Communicable Disease Control

Knowledge of communicable diseases is fundamental to the practice of community/public health nursing because these diseases typically spread through communities of people. The community health nurse has to complete an investigation about a Salmonella outbreak in the local community that occurred from food served at a local fast-food chain .

  1. Prior to contacting the individuals in the community who are affected with Salmonella for an interview, what key items must be completed by the community health nurse in the process of investigating a reportable communicable disease?

What key things should be considered by the community health nurse during the interviews of those individuals with Salmonella?

There are three modes of transmission for communicable diseases. Provide a brief description of the three modes of transmission. Which mode of transmission is involved for the Salmonella communicable disease outbreak?

There are several strategies used for the three levels of prevention in communicable disease control. What types of prevention methods and activities are considered to prevent communicable disease, such as Salmonella, from occurring in a community?

find the cost of your paper

Sample Answer

Here are the key items that must be completed by the community health nurse in the process of investigating a reportable communicable disease, such as a Salmonella outbreak:

  • Identify the cases: This involves collecting information about the people who are sick, including their symptoms, when they got sick, and where they ate.
  • Identify the source: This involves tracing back the source of the infection, which may involve interviewing the people who are sick, inspecting the food establishment, and testing food samples.
  • Control the spread: This involves taking steps to prevent the spread of the infection, such as notifying the public, recalling the contaminated food, and cleaning and disinfecting the food establishment.

Full Answer Section

Here are the key things that should be considered by the community health nurse during the interviews of those individuals with Salmonella:

  • The symptoms: The nurse should ask about the symptoms that the person is experiencing, such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
  • The timing of the symptoms: The nurse should ask when the person started to feel sick and how long they have been sick.
  • The food they ate: The nurse should ask about the food the person ate in the days leading up to getting sick.
  • Other people who are sick: The nurse should ask if the person knows of anyone else who is sick.

The three modes of transmission for communicable diseases are:

  • Contact transmission: This occurs when the pathogen is transferred from one person to another through direct contact, such as through touching, kissing, or sexual contact.
  • Airborne transmission: This occurs when the pathogen is spread through the air, such as through coughing or sneezing.
  • Vectorborne transmission: This occurs when the pathogen is spread by an insect or other animal vector, such as mosquitoes or ticks.

In the case of the Salmonella outbreak, the most likely mode of transmission is contact transmission. This is because Salmonella is a bacteria that can live in the intestines of animals and humans. It can be spread through contact with contaminated food, water, or surfaces.

The three levels of prevention in communicable disease control are:

  • Primary prevention: This involves preventing the disease from occurring in the first place. This can be done through vaccination, hygiene practices, and sanitation.
  • Secondary prevention: This involves detecting the disease early and preventing it from spreading. This can be done through screening, testing, and contact tracing.
  • Tertiary prevention: This involves preventing complications from the disease. This can be done through treatment, rehabilitation, and education.

There are a number of prevention methods and activities that can be used to prevent communicable diseases, such as Salmonella, from occurring in a community. These include:

  • Vaccination: Vaccines can protect people from getting certain diseases, such as Salmonella.
  • Hygiene practices: Good hygiene practices, such as handwashing, can help to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
  • Sanitation: Sanitation measures, such as proper disposal of waste, can help to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
  • Screening: Screening programs can help to identify people who are at risk for communicable diseases and prevent them from getting sick.
  • Testing: Testing people for communicable diseases can help to identify cases early and prevent them from spreading.
  • Contact tracing: Contact tracing involves identifying people who have been exposed to a communicable disease and notifying them so they can get tested and treated.
  • Treatment: Treatment for communicable diseases can help to prevent complications and improve the chances of recovery.
  • Education: Education about communicable diseases can help people to understand how to prevent them and what to do if they get sick.

By using these prevention methods and activities, we can help to keep our communities healthy and prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

This question has been answered.

Get Answer