Module 1: Introduction to Infectious Diseases

Summary

This instructional video series, created by the University of Maryland Baltimore County and funded by the US CDC, targets first responders like EMTs and paramedics. It focuses on understanding microbes, their roles in health and disease, and strategies for prevention and control. The series covers the basics of microbes, their transmission, and the importance of hygiene and sanitation in healthcare settings, emphasizing the need for vigilance against microbial threats to protect responders, patients, and communities.

Takeaways

• 🏥 This instructional series is designed for first responders, including EMS personnel, to enhance their ability to deal with health emergencies.
• 🌐 The program is a collaborative effort by the University of Maryland Baltimore County, Maryland Department of Health, and funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• 📚 The learning objectives include understanding microbes, recognizing risks, and learning prevention and treatment strategies for microbial infections.
• 🦠 Microbes, also known as germs, are microscopic organisms that include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and are essential for life but can also cause diseases.
• 🌿 Some bacteria are beneficial, playing a role in oxygen production, food digestion, and fermentation processes, while others can cause diseases.
• 💊 Antibiotics can control bacterial diseases, but their misuse has led to antibiotic resistance, complicating treatment.
• 🌡 Viruses, unlike bacteria, cannot reproduce on their own and require a host cell. They cause a range of diseases, from the common cold to more severe illnesses like Ebola.
• 🚑 Ambulances and healthcare settings can become vectors for disease transmission if not properly decontaminated.
• 🌍 Infectious diseases can change over time, with some like West Nile virus expanding due to climate change, and others like Ebola re-emerging after dormancy.
• 🔬 The terms 'epidemic' and 'pandemic' describe the scale of disease outbreaks, with the latter affecting multiple countries and being more challenging to manage.
• 🧼 Preventing the spread of microbes involves direct contact avoidance, use of personal protective equipment, and thorough cleaning of surfaces.

Q & A

What is the purpose of this instructional series?

The purpose of this instructional series is to meet the needs of first responders, such as EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, law enforcement, and volunteers, who are expected to deal with health emergencies and to protect the health of themselves, their patients, and their families.

Who created this instructional series?

This instructional series was created by the University of Maryland Baltimore County Department of Emergency Health Services with assistance from the Maryland Department of Health and funding from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are the learning objectives of this program?

The learning objectives include gaining basic familiarity with microbes, understanding the chain of infection, recognizing risks of microbial infections, and learning methods of preventing exposure to microbes and transmission to others.

What is the significance of understanding microbes for first responders?

Understanding microbes is significant for first responders as it helps them recognize the risks of microbial infections, protect themselves and their patients from getting sick, and prevent the transmission of diseases in emergency situations.

What are the six basic types of microbes mentioned in the script?

The six basic types of microbes mentioned are archaea, bacteria, fungi, protista, viruses, and a kind of hybrid referred to as microbial mergers.

How do bacteria contribute to life on Earth?

Bacteria contribute to life on Earth by being responsible for a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe, aiding in the digestion of foods in our intestines, and playing a role in the creation of some foods like fermented milk products.

What is the role of viruses in causing diseases?

Viruses cause diseases by penetrating living cells and using the cell's resources to replicate themselves. This can lead to the host cell bursting and spreading the newly formed virus particles, causing illness in the host organism.

Why are antibiotics not effective against viruses?

Antibiotics are not effective against viruses because viruses are not living cells and cannot reproduce on their own. They require a living host cell to replicate, so antibiotics, which target bacterial cell structures and functions, do not impact viruses.

What is a vector in the context of infectious diseases?

A vector in the context of infectious diseases is a person, animal, or nonliving object that can transport microbes from one place to another, such as water, air, or a person touching a contaminated surface.

How can healthcare settings like ambulances become vectors of microbes?

Healthcare settings like ambulances can become vectors of microbes if they are not thoroughly decontaminated after contact with sick patients, allowing microbes to persist on surfaces and potentially infect other patients or healthcare workers.

What is the difference between an epidemic and a pandemic?

An epidemic indicates a significant increase in the occurrence of a disease above the expected level within a specific population. A pandemic extends this concept, affecting numerous countries or regions simultaneously, often crossing national boundaries.