N104: Essentials of Nursing Care - Health Safety

N104: Essentials of Nursing Care – Health Safety Study Guide categories. These are diseases that has the greatest potential for harm because they are easily transmitted from one person to another, have high mortality rates, and require massive public health efforts. These six diseases are: • Anthrax: Anthrax initially resembles a common cold that will eventually progress to severe respiratory issues and shock. Death can occur within two days if untreated. Anthrax can be treated with antibiotics, if the treatment begins soon after the exposure. • Botulism: This is a biologic toxin that can be inhaled or ingested. Symptoms include blurred vision, muscle paralysis, and difficulty in speaking and swallowing. Because of the profound respiratory effects, the patient must often be incubated with mechanical ventilation supplied. An antitoxin is available if given early in the treatment. • Pneumonic plague: This is a disease that is commonly transmitted from animal to human. In the great plague in Europe, it was discovered that fleas were actually the vehicle for transmission of the disease to people. Symptoms include fever, headache, weakness, cough, and shock. Early treatment with antibiotics may be effective. Untreated, the disease may progress to death. • Smallpox: Smallpox was once considered to be eradicated and routine vaccinations for the disease ended in the United States in 1972. Since that time, the disease has been contained mainly in research laboratories. The disease is highly contagious and symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, and a maculopapular rash that often begins in the mouth and throat. The patient is most contagious before the typical smallpox pustules form but will continue to be contagious until all scabs fall off the lesions. Treatment is symptomatic and it is essential that this patient be isolated. • Tularemia: This is an infectious disease transmitted by ticks, water, rodents, and rabbits. It can also be spread by ingestion of undercooked flesh of infected animals. Symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, and inflammation and hemorrhaging of airways. Treatment with antibiotics may be effective if administered early. Vaccines are under review by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). • Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF): This refers to a group of illnesses that are caused by several distinct families of viruses. In general, the term "viral hemorrhagic fever" is used to describe a severe multisystem syndrome (multisystem in that multiple organ systems in the body are affected). Characteristically, the overall vascular system is damaged, and the body's ability to regulate itself is impaired. These symptoms are often accompanied by hemorrhage (bleeding); however, the bleeding is rarely life-threatening. Rodents, ticks, and mosquitoes are the most common natural sources for VHF. There is no accepted drug treatment for a VHF, so all treatment is symptomatic and supportive. 6.6 Factors Influencing Biological Safety Many factors can influence an individual’s biological safety and risk for disease and infection. Some are lifestyle choices and others are factors over which an individual has little control. • Physical factors: Activity and nutritional factors can predispose an individual to disease and infection. The physically disabled may be incontinent or unable to maintain a healthy level of hygiene. Any immune suppressed patient will be at greater risk for biological threats. Patients with other chronic health problems (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, and neurological problems) may be at increased risk. Individuals taking certain medications may be at risk. Anti- inflammatory and anti-neoplastic drugs may interfere with the normal inflammatory response

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