Communicable Disease Nursing

• Infection


  Implantation and successful replication of an organism in the tissue of the host resulting in signs and symptoms as well as immunologic response
• Carrier


  An individual who harbors the organism and is capable of transmitting it to a susceptible host without showing manifestations of the 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 agency, and a vector or an inanimate object
• Contact


  Any person or animal who is in close association with an infected person, animal or freshly soiled materials
• Contagious Disease


  A disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through direct or indirect means
• Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens that spread through direct contact with infected individuals or indirectly via contaminated objects or substances.
• Disinfection


  The destruction of pathogenic microorganism on inanimate objects by directly applying physical or chemical means
• Concurrent disinfection


  1. Method of disinfection done immediately after the infected individual discharges infectious material/secretions

  2. When the patient is still the source of infection
• Terminal disinfection


  Method of disinfection applied when the patient is no longer the source of infection
• Habitat


  A place where an organism lives or where an organism is usually found
• Host


  A person, animal or plant on which a parasite depends for its survival
• Infectious Disease


  Transmitted not only by ordinary contact but requires direct inoculation of the organism through a break on the skin or mucous membrane
• Isolation


  The separation from other persons of an individual suffering from a communicable disease
• Quarantine


  The limitation of freedom of movement of persons or animals which have been exposed to communicable disease/s for a period of time equivalent to the longest incubation period of that disease
• Reservoir


  Composed of one of more species of animal or plant in which an infectious agent lives and multiplies for survival and reproduces itself in such a manner that it can be transmitted to man
• Epidemiology


  The study of occurrences and disturbance of diseases as well as the distribution and determinants of health states of events in specified population and application of this study to the control of health problems
• Uses of epidemiology


  • Study the history of the health population and the rise and fall of disease and changes in their character
  • Diagnose the health of the community
  • Study the work of health services with a view of improving them
  • Estimate the risk of disease, accident, defects and the chances of avoiding them
  • Complete the clinical picture of chronic disease and describe their history
• Epidemiologic Triangle


  Consists of three components - host, environment and agent
• Host


  • Any organism that harbors and provides nourishment for another organism
• Agent


  • Intrinsic property of microorganism to survive and multiply in the environment to produce disease
• Environment


  • The sum total of all external conditions and influences that affect the development of an organism which can be: Biological, Social, Physical
• Types of disease occurrence and distribution

  • Sporadic
  • Endemic
  • Epidemic (Outbreak)
  • Pandemic
• Sporadic


  Intermittent occurrence of a few isolated and unrelated cases in a given locality. Cases are few and scattered
• Endemic


  Continuous occurrence throughout a period of time, of the usual number of case in a given locality. The disease is therefore always occurring in the locality and the level of occurrence is more or less constant through a period of time
• Epidemic (Outbreak)


  Unusually large number of cases in a relatively short period of time
• Pandemic


  The simultaneous occurrence of epidemic of the same disease in several countries
• Modes of disease transmission

  • Airborne
  • Vehicle
  • Vector
  • Contact
• Contact Transmission


  Most common mode of transmission. Includes direct contact (person to person transfer), indirect contact (susceptible person comes in contact with a contaminated object), and droplet spread ( transmission through contact with respiratory secretions when the infected person coughs, sneezes or talks)
• Droplet Spread


  Transmission through contact with respiratory secretions when the infected person coughs, sneezes or talks
• Airborne Transmission


  Occurs when fine microbial particles or dust particles containing microbes remain suspended in the air for a prolonged period
• Vehicle Transmission


  Non-living carrier. Transmission of infectious disease through articles or substance that harbor the organism until it is ingested or inoculated into the host
• Vector-borne Transmission


  Occurs when intermediate carriers, such as fleas, flies and mosquitoes transfer the microbes to another living organism
• Portal of Entry


  The venue the organism gains entrance into the susceptible host. The infective microbes use the same avenues when they exit from the reservoir
• Susceptible Host


  When the defenses are good, no infection will take place. However, in weakened host, microbes will launch an infectious disease
• Indirect Contact Transmission occurs when a person touches something contaminated with pathogens (such as doorknobs, utensils, bedding) and then touches their own mouth, nose, eyes, or broken skin.
• Inactivated (killed organism)


  • Not long lasting
  • Multiple doses needed
  • Booster dose needed
• Attenuated (live, weakened organism)


  • Single dose needed
  • Long lasting immunity
• Isolation


  Separation of patients with communicable disease from other so as to prevent or reduce transmission or infectious agent directly or indirectly
• Categories Recommended in Isolation

  • Strict Isolation
  • Contact Isolation
  • Respiratory Isolation
  • TB Isolation
  • Enteric Isolation
  • Reverse/Neutropenic Isolation
  • Standard Precaution
  • Universal Precaution + Body Substance Isolation (BSI)
• Universal Precaution


  Intended to prevent parenteral mucous membrane and non-intact skin exposure of healthcare workers to blood borne pathogens