Communicable Diseases

1. Communicable Diseases Isahel N. Alfonso, R.N

2. Communicable disease is an illness cause by a pathogen which can be transmitted directly or indirectly from one person to the another. • Communicable diseases are cause by infectious agents such as Bacteria, Virus, Fungus and Protozoa. • All communicable diseases are infectious but not all infectious diseases are contagious or communicable

3. Three Factors Relating To The Development of Infection

4. The Chain Of Infection

5. Causative or Etiologic Agent • Pathogen that can cause the infection • Bacteria • Virus • Protozoa • Fungi • Helminths

6. Reservoir of infection • A person, animal, plants, substance or location that provides nourishment for microorganisms to maintain growth and multiply. • There are two common types of reservoir: Human and Animal • Human Reservoir • Main reservoir of infection • Frank or Typical: Patient is obviously ill and manifests signs and symptoms of the diseases

7. Subclinical: Patient has mild or inapparent signs and symptoms • Carriers: Does not manifest signs and symptoms • Contact: In close association • Suspect: Patient displays signs and symptoms • Portal of Exit from reservoir • An infected host sheds the organism to another or to the environment before transmission can occur. • Common portals of exit: Respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract.

8. Mode Of Transmission • The process where the infectious agent is transferred from one person to the another. • Contact Transmission: Direct, Indirect and droplet contact • Vehicle/ Route: Food, Water, Drugs, blood and body fluids • Airborne Transmission: • Occurs when aerosolized microbial particles, dust or vapor which contains the organisms remains suspended in the air for prolonged period and spreads widely by air current and then inhaled.

9. Vector Transmission • Via contaminated or infected arthropods such as flies, ticks and others. • Portal of entry: • Specific organism requires specific route to gain access into the body. • Susceptible Host • Immunocompromised individuals are risk for acquiring infectious diseases

10. Factors Affecting The Entry Of Infection • Age, Sex, Genetic constitution • Nutritional status, fitness, environmental factors • Absence of normal immunoglobulin • General, physical, mental and emotional factors • Status of hematopeoietic system • Presence of underlying disease • Patients under immunosuppressive medications

11. Distribution of Disease • Sporadic • Intermittent occurrence of a few isolated and unrelated cases in the given locality. • Disease is occasionally present • High number of immunes and low number of susceptible • Endemic • Continuous occurrence throughout a period of time of the usual number of cases. • Low number of immunes .and low number of susceptibles

12. Epidemic • Occurrence of usually large number of cases in a relatively short period of time. • Low number of immunes and high number of susceptibles. • Pandemic • Simultaneous occurrence of epidemics of the same disease in several countries. • Worldwide epidemic • Low number of immunes and high number of susceptibles

13. Stages Of Illness • Incubation period: The interval between the first exposure to the appearance of the fist signs and symptoms of the disease. • Prodormal period: The premonitory sign; indicates the impending attack. • Acme/ Period of illness: Manifestation of the typical signs and symptoms. • Period of convalscence: On the road to recovery

14. Care of Patients With Communicable Diseases • Standard precaution • Strategy to reduce the risk and to control nosocomial infections • Applicable to: Injured skin, Non-intact mucus membrane, blood and body fluids. Example: Wearing of gloves, mask and goggles, hand washing

15. Transmission Based Precautions • Airborne Precaution • Reduces risk of airborne transmission of infectious agent through air. • Place pt. on private room, wearing of masks avoid contact with susceptible persons. • Droplet Precaution • Does not remain suspended in air • Wearing of masks

16. Contact Precaution • Avoid direct contact with patient’s wound, body fluids and excretions • Wear gloves and gown • Enteric Isolation • To prevent the spread of the disease that can be transmitted through direct contact with infected person • Respiratory Isolation • To prevent the transmission of organism by means of sneezing, coughing and breath.

17. Strict Isolation • To protect the medical staff and other people • Wound and Skin precaution • To prevent cross infection of personnel and patients from infections transmissible by direct contact with wounds and other conditions resulting to skin secretions and heavily contaminated particles. • Reverse Isolation • To protect the patient from acquiring other diseases because of lowered resistance.

18. Prevention of Communicable Diseases • Health Education • Immunization • Environmental sanitation • Supervision in the preparation of food

19. Control Measures • Isolation: The separation of persons with communicable diseases from other people and place to prevent its transmission. • Quarantine: Limitation on freedom of movement based on longest incubation period. • Disinfection: Destruction of pathogen during the presence of infection and after. • Medical asepsis: Gowning, mask, medical hand washing and placing og placard on the patient’s room