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
- These are new diseases that are either increasing in incidence or have the potential to rise significantly in the near future.
Epidemiology
- The study of disease occurrence, transmission patterns, and factors in populations.
- Descriptive Epidemiology: Focuses on data collection describing disease occurrences.
- Analytical Epidemiology: Analyzes specific diseases to determine causative factors.
- Experimental Epidemiology: Involves hypothesis testing through controlled experiments.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The CDC is responsible for collecting and analyzing epidemiological data in the United States.
Morbidity and Mortality
- Morbidity: Refers to the incidence rate of specific diseases in a population.
- Mortality: Represents the number of deaths from a disease within a certain timeframe.
- Notifiable Infectious Diseases: Diseases that physicians are mandated to report.
- Morbidity Rate: Relates the number of affected individuals to the total population at a specific time.
- Mortality Rate: Proportions the number of deaths from a disease to the total population over a designated period.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
This quiz explores key concepts related to reservoirs of infection. It covers definitions and examples of infection carriers and the conditions necessary for pathogen survival. Perfect for students studying microbiology or infectious diseases.