NURS 1116 Infectious Disease Epidemiology Quiz

Infectious Disease Epidemiology

• The course is NURS 1116
• Objectives include defining key terms related to epidemiology and infectious diseases
• Objectives also include understanding basic principles of infectious disease transmission
• Objectives further include identifying common infectious diseases and their epidemiological characteristics
• Objectives also include discussing the role of nursing in the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Key Terms Review

• Incidence and prevalence
• Morbidity and mortality
• Endemic, epidemic, and pandemic

Epidemiological Triad

• Host
• Agent
• Environment

Agent, Pathogen

• Characteristics include toxicity, virulence, infectivity, susceptibility to antibiotics, ability to survive outside the body
• Interventions include eradication and genetic modification

Host

• Characteristics include age, prior exposure, susceptibility, co-infection, immune response
• Interventions include treating, isolating, immunizing, nutrition, educating and altering exposures

Environment

• Characteristics include climate, physical structures, population density, social structure, housing quality, sanitation, water, and preventive services
• Interventions include removing breeding grounds and improving sanitation

Application of the Triad

• Intervention strategies include improving vaccination and health education (host)
• Intervention strategies include developing new treatments or vaccines (agent)
• Intervention strategies include enhancing sanitation and access to healthcare (environment)

Transmission of Infectious Diseases

• Modes of transmission
• Direct vs. indirect transmission

Direct Transmission

• Occurs through physical contact, kissing, sexual intercourse, or droplet contact
• Examples include athlete's foot, impetigo, cytomegalovirus (CMV), mononucleosis, bacterial meningitis, chickenpox, influenza, tuberculosis, and measles.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis are also transmitted directly.

Indirect Transmission

• Occurs through indirect contact with contaminated soil or surfaces, contaminated food or water, vectors or insects, or airborne particles
• Vehicle-borne transmission involves contaminated food or water
• Vector-borne transmission is facilitated by an organism such as an insect that transmits the infectious agent from source to host.
• Airborne transmission occurs through dust or droplet nuclei transferring the infectious agent.

Transmission Factors

• Host factors (e.g., age, immunity)
• Agent factors (e.g., virulence, infectivity)
• Environmental factors (e.g., sanitation, climate)

Common Infectious Diseases

• Bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections
• Examples include influenza, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and hepatitis

COVID-19

• Key transmission dynamics include person-to-person transmission, asymptomatic spread, super spreader events, and variant emergence

Influenza

• Key factors in transmission dynamics include airborne transmission, viral mutation, and seasonality

Epidemiological Characteristics

• Incidence and prevalence rates
• Risk factors and vulnerable populations
• Global and local trends

Prevention and Control Measures

• Vaccination
• Screening and early detection
• Public health initiatives (e.g., education, sanitation)

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

• A graphic shows spread of disease among a population based on immunization rates. A high immunization rate stops spread.

Role of Nursing in Infectious Disease Control

• Nursing responsibilities include patient education on infection prevention
• Nursing responsibilities include implementing and adhering to infection control protocols (e.g., hand hygiene, PPE)
• Surveillance and reporting of cases to public health authorities is important.
• Role in outbreak investigations and responses
• Community engagement
• Advocating for vaccination and public health resources
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams

Identifying Epidemics

• Surveillance of reportable diseases using the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
• Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) data
• Influenza-like illness surveillance network (ILINet) and weekly influenza surveillance reports (FluView)

Infectious Diseases and Their Impact on Nursing Practice

• Infection control practices
• Patient education
• Public health advocacy
• Surveillance and reporting
• Emotional and psychological impact
• Adaptability and continuous learning
• Multidisciplinary collaboration

Activity

• Instructions to work in groups, read a case study and answer discussion questions (separate handout) are provided.