Infection Control: Understanding Infectious Diseases, Prevention and Symptoms

Task Brief 8, Infection Control

Contents
Infectious Diseases................................................................................................................... 1
Controlling and preventing the spread of Infection...................................................................1
Signs ans Symptoms of Infection............................................................................................. 1
.................................................................................................................................................... 1
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................ 1
·
·
·

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).