INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGYSome Definitions

INFECTION
The entry and development or multiplication of an

infectious agent in the bodies of mans and animals. It also implies that the body responds in some way to defend itself against the invader, either in the form of an immune response or disease An infection does not always cause disease

Types of Infection
Colonization: S.aureus in skin, nasopharynx Subclinical/Inapparent infection: Polio Latent infection: Herpes simplex Manifest/Clinical Infection

CONTAMINATION
The presence of an infectious agent on

the body surface In clothes, beddings Toys Surgical instruments/dressings Other inanimate articles Substances including water, milk and food

Does not imply carrier state

INFESTATION
For persons or animals, lodgement, development

and reproduction of arthropods on the surface of the body or in the clothing

Lice, itch mite

Also invasion of gut by parasitic worms Ascariasis Infested articles/premises those which harbour or

give shelter to animal forms, especially arthropods and rodents

HOST
A person or other animal, including birds and

arthropods, that affords subsistence or lodgement to an infectious agent under natural conditions. Types:

Obligate host- e.g. man in measles Primary or definitive host- in which the parasite passes its sexual stage or attains maturity Secondary or intermediate host- in which the parasite is in a larval or asexual state Transport host- A carrier in which the organism remains alive but does not undergo development

INFECTIOUS DISEASE
A clinically manifest disease of man or animals

resulting from infection.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
A disease transmitted through contact Scabies, trachoma, STD

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
An illness due to a specific infectious agent or its

toxic products capable of being directly or indirectly transmitted from man to man, animal to animal or from the environment (through air, dust, soil, water, food, etc.) to man or animal

EPIDEMIC
The unusual occurrence in a community or region of disease, specific health related behaviour (eg. smoking), or other health related events (eg. Traffic accidents)

clearly in excess of the expected occurrence The amount of disease occurring in the past, in absence of epidemic, defines the expected frequency. An arbitrary limit of two standard errors from the endemic frequency epidemic threshold of common ds.

ENDEMIC
Refers to the constant presence of a disease or

infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group without importation from outside. Usual or expected frequency of the disease. May burst into epidemic when conditions are favourable

 Hyperendemic: Disease constantly present at a high incidence/prevalence rate and affects all age groups equally Holoendemic: A high level of infection beginning early in life affecting most of the child population, leading to a state of equilibrium such that the adult population shows evidence of the disease much less commonly than do the children.
malaria

PANDEMIC
An epidemic usually affecting a large proportion of

the population, occurring over a wide geographical area, such as a section of nation, the entire nation, a continent or the world.

Swine flu

SPORADIC
The cases occur irregularly, haphazardly from time

to time, and generally infrequently. The cases are so few and separated widely in space and time that they show little or no connection with each other, nor a recognisable common source of infection.

EXOTIC
Diseases which are imported into a country in which

they do not otherwise occur

Eg: Rabies in UK

ZOONOSES
An infection or infectious disease transmissible

under natural conditions from vertebrate animals to man.

Epizootic Enzootic

Types: Anthropozoonoses: Vertebrate animals Man Zooanthroponoses: Man Vertebrate animals Amphixenoses: May be transmitted in either direction

EPIZOOTIC
An epidemic disease in an animal population

May also affect human populations

Eg: Anthrax, Brucellosis, Influenza EPORNITHIC: An epidemic of disease in bird

population

ENZOOTIC
An endemic disease occurring in animals

Eg: Anthrax, rabies, brucellosis

NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION
An infection originating in a patient while in a

hospital or any other health care facility New disorder (unrelated to the patients primary condition) associated with being in hospital It was not present/incubating at the time of admission or the residual of an infection acquired during a previous admission Acquired in the hospital, but appearing after discharge Eg: Infection of surgical wounds, Hepatitis B

OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTION
Infection by an organism that takes the opportunity

provided by the defect in host defence to infect the host and hence cause disease. Infection by an organism that is not normally pathogenic, but may cause disease if resistance is lowered. Eg:

CMV, Herpes Simplex, Toxoplasma, M.tuberculosis, M. Avium intercellulare

IATROGENIC INFECTION
Any untoward or adverse consequence of a

preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic regimen or procedure, that causes impairment, handicap, disability or death resulting from a physicians professional activity or from the professional activity of other health professionals. The disease may be serious enough to

Prolong the hospital stay, Require special treatment, or Actually threaten life

 Most episodes related to

Drug therapy Immunization Diagnostic procedures

Example:

Reactions to drugs penicillin, Chloramphenicol Childhood leukaemia due to prenatal X-rays Hepatitis B following blood transfusion

CONTROL
Operations aimed at reducing Incidence of disease Duration of disease, risk of transmission Effects of infection- physical, psychological complications Financial burden to the community The disease agent is permitted to persist in the

community at a level where it ceases to be a public health problem, according to the tolerance of the local population.

ERADICATION
Termination of all transmission of infection by

extermination of the infectious agent through surveillance and containment An absolute process- termination of an infection from the whole world. Example:

Small pox

ELIMINATION
Eradication of the disease from a large geographical

region or political jurisdiction.