Infection Control: Understanding Infectious Diseases, Prevention and Symptoms

This article provides an overview of infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi. It explains how the immune system plays a role in preventing and controlling infections, and discusses the importance of vaccines, antibiotics, hygiene and isolation precautions in infection control. The article also covers the signs and symptoms of infections and how they can be identified.

Task Brief 8, Infection Control

Contents
Infectious Diseases.......................................................................................................................1
Controlling and preventing the spread of Infection.....................................................................1
Signs ans Symptoms of Infection................................................................................................1
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REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1
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l壱Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases are disorders caused by viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi. Attack of
infectious agents on human body depends on their immune system. When the host have fully
functional immune system, host have less chances of getting attacked by disease. But if the
immune system of host is compromised, there are more chances of development of disease
symptoms. Many organisms used to reside on human body but they are harmless. Infectious
diseases can be communicable or non-communicable (Guo and et. al., 2018). Communicable
infections can transmitted even by direct come in contact with infectious host or some infectious
diseases are transmitted via vectors or mediators. A person may get infected by ingesting
contaminated food or drinking contaminated water or being exposed to infection causing
organism in environment. Infection attack can be determined by signs and symptoms exhibited
by host's body. Types of symptoms mainly depends on organisms causing the infections, which
may be mild, moderate or severe. Mild infections can be controlled by rest and home remedies
but severe conditions may even lead a person to hospitalization. Some infectious diseases can be
prevented by vaccines.
Viruses are the simplest and smallest form of germs. They are simply the genetic
material encapsulated in protein. They are so small that can even easily transmit through air by
coughing or sneezing. Viruses can infect any living organism including bacteria and fungi. They
infect an organism by entering into their body and perform replication (Iannacone and Guidotti
2022). Viruses mainly hijacks the cellular machinery of a person in order to produce clones of
itself. They have capability to control immune system of an individual and proceeds to destroy
cells and harm the body. Bacterium is a single cell which can grow and reproduce anywhere that
is, water, soil, or human body. Some bacteria have tendency to produce toxins which can harm
and are cytotoxic in nature, may damage immune response. Fungi are the complicated
eukaryotic organisms. Fungus generally have the beneficial role but some environmental fungi
reproduce “spores” which may get enter into human body through lungs or skin. These harmful
spores attacks the immune system, make it weak. Fungi spread quickly and cause damage to
many organs (Jansen, Knirsch and Anderson, 2018).

l壱Controlling and preventing the spread of Pathologic process
Vaccines plays a significant role in build up and train immune system by creating
antibodies. Antibodies are the most important part of defence mechanism in human body.
Antibodies can destroy disease-causing organisms (bacteria and virus) and blocks the functional
mechanism of infection causing organism and shield human body from getting infected.
Vaccines contains weakened, killed or inactivated forms of germs which are incapable of
causing disease. Antibiotics are effective medicines to fight bacterial infections. Antibiotics can
stop harmful bacteria and fungi from reproducing or kill them. It creates a natural body defence
and promote elimination of harmful pathogens from human body (Lucas and et. al., 2020).
Antibiotics are too effective in saving lives. But one should always prefer to take antibiotics only
with physician's prescription. Antibiotics have a tendency of developing resistance which can
curb the effectiveness of that particular drug. Antibiotics are ineffective in case of viral
infections like flu or cold. In those cases, antiviral drugs are prescribed by physicians which act
by blocking reproduction ability of viral agents or strengthen the immune response and prepare
body to fight with the invaded virus (Milligan and et. al., 2018).
Hygiene maintenance is the most effective preventive measure to reduce the chances of
getting infected; especially hand hygiene. It has been estimated that hand hygiene has reduced
the infection chances by 50%. Hygiene practices includes habits of washing hands, avoid
touching dirty and unhygienic objects or animals, keep bathrooms clean, use washed and clean
utensils, properly clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces, use handkerchiefs or tissues
while sneezing and coughing. Such practices reduce the chances of attacking infectious agents
and enter into human body. Good personal hygiene helps in keeping all parts of the external
body clean and healthy. People who does not follow hygienic practices are more vulnerable to
infection as they provides an ideal environment for germs and facilitate their growth (Moncion
and et. al., 2019).
Isolation precautions are effective in reducing the spread of infection as isolation
provides a barrier between germs and people. Isolation precautions helps in controlling the
spread of infections as a infected person get isolated and follow all isolation rules like limit
themselves from getting outside home, stop touching public stuffs, maintain hygiene along with
taking medicines, avoid to meet people then chances of other people of getting infected because

of that person get reduced. If any person prefer to visit a patient who has been kept into
isolation, they should prefer to wear PPE kit which includes, gloves, masks, googles, aprons,
shoe covers, and gowns. It is important to dispose the whole kit and clean up after paying visit.
PPE kit act like shield and does not allow exposure or enter any infectious agent to enter through
it (Rawson, Wilson, and Holmes, 2021).
l壱Signs and Symptoms of Infection
Signs an symptoms are associated with every infectious diseases. The symptoms exhibited by
human body due to presence of any external, harmful agents inside the body give signs of
changes in pathological functioning. Symptoms exhibited are helpful in identifying the presence
and type of disease.
Signs and symptoms
·SignsLeprosy (Bacterial disease)Common cold (Viral disease)Candidiasis (Fungal disease)Loss
of eyelashes or eyebrows
·Stiff, thick or dry skin
·Red and watery eyes
·Running nose
·Chills
·Mild fatigueWatery vaginal discharge
·Redness and swelling of vulva
Symptoms

·Skin patches
·Numbness or tingling sensation on feet and hands
·Painless wounds
·Sore throat
·Coughing
·Sneezing
·FeverIrritation and itching sensation on vagina and vulva
·Vaginal pain and soreness
·Burning sensation while urinating
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· REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Guo, N., Ma, H., Deng, J., Ma, Y., Huang, L., Guo, R. and Zhang, L., 2018. Effect of hand
washing and personal hygiene on hand food mouth disease: A community intervention
study. Medicine, 97(51).
Iannacone, M. and Guidotti, L.G., 2022. Immunobiology and pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus
infection. Nature Reviews Immunology, 22(1), pp.19-32.
Jansen, K.U., Knirsch, C. and Anderson, A.S., 2018. The role of vaccines in preventing bacterial
antimicrobial resistance. Nature medicine, 24(1), pp.10-19.
Lucas, R., Hadizamani, Y., Gonzales, J., Gorshkov, B., Bodmer, T., Berthiaume, Y., Moehrlen,
U., Lode, H., Huwer, H., Hudel, M. and Mraheil, M.A., 2020. Impact of bacterial toxins in
the lungs. Toxins, 12(4), p.223.
Milligan, R., Paul, M., Richardson, M. and Neuberger, A., 2018. Vaccines for preventing
typhoid fever. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (5).
Moncion, K., Young, K., Tunis, M., Rempel, S., Stirling, R. and Zhao, L., 2019. Effectiveness
of hand hygiene practices in preventing influenza virus infection in the community setting:
a systematic review. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 45(1), pp.12-20.
Rawson, T.M., Wilson, R.C. and Holmes, A., 2021. Understanding the role of bacterial and
fungal infection in COVID-19. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 27(1), pp.9-11.