Infectious Disease

Course overview

Objectives List the origins of antimicrobial resistance Describe drug resistant infections Identify common infectious diseases seen in EMS and healthcare Content I Antimicrobial Resistance A Definition Microbes resist the effects of medications and treatments Germs are not killed and growth is not stopped B Clinical Impact Difficult to treat C Susceptible Populations Anyone is susceptible but higher risk groups include Weakened immune systems Open skin wounds Recent surgery Invasive procedures such as PICC lines IVs and indwelling catheters D Occurrence Worldwide Ongoing challenges within healthcare institutions including hospitals and clinics E Common Antibiotic Resistant Infections MRSA VRE VRSA Tuberculosis Clostridium difficile II Influenza A CDC Information and Statistics The combination of influenza and pneumonia is currently the eighth leading cause of death in the United States More people die from influenza and pneumonia than from kidney disease or suicide B Influenza Viruses 1 Transmission Spread from person to person through Large particle respiratory droplet transmission Requires close contact between the source and recipient Contact with respiratory droplet contaminated surfaces Airborne transmission by small particle residue of evaporated droplets 2 Incubation Period Typically one to four days with an average of two days 3 Contagious Period Begins one day before symptoms start Lasts five to ten days after symptom onset 4 Pediatric Considerations Children may be contagious several days before becoming symptomatic May remain contagious ten or more days after onset 5 Immunocompromised Patients Severely immunocompromised individuals may shed the virus for weeks or months 6 Influenza Vaccines Approximately sixty percent effective Effectiveness varies by vaccine type and circulating flu strain