INFECTIOUS DISEASE
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND
DYNAMICS OF DISEASE
TRANSMISSION
Presented By
Sabita Oraw
[Link]. Nursing Part IV
GCON ID & BG Hospital
Kol-10
Introduction
Infectious disease epidemiology is a
fundamental part of the whole of
epidemiology . In fact , the subject of
epidemiology originally developed from the
study of epidemics of infectious disease .
Definition
Infection: The entry and development or
multiplication of an infectious agent in an
organism , including the body of man or
animals. It also implies that the body responds
in some way to defect itself against the invader
INFECTION: It is the entry and development
or multiplication of an infectious agent in an
organism, including the body of man or
animals. It also implies that the body responds
in some way to defent itself against the invader,
either in the form of an immune response.
CONTAMINATION: The process of an
infectious agent on a body surface, also on or
in clothes, bedding, toys, surgical instruments
or other substance including water, milk and
food.
INFESTATION: for persons or animals the
lodgement, development and reproduction of
arthropods on the surface of the body or in the
clothing , e.g. lice, itch mite. Some countries
use the term also to describe invasion of the
gut by parasitic worms, e.g., ascariasis .
Infested articles or premises are those
which harbour or give shelter to animal forms
especially arthropods & rodents.
HOST: A person or other living animal ,
including birds and arthropods, that affords
subsistence or lodgement to an infectious
agent under natural conditions.
INFECTIOUS DISEASE: A disease due to an
infectious agent. While some infectious disease
are contagious , others are non-contagious. All
infectious disease and infestations are
communicable disease.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE: A disease that is
transmitted through contact. Ex- Scabies,
trachoma, STD & leprosy.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE: An illness due to
a specific infectious agent or its toxic products
that arises through transmission of that agent
or its products from an infected person, animal
or reservoir to a susceptible host, either
directly or indirectly.
EPIDEMIC: The occurance in a community or region
of cases of an illness, specific health related
behaviour or other health related events clearly in
excess of normal expectancy. Epidemicity is thus
relative to usual frequency of the disease in the
same area among the specified population , at the
same season of the year.
ENDEMIC : It refers to the constant presence of a
disease or infectious agent within a given
geographic area or population group within
importance from outside.
Others are-
1. Sporadic
2. Pandemic
3. Exotic
4. Zoonoses
5. Epizootic
6. Epornitic
7. Enzootic
8. Nosocomial Infection
9. Surviellance
10. Eradication
DYNAMICS OF DISEASE TRANSMISSION
Communicable disease are transmitted from
the reservoir/source of infection to susceptible
host.
SOURCE MODES OF
OR SUSCEPTI
TRANSMIS
RESERVOI BLE HOST
SI-ON
R
SOURCES AND RESERVOIR
SOURCES: The source of infection is defined as
“the person, animal, object or substance from
which an infectious agent passes or is
disseminated to the host”.
RESERVOIR: A reservoir is defined as “ any
person , animal, arthropod, plant, soil or
substance in which an infectious agent lives and
multiplies. On which it depends primarily for
survival , and where it reproduces itself in such
manner that it can be transmitted to a susceptible
host”.
The reservoir may of three types
1. Human reservoir
2. Animal reservoir
3. Reservoir in non-living things
MODES OF TRANSMISSION
A. DIRECT TRANSMISSION
Direct contact
Droplet infection
Contact with soil
Inoculation into skin or mucosa
Transplacental
B. INDIRECT TRANSMISSION
Vehicle-borne
Vector-borne
1. Mechanical
2. Biological
Air-borne
1. Droplet nuclei
2. Dust
Fomite-borne
Unclean hands and finger
SUSCEPTIBLE HOST
(b) On gaining entry into the host, the
organisms must reach the appropriate tissue or
“SITE OF ELECTION” In the body of the host
where it may find optimum conditions for its
multiplication and survival
.(c) Thirdly, the disease agent must find a way
out of the body(PORTAL OF EXIT) in order that it
may reach a new host and propagate its species.
If there is no portal of exit, the infection
becomes a dead-end infection as in rabies ,
bubonic plague, tetanus and trichinosis.
Incubation period: