...Application of Community Health and Population-Focused Nursing VWT Task 2 Lisa Elie Western Governors University A. Meningococcal Disease 1. Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. About 10% of people are considered carriers of this disease because they have the bacteria in their nose and throat but exhibit no signs or symptoms. On the rare occasion that this bacteria invades the body and signs and symptoms become present it is then considered meningococcal disease. The symptoms that will present include: a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting, lethargy, and/or a rash. If immediate medical treatment is not given, the infection can progress quickly and cause death. Even with early diagnosis of the disease and proper treatment, 5% to 10% of infected patients die. In these cases death usually occurs within 24 to 48 hours after symptoms present. (CDC, 2014b). Outbreaks of meningococcal disease have been reported in several countries over the years. Some of the most prevalent outbreaks occurred in the United States (1992-93), Spain (1995-97), Mongolia (1994-95), Uruguay (2001), New Zealand (1991-2000) and Saudi Arabia (2000-2002). The most prevalent outbreak of meningococcal disease occurred in Africa between 1988 and 1997. During this timeframe there were 704,000 reported cases and more than 100,000 deaths. Again, between 1998 and 2002 more than 224,000 new cases of meningococcal...
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...meninges or membranes that form the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The most common pathogens responsible for bacterial meningitis include: Neisseria memingitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Listeria monocytogenes. The disease in all ages continues to be a serious cause of morbidity and mortality, despite the introduction of effective antibiotics and preventative therapy. Bacterial meningitis is a serious disease that can result in brain damage and even death. The following will describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis and the effects it has on the individual, family and community, and the role of the community health nurse. Epidemiological Problem Description of problem Bacterial meningitis is a common infectious disease that has been diagnosed throughout the world. In general, it affects the very young and the very old and favors males over females. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than three hundred people die each year from this disease” (Barker, 2002, p. 133). Bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency that can progress rapidly, and therefore it demands rapid diagnosis and intervention to save the patient’s life and prevent disability. Bacterial Meningitis 3 Agent Of the previously stated infectious agents, Neisseria...
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...The infectious agent I chose was Meningococcal meningitis “A bacteria of meningitis, a serious infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.” (http://www.who.int/) There was a recent outbreak reported in June of this year in Chicago. I wanted to pick this due to how close it is to my home, not enough to spread this close to me, still I was recently in Chicago and it was interesting to see how a place that big could have been infected so easily. “Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (also known as meningococcus). Most cases of meningococcal meningitis occur in children and teens.” (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/) Because of the cases mostly occur in children and teens it will lead to a greater chance of it occurring in adulthood as well. Outbreaks occur when there are large amount of people in an area most commonly colleges, boarding schools, or even military bases. The infectious agent is transmitted easy enough that a single case or even two can result in an outbreak in a dense enough area. “Meningococcal disease is spread from person to person by exchanging respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit) during close (for example, coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact, especially if living in the same household. Thankfully, these bacteria are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu. People in the same household, roommates, or anyone with direct contact with a patient's oral secretions...
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...Leptospirosis Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Leptospira. Leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Outbreaks can occur following excessive rainfall or flooding. Etiology Virtually all wild and domestic mammals can harbour the bacteria that cause leptospirosis in their kidneys and genital tracts and act as source of infection to humans and other animals. • Rodents were the first recognized carriers of leptospirosis and are considered the primary source of infection to human beings. • Cattle, buffaloes, horses, sheep, goat, pigs and dogs are also considered common reservoirs of the bacteria that causes leptospirosis. Pathophysiology • Leptospirosis can be transmitted to humans through cuts and abrasions of the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth with water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. As animals are constantly in our environment, there is a particular danger of getting leptospirosis when flooding occurs, such as following a typhoon or very heavy seasonal rains, because of exposure to contaminated water when wading in floodwaters. • Leptospirosis can occasionally also be transmitted through the drinking of water or ingestion of food contaminated with urine of infected animals, often rats. • Human-to-human transmission occurs only very rarely. Risk Factors Outbreaks of leptospirosis have been reported following natural...
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...Page 1 of 2 Pfizer and the Nigerian Trovan Suit There has been a controversy about the experimental testing of the drug Trovan (trovafloxacin), by Pfizer, a major pharmaceutical company. Pfizer held clinical trials of the drug in Kano, Nigeria, during the 1996 epidemic of bacterial meningitis. The experiments were conducted on 200 children and were said to be successful. Recently, 30 Nigerian families of the children used in the experiments filed a lawsuit against Pfizer claiming they had violated laws by not obtaining permission from the families. (Reliefweb) This lawsuit is unprecedented. I believe Pfizer handled this experiment with good intentions and the press, namely the Washington Post, has unfairly portrayed them. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently restricted the use of the antibiotic, Trovan, after it has been proven to cause liver failure and a small number of deaths when prescribed for many types of infections. Doctors were warned to reserve the use of Trovan for use only in the treatment of patients who meet very specific requirements. (Branch Law) Although it is harmful when used for certain ailments, Pfizer reports that Trovan has proven to be effective in treating meningococcal meningitis. This was determined during the experiments in Nigeria which were supervised by both American and Nigerian doctors. (Pfizer) This experiment took place in Africa because of its recurring meningitis epidemic, which kills thousands of people. Pfizer took...
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...CS #8 1) The organism that you would find in a Gram stain of blood or cerebrospinal fluid in these cases of meningococcal disease would be the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. N. meningitidis can be classified into 13 serogroups based on the immunologic reactivity of their capsular polysaccharides. Five serogroups B, C, and Y each cause about one-third of meningococcal disease cases in the U.S. The proportion of cases caused by each serogroup differs according to age; serogroup B causes over 50% of cases in infants younger than 1 year of age, while serogroups C, Y, and W135 cause 75% of meningococcal disease in those 11 years and older. There is currently no vaccine available for serogroup B. Humans are the only natural reservoir for N. meningitidis. N. meningitidis organisms are also gram-negative. 2)The organism gains access to the infected patient by attaching to mucosa in the nasopharynx. There, the bacteria multiply exponentially, bind to specific receptors, and are taken up by epithelial cells which then transport the bacteria across the mucosal epithelium. In a small number of people that are infected, the bacterium can actually penetrate the mucosa and gain access to the bloodstream, which would result in a systemic disease (a disease that affects a number of organs and tissues, or the body as a whole). 3) Yes, swabbing the portal of entry would detect the presence of the organism. The portal of entry is the nasopharynx, which is the back of the throat. However,...
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...C228 Community Health Task 2 Michelle Wall Meningococcal disease is a disease that can be found worldwide. Meningococcal disease refers to any disease or illness that is caused by the type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitides, also called meningococcus (Meningococcal disease, 2015). The first documented outbreak was over two hundred years ago in Geneva in 1805 which circulated rapidly and killed thirty three people. The first case ever recorded in America was in 1806 in Medford, Massachusetts (Fredericks, n.d.). A European physician, Professor A Weichselbaum, discovered the cause of the mysterious cerebro-spinal meningitis illness in 1887 and Penicillin was the first antibiotic used to fight the disease. In 1978 the first vaccine was created and mass vaccinations during that year caused a substantial decline in the number of meningitis outbreaks (Fredericks, n.d.). There are three main types of meningococcal disease serogroups: B, C, and Y. Worldwide there are also A and W-135. USA vaccines cover A, C, W-135, and Y but not B (Coffee, 2015). The incubation period of meningococcal disease ranges from 2 to 10 days. The disease is spread through saliva and respiratory droplets. The most common way people transfer the disease is through kissing, sharing drinks, sharing used silverware, sharing lip balm, and close contact with an infected person who may cough or sneeze within three feet of an individual. Meningococcal meningitis is a fast moving, deadly infection that kills...
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...Project Northwestern College Introduction Neisseria is a large genus of bacteria that colonize the mucosal surfaces of many animals. This genus (family Neisseriaceae) of parasitic bacteria grow in pairs and occasionally tetrads, and thrive best at 98.6°F (37°C) in the animal body or serum media. Of the 11 species that colonize humans, only two are pathogens, Neisseria meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae. In N. meningitides and N. gonorrhoeae, DNA transformation requires the presence of short DNA sequences (9-10 monomers residing in coding regions) of the donor DNA. These sequences are called DNA uptake sequences. Biochemical identification/ Genetic transformation Neisseria meningitidis (also called the meningococcus), one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis and the causative agent of meningococcal septicaemia. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (also called the gonococcus), which causes gonorrhea. Neisseria meningitidis has a polysaccharide capsule that surrounds the outer membrane of the bacterium and protects against soluble immune effector mechanisms within the serum. It is considered to be an essential virulence factor for the bacteria. N. gonorrhea possesses no such capsule. Neisseria meningitidis Often referred to as meningococcus, Neisseria meningitidis is a gram negative bacterium that can cause meningitis and other forms of meningococcal disease such as meningococcemia, a life-threatening sepsis. Neisseria meningitidis is a Gram-negative bacterium since it has an...
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...Valery Taustsiakou G00296946 30th November 2015 Co-workers: Aishlinn Jennings, Veronica Gomes. Urinary Tract Cases and STI cases UTI/ Case 2 Clinical details: * 20year old female presented to student health clinic with characteristic UTI symptoms. * Her symptoms were dysuria, frequent and painful micturition for previous 2 days. * It was reported that she has not observed any blood in her urine. * Her temperature was checked and was normal. * An absence of flank pain was reported. * A mid-stream urine sample (MSU) sample was collected and sent to the microbiology laboratory for investigation. * The specimen was cultured on chromogenic UTI agar and CLED agar. * A diagnosis of UTI or cystits was made at the student health clinic. * This diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation. Results: Table 1. White cell count (WCC), red cell count (RCC) and bacterial colony count results from patient’s midstream urine sample. Parameter | Number counted | Count (no./mm) | Reported/cmm | units (CFU/ul) | units (CFU/ml) | White cell count (WCC) | 374 | 374,000 | >100WCC/cmm | - | - | Red cell count (RCC) | 27 | 2,700 | Present | - | - | Bacterial colony count | 200* | - | - | - | 2x105* | *= Macroscopic bacterial colony count was performed by the supervisor within a mixed but sparse colonial growth on the Orientation Chromagar medium. The macroscopic appearance of the urine samples was a cloudy turbid fluid. One epithelial cell was observed within...
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...Gonorrhea, sometimes called "clap", is a very common Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) in the United States. It is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea. The mucous membranes in the genital region become inflamed without the development of any other symptoms. More than 350,000 cases of gonorrhea are reported to the CDC (Center of Disease Control) in 1998(Yancey). Sexually active teens living in high-density urban areas are at greatest risk at contracting gonorrhea. There are quite a few people who contract this horrible disease. The incidence of gonorrhea has steadily declined since the 180’s, mostly because of public awareness campaigns and the risk of contracting other STD’s. Still, current estimates range from 400,000 to as many as man one million cases of gonorrhea in the United States each year. But of course, these estimates vary due to the private nature of the disease and the consequent underreporting that occurs. The majority of reported cases of gonorrhea come from public health clinics. Gonorrhea is transmitted through contact with an infected vagina, penis, anus, or mouth. It is spread through semen or vaginal fluids during unprotected sexual contact with a partner who has gonorrhea. Touching infected sex organs, like the vagina or penis, and then touching your eyes can also cause an eye infection. The bacteria are carried in infected discharge, semen, and vaginal fluids. However, gonorrhea cannot be passed on inanimate objects such as a toilet seat or towel...
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...The gonococcal disease is defined by the demonstration of the presence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in clinical samples. The gonococcus is an organism found only in humans and is highly adapted to its ecological niche. Neisseria gonorrhoeae (N. gonorrhoeae) the etiologic agent of the sexually transmitted disease are aerobic, Capnophilic, nonmotile, nonspore-forming, fastidious gram-negative, facultative, intracellular and typically appear in pairs (diplococci) with adjacent sides flattened, which gives them a characteristic kidney or coffee bean shaped appearance under microscopy. Among various species of Neisseria that colonize humans, N. gonorrhoeae is one of the clinically responsible for transmission of gonorrhoea through sexual contact (Genco...
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...Disease Synopsis: Gonorrhea Neisseria gonococcus, also known as gonorrhea or “The Clap” is a bacterial infection that men and women can get from participating in sexual activities without using the proper protection such as condoms or absence. The bacteria itself is a gram-negative bacteria that is kidney bean shaped and it is not encapsulated. This bacteria is aerobic; which means that it needs oxygen to survive. Also, in order for this bacteria to grow and spread it needs a warm and moist environment. This is why Neisseria gonococcus prefers to live inside our bodies once we are infected, since our bodies are the perfect hosts for it to grow and survive. (NIH, 2017) According to the Mayo Clinic, when someone has gonorrhea they will...
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...Sexually transmitted Infections (STI) have a deep impact on quality of life, reproductive health and child health as they are the main cause of infertility especially in women. Gonorrhea is referred as a silent infection because it is often asymptomatic. This places a burden in the community as it increases the risk of transmission (Skala, Secura, & Peipert, 2012). In the “Global strategy for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infection 2006–2015’’ released by World Health Organization, it is reported that 40% of untreated gonorrhoea can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) (2006) in women. Untreated gonorrhoea can spread to the fallopian tubes and uterus leading to tissue damage. As a consequence, it increases the risk of infertility (Skala et al., 2012). In addition, 4000 babies worldwide become blind due to maternal gonococcal transmitted to them as they pass through the birth canal (WHO, 2006). Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis, trichomonas infection, HPV and hepatitis B virus are the highest priority infections in Australia. This is due to their high incidences and the major impact they have economically when they are undetected and untreated despite being easily preventable and highly treatable ("Second National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2010–2013", 2010). Despite numerous efforts and strategies, the population rate of diagnosis of STIs continue to increase in Australia ("Annual Surveillance Report", 2011). The population rate...
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...Gonorrhea is a common bacterial STD caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea. It thrives in warm moist places. It can appear in the reproductive organs as well as the mouth, throat or eyes. The most common mode of transmission includes oral, vaginal and anal sex. However, people can become infected by just coming in to contact to the infected site such as during child birth. Having multiple sex partners and unprotected sex are risk factor for contracting gonorrhea. During transmission of the reproductive system the bacteria will enter epithelial cells of the site of contact. Signs and symptom differ between men and women. Clinical signs and symptoms for men include a burning sensation during urination, greenish or yellow discharge from...
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...Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli. In babies and children, the principal bacteria responsible are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), and group B Streptococcus. Teens and young adults are more likely to be affected by Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. A wider array of bacteria are known to cause meningitis in older adults. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, Hib, group B Streptococcus, and Listeria monocytogenes are the leading causes for this demographic. It should be noted that due to the institution of childhood Hib and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) vaccines, the majority of bacterial meningitis cases in the United States has swung from children under five years old to adults (Kaplan & Porter,...
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