Communicable Disease Reviewer.docx

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE NURSING SUMMER REVIEW
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Disease caused by an infectious agent that are transmitted directly
or indirectly to a well person through an agency, vector or inanimate object
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another INFECTIOUS
DISEASE
Disease transmitted by direct inoculation through a break in the skin
INFECTION
-Entry and multiplication of an infectious agent into the tissue of the host
INFESTATION
- Lodgement and development of arthropods on the surface of the body
ASEPSIS
- Absence of disease – producing microorganisms SEPSIS
- The presence of infection
MEDICAL ASEPSIS
-Practices designed to reduce the number and transfer of pathogens -Clean technique
SURGICAL ASEPSIS
-Practices that render and keep objects and areas free from microorganisms
-Sterile technique
 CARRIER – an individual who harbors the organism and is capable of
transmitting it without showing manifestations of the disease
 CASE – a person who is infected and manifesting the signs and symptoms
of the disease

 SUSPECT – a person whose medical history and signs and symptoms
suggest that such person is suffering from that particular disease
 CONTACT – any person who had been in close association with an infected
person
HOST
- A person, animal or plant which harbors and provides nourishment for a parasite
RESERVOIR
- Natural habitat for the growth, multiplication and reproduction of microorganism
ISOLATION
- The separation of persons with communicable diseases from other persons
QUARANTINE
- The limitation of the freedom of movement of persons exposed to communicable
diseases

, contaminated surfaces
CONCURRENT
- Done immediately after the discharge of infectious materials / secretions
TERMINAL
- Applied when the patient is no longer the source of infection
BACTERICIDAL
- A chemical that kills microorganisms BACTERIOSTATIC
- An agent that prevents bacterial multiplication but does not kill microorganisms

,CHAIN OF INFECTION INFECTIOUS AGENT
 Any microorganism capable of producing a disease RESERVOIR
 Environment or object on which an organism can survive and
 multiply
 PORTAL OF EXIT
 The venue or way in which the organism leaves the reservoir MODE OF
TRANSMISSION
 The means by which the infectious agent passes from the portal of
 exit from the reservoir to the susceptible host PORTAL OF ENTRY
 Permits the organism to gain entrance into the host SUSCEPTIBLE
HOST
 A person at risk for infection, whose defense mechanisms are unable to
withstand invasion of pathogens
STAGES OF THE INFECTIOUS PROCESS
 Incubation Period – acquisition of pathogen to the onset of signs and
symptoms
 Prodromal Period – patient feels “bad” but not yet experiencing actual
symptoms of the disease
 Period of Illness – onset of typical or specific signs and symptoms of a
disease
 Convalescent Period – signs and symptoms start to abate and
 client returns to normal health
 MODE OF TRANSMISSION CONTACT
TRANSMISSION
 Direct contact – involves immediate and direct transfer from person-to-
person (body surface-to-body surface)
 Indirect contact – occurs when a susceptible host is exposed to a
contaminated object
DROPLET TRANSMISSION
 Occurs when the mucous membrane of the nose, mouth or conjunctiva are
exposed to secretions of an infected person within a distance of three feet
 VEHICLE TRANSMISSION
 Transfer of microorganisms by way of vehicles or contaminated
 items that transmit pathogens AIRBORNE
TRANSMISSION
 Occurs when fine particles are suspended in the air for a long time
 or when dust particles contain pathogens VECTOR-BORNE
TRANSMISSION
 Transmitted by biologic vectors like rats, snails and mosquitoes
 TYPES OF IMMUNIZATION
 ACTIVE – antibodies produced by the body
 NATURAL – antibodies are formed in the presence of active
 infection in the body; lifelong

, SEVEN CATEGORIES OF ISOLATION
 STRICT- prevent highly contagious or virulent infections Example:
chickenpox, herpes zoster
 CONTACT – spread primarily by close or direct contact Example:
scabies, herpes simplex
 RESPIRATORY – prevent transmission of infectious distances over short
distances through the air
 Example: measles, mumps, meningitis