communicable disease

• Communicable disease


  An illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxic products that are transmitted directly or indirectly to a well person through an agent, vector or inanimate object
• Types of communicable disease

  • Infectious disease
  • Contagious disease
• Infectious disease


  Not easily transmitted by ordinary contact but require a direct inoculation through a break in the previously intact skin or mucous membrane
• Contagious disease


  Easily transmitted from one person to another through direct or indirect means
• Terminologies

  • Disinfection
  • Concurrent disinfection
  • Terminal disinfection
  • Disinfectant
  • Antiseptic
  • Bactericidal
  • Sterilization
• Disinfection


  Destruction of pathogenic microorganism outside the body by directly applying physical or chemical means
• Concurrent disinfection


  Method of disinfection done immediately after the infected individual discharges infectious material/secretions. This method of disinfection is when the patient is still the source of infection
• Terminal disinfection


  Applied when the patient is no longer the source of infection
• Disinfectant


  Chemical used on non living objects
• Antiseptic


  Chemical used on living things
• Bactericidal


  Kills microorganism
• Sterilization


  Complete destruction of all microorganism
• General principles

  • Pathogens move through spaces or air current
  • Pathogens are transferred from one surface to another whenever objects touch
  • Hand washing removes microorganism
  • Pathogens are released into the air on droplet nuclei when person speaks, breaths, sneezes
  • Pathogens are transferred by virtue of gravity
  • Pathogens move slowly on dry surface but very quickly through moisture
• Infection


  Invasion and multiplication of microorganisms on the tissues of the host resulting to signs and symptoms as well as immunologic response
• Epidemiological triad

  • Agent
  • Host
  • Environment
• Classification according to incidence

  • Sporadic
  • Endemic
  • Epidemic
  • Pandemic
• Sporadic disease


  Disease that occur occasionally and irregularly with no specific pattern
• Endemic disease


  Those that are present in a population or community at times
• Epidemic disease


  Diseases that occur in a greater number than what is expected in a specific area over a specific time
• Pandemic disease


  An epidemic that affects several countries or continents
• Three lines of defense

  • First line of defense (mechanical barriers, chemical barriers, microbial antagonism principle)
  • Second line of defense (inflammatory response)
  • Third line of defense (immune response - natural/acquired, active/passive)