Deck 20: Communicable and Infectious Diseases

Question 1

From a public health perspective, what factors complicate tuberculosis (TB) control?

Answer 1

TB control can be complicated by a number of factors and they are:
-Indolent nature of early infection
-Prolonged course of multiple antibiotics necessary for successful treatment
-Due to the airborne nature of transmission, the potential to infect a large number of people through routine activities

Question 2

Biologic agents felt to be of highest threat to national security are designated as Category A, B, or C agents, depending on an agent's ability to be spread easily; the severity of illness an agent causes, particularly if fatal; an agent's ability to cause social disruption; and any special preparedness needs for a particular agent. Describe each agent category.

Answer 2

-Category A agents: highest priority category and include anthrax, botulism, tularemia, plague, smallpox, and viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola or Lassa viruses.
-Category B agents: include ricin toxin, Q fever, and agents that may threaten the water supply, such as Cryptosporidium parvum, among other agents.
-Category C agent: emerging agents that may have the potential to be weaponized in the future, such as hantavirus.

Question 3

In the United States, tuberculosis (TB) was one of the leading causes of death at the beginning of the twentieth century, but reported mortality from TB declined steadily during the first half of the century. Discuss what factors caused this decline.

Answer 3

The factors that caused a decline in mortality from TB in the first half of the twentieth century were:
-Improvements in housing that reduced crowding
-Development of effective antibiotics
-Creation of TB control programs
-Improvements in hygiene and sanitation that reduced the rates of many communicable diseases

Question 4

Infectious disease transmission can broadly be categorized into what four direct and indirect modes?

Question 5

What steps are necessary for a field investigation of an acute outbreak?