Epidemics and Pandemics

Epidemics and Pandemics

1. epidemic

   • an outbreak of a disease over large geographical area and affects a large proportion of the whole population

2. pandemic

   • an outbreak of a disease over a whole country or the world

3. hazard group and containment

   • group 1
     • unlikely to cause human disease
     • examples
       • e.coli
       • bacillus
   • group 2
     • can cause human disease
     • usually treat/vaccine is available
     • low risk
     • examples
       • e.coli
       • chlamydia trachomatis
       • MRSA
   • group 3
     • can cause severe human disease
     • serious risk to employees
     • may not have an effective treatment
     • examples
       • ebola - haemorrhagic fever virus
   • group 4
     • causes severe human disease; high risk
     • usually no effective treatment or vaccine
     • likely to spread

4. issues with disease

   • antibiotic resistance
   • antimicrobial resistance
   • emerging infectious disease
   • hospital associates infections (HAIs)
   • Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAIs)

5. HAIS & HCAIs

   • can develop wither as a direct result of healthcare interventions such as medical or surgical treatments

6. methicilin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

   • group of gram positive strains that one genetically distinct from other strains of s. aureus
   • ability to breakdown methicillin (and other beta lactams)
   • some strains have developed further resistance to other common antibiotics
   • infection prevention and control of MRSA
     • MRSA screening
       • in-patient screening for MRSA on admission
       • isolation of patient
         • into a single occupancy room
         • barrier nursing is put in place
         • sign for MRSA, contact isolation protocol
       • eradication protocol
         • hibiscrub
         • nasal