Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases



Abstract

The paper aims to explain the idea of infectious diseases in a holistic context. It attempts to emphasize on the causes of infectious diseases associated with the influenza. The paper briefly discusses the concept of infectious diseases including the current position of infectious diseases as well as the possibility of the emerging and reemerging infectious diseases. It then attempts to advance to selecting influenza as the infectious disease that is selected for the paper. The paper also mentions the vaccination of influenza and the role of nurses in preventing the disease. The ethics and standards as well as vaccination standards are mentioned in the paper. Furthermore, informed consent standards are also highlighted in the paper. Apart from that, the paper also discusses the prescriptions and directives regarding the disease after which it advances to the accountability in relation to the disease. The preventive measures discussed also include workplace vaccination. The paper summarizes the concept of infectious diseases and attempts to highlight the major possible prevention majors if the selected infectious disease, influenza.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Discussion4

Infectious Diseases Today4

Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases5

Influenza8

Ethics and Standards9

Nurses and Influenza Vaccination10

Vaccination Standards12

Informed Consent Standards12

Prescriptions and Directives12

Accountability13

Workplace vaccination13

Conclusion13

References15

Preventing the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Introduction

Infectious diseases have had a great impact on human history, killing vast numbers of persons and disabling or disfiguring many others. Some diseases have transformed the social and economic landscape of a region, as when the decline in the peasant population following the Black Death contributed to the end of the feudal system Talan, Stamm, Hooton, Moran, Burke, Iravani, et al., 2000). The fight against smallpox led to the development of vaccination, a weapon in the human arsenal that prevented major loss of life by protecting people from a wide range of diseases (Felissa, Lashley & Jerry, 2007). Due to an ever-better understanding of the causative agents of infectious diseases, other tools have been developed to prevent or treat illnesses, including improved sanitation, greater availability of clean drinking water, the increased use of disinfectants, the discovery of antimicrobial compounds, and improvements in the inspection, processing, and preparation of food and drink Talan, Stamm, Hooton, Moran, Burke, Iravani, et al., 2000). The incidence and severity of infectious diseases have fallen in developed nations but are again on the rise worldwide (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2002).

Discussion

Infectious Diseases Today

The leading causes of death due to infectious diseases in the world today are lower respiratory tract infections, diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and dengue hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome (Felissa, Lashley & Jerry, 2007). Many of the victims of these diseases belong to the most vulnerable segments of our population, the very young and the very old, those weakened by other pathological conditions, and those with compromised immune responses. Many other diseases affect smaller segments of humankind (Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2002). Some of these preferentially strike those living in certain climates or ecosystems, in lower socioeconomic groups, or in regions of civil unrest and war Talan, Stamm, Hooton, Moran, Burke, ...