The Communicable Disease: Pertussis
Pertussis is a highly infectious disease. It is also known as whooping cough. For more than a decade, pertussis has become a significant public health problem. CDC reports that since the 1980s, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of pertussis in the United States (2011a). Worldwide, there are 30-50 million cases of pertussis and about 300,000 deaths per year (CDC, 2011a). Public Health Nurses play an important role in limiting the transmission during outbreaks by educating and ensuring appropriate treatments to the communities.
Epidemiologic Triad Model
Agent. The main biological pathogen that causes the Pertussis is Bordetella Pertussis. The agent is an aerobic gram-negative bacterium. Bordetella Pertussis attaches to and damages ciliated respiratory epithelium (Guinto-Ocampo, McNeil & Aronoff, 2010). The mechanism prevents cilia from capturing debris and interferes with the respiratory tract from clearing secretions. In addition to the adherence, Bordetella Pertussis releases toxin to stimulate the production of thick mucus which can obstruct the airway. Consequently, the body responds by coughing in order to clear the airway which releases the microorganism into the air.
Host. Bordetella Pertussis affects only humans. No animal or insect source or vector is known to exist (CDC, 2011a). The mode of transmission is the respiratory route. The bacteria live in mouth, nose, and throat. An infected person spreads the disease to another person via airborne droplets of respiratory secretions. “Pertussis is especially contagious during the first week of illness but is easily transmitted during the period starting 7 days following exposure and for up to 3 we...
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...evelop the symptoms suggesting the paroxysmal stage, the interventions are antibiotic and supportive treatments. San Diego Health Department can develop a standardized protocol for management of patients exposed to pertussis to all hospital settings (Haiduven, Hench, Simpkins & Stevens, 1998). According to the study, Barriers to Public Health Management, the results showed that there is often miscommunication among healthcare professionals since there was no clear and dependable ways to reach every health care worker (Wheeler, Tran, North, Beavers-May, Schutze & et. al., 2004). San Diego Health Department should send out a team of health department staff to be resources and collaborate with hospital staffs to ensure provision of adequate care. It is important to establish a clear communication between public health teams and local hospitals in the community.
Bordetella pertussis is a highly communicable agent and is transmitted person-to-person via airborne droplets or direct contact with discharges from the respiratory mucous membranes of an infected person. This small, gram-negative coccobacillus is non-motile, aerobic and fastidious. B. pertussis colonizes the respiratory tract including the mouth, nose, throat and beginning of the lungs of young children worldwide. The bacteria bind to ciliated cells in the respiratory mucosa by producing adhesions. Filamentous hemagglutinin on the cell surface and pertussis toxin (Ptx) both help the bacteria in binding. Filamentous hemagglutinin binds to the galactose residues on the glycolipid of the ciliated cells. Ptx, in its cell-bound form, binds to the glycolipid lactosylceramide, which is also found on the ciliated cells. Ptx binds to the surface of phagocytes as well, causing phagocytosis of the bacteria. This mechanism may lead to enhanced survival as an intracellular parasite. Adding to its many purposes, Ptx deregulates the host cell adenylate cyclase activity. The A subunit of this AB toxin, affects the G protein responsible for inhibiting adenylate cyclase. This leads to an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) creating detrimental metabolic changes in the host cells.
For the disease to occur, Bordetella pertussis evades the host immune system and is disseminate in the lower respiratory tract. Inhaled bacteria droplets then attach to the ciliated epithelial cells in the nasal-pharynx and trachea. It is at this point that Bordetella pertussis produces virulent factors that are classified into two; adhesins and toxins. Adhesins mediate bacterial attachment to the epithelial cells while toxins that mediate the host immune system. Adhesins include; filamentous haemagglutinin, fimbriae and pertactin while toxins include pertussis toxin, tracheal cytotoxin and adenylate cyclase toxin(1). To understand the role of these virulence factors in whooping cough disease, a mouse model has been used (2).
In one of the studies healthcare workers were provided a questionnaire only 27.3% responded that no other healthcare worker had ever talked to them about MRSA (Raupach-Rosin, et. al, 2016). This study proves that healthcare workers need to be more educated on the topic of MRSA, how it spreads to the patients, and how the intervention of infection control and patient education will assist in reducing the amount of MRSA cases acquired. In one study, patients underwent a MRSA screening for nasal colonization. Out of the 29,371 patients, 3,262 had MRSA colonization. (Marzec & Bessesen, 2016). The study conducted allowed healthcare providers to see the effects of how easily MRSA is spread and how many patients could easily contract
Vaccine safety is one of the most controversial topics in today’s public discourse. Everyone has heard of them, but few know why they are so encouraged. A vaccine contains a weak or dead version of a microbe. This creates a small scale invasion of the immune system, which activates cells to destroy the microbe. Once these cells have been made they are always there to provide protection. This protection is immunity, for those cells are then able to recognize any live version of the same microbe and attack it immediately. This can save lives but also be dangerous, vaccines carry many other components which can cause side effects. These could be simple adverse effects such as a small cold or, in the rare case,
“Vaccinations are causing a major upsurge in childhood diseases, adult maladies, and even deadly ailments such as Gulf War Syndrome and Lou Gehrig’s disease” (Blaylock). Every now and then an individual’s doctor calls telling them about the latest vaccine they should receive. The person immediately schedules a time to come in and get it done. But do they even give a second thought about it? Have they ever thought that maybe they do not need another vaccination? Many people have not taken the time to seriously think about the process of immunization. The truth is, there are many dangers that the average person should be unaware of. Rarely do vaccines actually accomplish what the public has been told. In fact, a lot of vaccines contain harmful substances that have been linked to disorders such as autism. The lack of education and dishonesty from doctors are putting people in danger of health problems without even realizing. Many parents feel obligated for their children to get vaccinated because of school, not knowing they have the alternative option of refusing immunization.
Vaccines have been used to prevent diseases for centuries, and have saved countless lives of children and adults. The smallpox vaccine was invented as early as 1796, and since then the use of vaccines has continued to protect us from countless life threatening diseases such as polio, measles, and pertussis. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) assures that vaccines are extensively tested by scientist to make sure they are effective and safe, and must receive the approval of the Food and Drug Administration before being used. “Perhaps the greatest success story in public health is the reduction of infectious diseases due to the use of vaccines” (CDC, 2010). Routine immunization has eliminated smallpox from the globe and led to the near removal of wild polio virus. Vaccines have reduced some preventable infectious diseases to an all-time low, and now few people experience the devastating effects of measles, pertussis, and other illnesses.
Every disease has a causative agent. This agent is a harmful bacterium that causes the disease. The causative agent for this disease is the bacteria Borrelia burgdoferi.
Patient education is of paramount importance if MRSA is to be reduced to its lowest minimum. According to Noble 2009, patient’s education stands a critical component of managing MRSA therefore; nurses are expected to be prompt in educating patients on specific measures in limiting and reducing the spread of MRSA by person to person contact. (Noble, 2009) The specific measures includes definition of MRSA, mode of transmission, the damage it can do to the body, specific treatments available and the process of treatment. This is to help the patient take part in the care. Noble 2009 explains that during care giving nurses and all other healthcare provider involve in giving care to a patient should communicate to patient all the precaution that will prevent the transmission of MRSA, and also giving the scientific rationale for the use of any precaution that is been used in the cause of care giving. (Noble, 2009.)
Polio: An American Story describes a struggle to find a vaccine on polio through several researchers’ lives, and over the course of many years. The second thesis is the struggle between Salk and Sabin, two bitter rivals who had their own vaccine that they believed would cure polio. The author David M. Oshinsky, is describing how difficult it was to find the cure to a horrifying disease, which lasted from the Great Depression until the 1960’s. Oshinsky then writes about how foundations formed as fundraisers, to support polio research. Lastly, the author demonstrates how researchers were forced to back track on multiple occasions, to learn more about polio.
Measles Measles is a highly contagious disease. It is caused by an RNA virus that changes constantly. Measles symptoms usually include a bad cough, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, sensitivity to light, and a very high fever. Red patches with white grain like centers appear along the gum line in the mouth two to four days after the first symptoms show. These patches are called Koplik spots because Henry Koplick first noticed them in 1896.
Chronic bronchitis is a disorder that causes inflammation to the airway, mainly the bronchial tubules. It produces a chronic cough that lasts three consecutive months for more than two successive years (Vijayan,2013). Chronic Bronchitis is a member of the COPD family and is prominently seen in cigarette smokers. Other factors such as air pollutants, Asbestos, and working in coal mines contributes to inflammation. Once the irritant comes in contact with the mucosa of the bronchi it alters the composition causing hyperplasia of the glands and producing excessive sputum (Viayan,2013). Goblet cells also enlarge to contribute to the excessive secretion of sputum. This effects the cilia that carry out the mechanism of trapping foreign bodies to allow it to be expelled in the sputum, which are now damaged by the irritant making it impossible for the person to clear their airway. Since the mechanism of airway clearance is ineffective, the secretion builds up a thickened wall of the bronchioles causing constriction and increasing the work of breathing. The excessive build up of mucous could set up pneumonia. The alveoli are also damaged enabling the macrophages to eliminate bacteria putting the patient at risk for acquiring an infection.
The objectives of these health goals is to promote health awareness and to build health communities throughout the country and around the world. For example, the objectives for Healthy People 2020 are to attain high quality life, achieve long lives, free of preventable disease, disability, injury and prevention of premature death (Health People, 2020). It is fair to say that, for these goals to be achieved, it will take the effort of health care workers namely medical doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses. According to Zaccagnini and White (2014), "Nursing leadership is essential in implementing, and evaluating clinical preventions and interventions". DNP graduates in corporation with local and national organizations have disease outbreak surveillances in place. The National Nosocomial Infecting Surveillance System (NNIS) is one such program. This program was created by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 1970. According to, Culver, Horan, Jarvis, White, Olson, Banenjee, Edwards, Martone, Gaynes & Hughes, (1991) the CDC uses the data to monitor trends in infections and risk factors. This data is also used to estimate the magnitude of the nosocomial infection problem nationally. The DNP graduates are at the forefront of the health care delivery system. They use their skills and expertise to educate patients on health promotion and
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis (buh-SIL-us an-THRAY-sus). The Bacillus anthracis can exist in two different forms: favorable form, when the bacteria are rod-shaped and can grow and divide, or the unfavorable form, when they form a very resistant dormant spore that helps them survive extreme environmental conditions. Like other bacteria, Bacillus anthracis is very small, only about 1 by 9 micrometers in size. It is Gram-positive, which makes the bacteria purple-pinkish rods, with a relatively long lifespan of over 70 years. Bacillus anthracis feed on iron, oxygen, water, and nutrients to survive and reproduce. Bacillus anthracis need a favorable environment, but can reproduce in many different ways, either through spore germination, asexual bacterial reproduction, or formation of new spores. Herbivore animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary target of these bacteria and can be infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. These elliptical shaped spores have thick and layered walls which make it resistant to heat, dryness, ultraviolet light, and gamma radiations. These spores initially develop inside the rod-shaped form, causing it to be named endospore. Because the bacteria is zoonosis, which means that it affects domestic and wild animals primarily, it is very rare for people to be infected by anthrax, but it is theoretically possible when the spores get into the body either through coming in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Even though people can be infected with anthrax through animal contacts, it is not contagious, meaning that it cannot be transmitted from a person to person. After the spores get ...
Those who choose not to vaccinate their children are endangering the health of those unable to be vaccinated themselves, such as infants, pregnant people, and the immunocompromised, by jeopardizing community immunity. According to vaccine.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, community immunity or “herd immunity” occurs when “a critical portion of the community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak” (Community Immunity). An infographic featured in an NPR article entitled “How Vaccine Fears Fueled the Resurgence of Preventable Diseases” illustrated the rise in measles cases in Western Europe and of pertussis (whooping cough) cases in the U.S (Doucleff). In the first eight months of 2014, there were eighteen measles outbreaks, and six hundred cases of measles.
In Australia in the last ten years more then 137 known people have died and many more fallen very ill from contagious and infectious disease. Diseases such as diphtheria; tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps rubella and Haemophilus influenzae, This is a great tragedy considering all these diseases are easily preventable by immunisation.