Nursing Module: Communicable Disease Nursing Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary terms and definitions covering communicable disease nursing, including epidemiology, types of precautions, and pathognomonic signs of various infectious diseases.

Infection

The implantation and success replication of an organism in the tissue of the host resulting to signs and symptoms as well as immunologic response.

Carrier

An individual who harbors the organism and is capable of transmitting it to a susceptible host without showing manifestations of the disease.

Communicable Disease

An illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxic products transmitted directly or indirectly to a well person through an agency, a vector, or an inanimate object.

Contact

Any person or animal who is in close association with an infected person, animal, or freshly soiled materials.

Disinfection

The destruction of pathogenic microorganism on inanimate objects by directly applying physical or chemical means.

Concurrent Disinfection

A method of disinfection done immediately after the infected individual discharges infectious material or secretions while the patient is still the source of infection.

Terminal Disinfection

Disinfection applied when the patient is no longer the source of infection, usually done after discharge to prepare the room for the next patient.

Infectious Disease

A disease transmitted not only by ordinary contact but requiring direct inoculation of the organism through a break on the skin or mucous membrane.

Quarantine

The limitation of freedom of movement of persons or animals exposed to communicable diseases for a period equivalent to the longest incubation period of that disease.

Epidemiology

The study of occurrences and disturbance of diseases as well as the distribution and determinants of health states or events in specified population.

Sporadic Pattern

Intermittent occurrence of a few isolated and unrelated cases in a given locality, such as Rabies.

Endemic Pattern

Continuous occurrence throughout a period of time of the usual number of cases in a given locality, such as Schistosomiasis in Leyte & Samar.

Epidemic (Outbreak)

An unusually large number of cases in a relatively short period of time.

Pandemic

The simultaneous occurrence of an epidemic of the same disease in several countries, such as HIV/AIDS and SARS.

Epidemiologic Triangle

A model of disease causation consisting of three components: host, environment, and agent.

Droplet Spread

Transmission through contact with respiratory secretions within a limit of $3\,feet$ when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks.

Airborne Transmission

Occurs when fine microbial or dust particles remain suspended in the air for a prolonged period, transmitting over distances greater than $3\,feet$.

Vehicle Transmission

Transmission of infectious disease through articles or substances that harbor the organism until it is ingested or inoculated.

Attenuated Antigen

A live, weakened organism that usually requires a single dose and provides long-lasting immunity.

Reverse/Neutropenic Isolation

The separation of an immunocompromised client to prevent them from contracting infection from the environment.

Standard Precaution

Combines Universal Precaution and Body Substance Isolation to prevent infections transmitted by contact with secretions or drainage (except sweat).

Koplik spots

The pathognomonic sign for Measles (Rubeola), appearing as small spots on the buccal mucosa.

Stimson’s line

A red line on the lower conjunctiva which is a clinical manifestation of the pre-eruptive stage of Measles.

Lepromatous (Multibacillary) Leprosy

The most serious type of Hansen's disease where the lepromin test is negative and damage occurs to the respiratory tract, eyes, and testes.

Madarosis

The loss of eyebrows and eyelashes, which is a late clinical manifestation of Leprosy.

Forchheimer’s spot

A pinkish rash on the soft palate associated with German Measles (Rubella).

Blueberry muffin skin

A manifestation of thrombocytopenic purpura in infants with Classic Congenital Rubella Syndrome.

Wood’s light examination

A diagnostic test used for Pediculosis to identify the fluorescence of adult lice.

Schick Test

A diagnostic test for Diphtheria involving an intradermal injection of $0.1\,mL$ of dilute toxin; inflammation indicates a lack of antibodies.

Wool-sorter’s Disease

Another term for Anthrax, an acute bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis.

Koch’s Disease

Another name for Tuberculosis (PTB), a chronic respiratory disease characterized by the formation of tubercles and caseation necrosis.

Rice-watery stool

The characteristic profuse diarrhea associated with Cholera (El Tor).

Peyer’s patches

Lymphoid tissue in the intestine that becomes ulcerated during a Typhoid Fever infection.

Rose spots

Specific abdominal eruptions that occur during the onset of Typhoid Fever.

Paragonimus westermani

The etiological agent for Paragonimiasis, also known as the Lung Fluke.

Herman’s sign

The pathognomonic sign for Dengue Fever, described as a maculopapular rash with patches of normal skin.

Nocturnal Blood Examination (NBE)

A laboratory procedure for Filariasis where blood is taken at $8\,PM$ to detect microfilariae.

Leptospira interrogans

The spirochete etiological agent of Leptospirosis, often transmitted through water contaminated by animal urine.

Negri bodies

Inclusion bodies found in the brain of an infected animal, used as a diagnostic finding for Rabies.

Hydrophobia

A neurological phase symptom of Rabies characterized by a severe and painful spasm of the muscles of the mouth and pharynx when attempting to drink.

Risus sardonicus

A clinical manifestation of Tetanus characterized by a sardonic grin resulting from spasms of the masticatory muscles.

Hoyne sign

A clinical sign of Poliomyelitis where the head falls back when surprised and the shoulders are elevated.