H1N1, Infection Prevention and
Control
The H1N1 pandemic has brought
to light the reality that infection control continues to be vital for each individual, family, community, region and country, as well as for global
health. Understanding the medical science behind infection control is
important, because it involves the realm of infection prevention.
By definition, what is
infection control?
Infection control is the
discipline concerned with preventing the spread of infections within the
health-care setting. (1)
A broader understanding of the
concept referred to as health-care setting, is invariably much larger, in fact,
it is global in scope, because an infection contracted by one individual can
spread to others or all around the word, rapidly.
In a recent recap of the H1N1
pandemic that started in Mexico
What are some of the various
aspects of infection control?
“Infection control concerns
itself both with prevention (hand hygiene/hand washing,
cleaning/disinfection/sterilization, vaccination, surveillance) and with
investigation and management of demonstrated or suspected spread of infection
within a particular health-care setting (e.g. outbreak investigation). It is on
this basis that the common title being adopted, within health care is
'Infection Prevention & Control'." (2)
Infection control is also a
part of the greater discipline known as epidemiology.
What is epidemiology?
Epidemiology is the study of
factors affecting the health and illness of populations and serves as the
foundation and logic of interventions made in the interest of public health and
preventative medicine. (3)
Epidemiology leads into the
realm of more advanced, medical scientific research, particularly where it
pertains to public health on a larger regional or global scale.
Part of the role of
epidemiologists includes that of documenting and tracking pertinent medical
evidence, with regard to potential risk factors and determining what would be
appropriate measures for health care professionals and others to take with
regard to effective treatment. This also includes both infection control and
prevention.
This would show how the
announcement of the H1N1 pandemic came about.
With regard to epidemics and
pandemics, where does the individual fit into the larger picture?
One must suggest that at no
time, should medical scientists ever lose sight of the individual or family
with respect to infection control. Infection spreads from individuals to
families, then to communities, various regions in different countries and
potentially around the globe, unless there is appropriate preventative action
taken immediately to control the spread of infection.
One might suggest that
epidemiology leads right back to the local hospital or clinical setting,
wherein health care is on a more personal level. Care, compassion and concern
are important on every level.
What can and should individuals
do in order to control infection?
Guidelines are available from
family doctors and other health care professionals, community health
organizations and health-oriented educational facilities. There is also
information available on the Internet, with respect to infection control and
prevention of the spread of infectious diseases.
Infection control is everyone's
concern, not just that of medical scientists, but medical scientists do play an important
role, globally.
2. Ibid.
No comments:
Post a Comment