Communicable Diseases

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of the prevention phase in the disaster management cycle?

To gather information about potential hazards.

To reduce the likelihood of a disaster occurring. (correct)

To support victims after a disaster has occurred.

To implement response interventions quickly.

Which of the following is a key activity during the preparedness phase of disaster management?

Training response teams through scenario exercises. (correct)

Mobilizing emergency services immediately.

Conducting risk assessments post-disaster.

Terminating releases of hazardous substances.

What is the focus of the detection and alert phase in disaster management?

Providing support to victims after a disaster.

Regulating hazardous substances to prevent disasters.

Using surveillance to identify incidents early. (correct)

Mobilizing emergency services to respond to a situation.

Which action is typically part of the response phase following a disaster?

Implementing emergency service mobilization. Signup and view all the answers

During the recovery phase, which of the following actions is essential?

Investigation of the root cause of the incident. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of infection control in a healthcare setting?

To prevent cross-contamination Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a focus area when developing a vaccination programme?

Social media marketing Signup and view all the answers

Which organization guides the HSE in Ireland regarding immunisation policies?

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland Signup and view all the answers

Vaccination strategies can vary based on which of the following factors?

Local epidemiology and funding Signup and view all the answers

What is typically reviewed after securing resources for a vaccination schedule change?

Submissions from vaccine manufacturers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a criterion for successful bidding from vaccine manufacturers?

Record of company against previous contracts Signup and view all the answers

Which website offers up-to-date information on childhood immunisation schedules in Ireland?

<a href="http://www.immunisation.ie">www.immunisation.ie</a> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of implementing targeted vaccination strategies?

To respond to specific health risks in defined populations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes nosocomial infections?

Infections acquired as a result of healthcare Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary risk factor for acquiring healthcare-associated infections?

Invasive procedures Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a recommended measure to control healthcare-associated infections?

Increased patient mobility without precautions Signup and view all the answers

What category of communicable diseases would gastrointestinal infections fall under?

Other communicable diseases Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following correctly identifies an example of a nosocomial infection?

MRSA Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of the increased movement of patients between hospital wards?

Higher rates of healthcare-associated infections Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a vector-borne disease?

Malaria Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following measures is considered the most important for preventing healthcare-associated infections?

Hand washing Signup and view all the answers

What is a major contributing factor to the emergence of infectious diseases?

Changes in agriculture Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Strict immigration policies Signup and view all the answers

Which disease is among those attracting particular research attention according to current concerns?

SARS Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is associated with emerging zoonoses?

Population displacement Signup and view all the answers

What is a common consequence of global travel in relation to communicable diseases?

Spread of infections across regions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of antimicrobial resistance?

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) Signup and view all the answers

What factor is a direct influence on changing vector distribution in infectious disease outbreaks?

Increased urban development Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key element necessary for the organization of infection control?

Collaboration between national and local governments Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using inactivated injected polio vaccine in countries where polio has been eradicated?

It is safer compared to the live vaccine. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an objective of controlling an outbreak?

Reducing healthcare costs associated with the outbreak. Signup and view all the answers

What defines an outbreak according to the information provided?

Two or more related cases of the same disease. Signup and view all the answers

What strategy is employed when an outbreak of pertussis is detected?

Offering vaccination to pregnant women to protect newborns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following considerations is part of an outbreak control plan?

Identifying the roles and responsibilities of participating organizations. Signup and view all the answers

Why is there a facility for reversion to the live polio vaccine during outbreaks?

To enhance herd immunity rapidly. Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical component of outbreak response strategies?

Conducting thorough surveillance to identify disease patterns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following considerations is essential when making vaccination policies?

The need for booster doses and dose intervals must be addressed. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main groups of automated and semi-automated systems in microbiology?

Identification and susceptibility testing and blood culture systems Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of molecular methods in diagnosing infectious diseases?

They have substantial potential for rapid diagnosis. Signup and view all the answers

What has globalization increased in terms of infectious diseases?

The risk of international spread of infectious diseases Signup and view all the answers

What are member states required to notify the WHO about?

Public health emergencies of international concern Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following core obligations applies to the WHO in response to member states?

To update regulations to remain scientifically valid Signup and view all the answers

What type of health measures are becoming increasingly important in light of globalization?

Nuanced port health measures Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a specific obligation of WHO member states?

Inform the public about local health concerns Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes blood culture systems used for M. tuberculosis?

They are designed for high-volume testing. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of childhood and adolescent deaths globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. In 2010, they accounted for over 11 million deaths annually.
Infectious diseases remain significant public health concerns in high-income countries due to globalization, re-emergence of old diseases (e.g., TB), novel infections (e.g., SARS-CoV-2), evolving pathogens (e.g., zoonotic diseases, pandemics), antimicrobial resistance, healthcare-associated infections (e.g., MRSA), long-term conditions (e.g., HIV/AIDS), and viral causes of certain cancers (e.g., cervical cancer).

Temporal Phases of Infection

Incubation period: The time between infection and the onset of symptoms. This period depends on the infecting dose.
Latent period: The time between infection and the start of infectiousness. Usually slightly shorter than the incubation period.
Period of communicability: The time during which an infected person can transmit the infecting agent. This often begins before the onset of symptoms.

Host States

Susceptible: A person who can become infected if exposed to the pathogen.
Immune: A state of having sufficient biological defenses to avoid infection through acquired immunity (from a previous infection or vaccination). Passive immunity is acquired in a short-term manner through transfer of antibodies, while active immunity is longer-lasting.
Infected: A person with the pathogen present in their body.
Case: A person with infection. This can be possible, probable, or confirmed.
Contact: A person who has been exposed to a case or source of infection and has the potential to become infected.

Population Measures

Epidemic threshold: The estimated number of susceptible individuals in a population needed for an epidemic to emerge.
Herd immunity: A phenomenon where a relatively high proportion of immune individuals in a population reduces the spread of an infection. Importantly, it usually requires a high (often 95%) proportion of vaccinated persons.

Surveillance

Surveillance is the consistent collection, collation, analysis, and interpretation of data regarding infectious disease outbreaks for disease prevention.
This system gathers information for use in detecting trends, evaluating prevention/control measures, and alerting appropriate professionals to potential threats.

Surveillance Types

Passive surveillance: Data collection from routine sources (e.g. lab reports). It is simple but often incomplete.
Active surveillance: An active effort to maximize data collection completeness and accuracy (e.g., follow-up phone calls).
Enhanced surveillance: Collection of additional data about cases for shorter periods or specific tasks. May involve a sample of the population (geographic location or specific risk group).
Sentinel surveillance: Data collection from a sample of the population.
Syndromic surveillance: Tracks symptoms rather than confirmed cases (used in emergencies and outbreak investigations)

Methods of Control

Universal precautions: Practices to prevent cross-contamination, including handwashing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Isolation: Separating infected individuals from others.
Decontamination: Cleaning contaminated areas or persons to prevent further spread.
Quarantine: Temporarily separating and monitoring potentially exposed individuals.
Immunization: Administering vaccines to prevent contracting an infection.
Chemoprophylaxis: Using prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection in exposed individuals.
Source removal: Eliminating or controlling a source of infection, such as closing a restaurant.

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Description

This quiz covers key concepts about infectious diseases, highlighting their impact on global health, particularly among children and adolescents. It also explores the stages of infection, including incubation and latent periods, and the importance of understanding temporal phases in managing disease spread.