22. Describe the action of sulfa drugs and their therapeutic use.

Sulfa drugs are any of a group of chemically related antibacterial compounds. The most common one are sulphadiazine and sulphadimidine. They were the first drugs to be proved safe and effective against many common bacterial infections.

Normally, sulfa drugs don’t actually kill bacteria, instead, they prevent bacteria from multiplying, the bacteria are then killed by the body’s normal defense mechanisms.

Recurrent urinary tract infections, middle-ear infections and shigellosis are treated with these drugs.

25. The flue season is fast approaching. How vaccines can help to prevent the development of the epidemic situation? Name other infectious diseases the vaccines can eliminate.

Most infectious diseases can spread from person to person. Occasionally an infectious disease becomes highly contagious and sweeps through a community. This condition is called an epidemic.

Vaccines contain a weakened or killed form of the microbe that causes a particular disease. There are several kinds of vaccines. Each kind causes the body to produce substances, which are called antibodies that fight a particular disease. The vaccine thus makes the body immune to the disease by providing resistance against attacks by it. Vaccines have been developed against such infectious diseases as cholera, diphtheria, hepatitis, measles and smallpox. In fact, vaccinations against smallpox have wiped out that disease.

26. The patient has severely injured his foot while working in the garden. What should be done to get an immediate action directed at tetanus prevention?

Antiserums and globulins, like vaccines, prevent infectious diseases. But unlike vaccines, these drugs contain antibodies rather than substances that cause the body to produce antibodies. The antiserums and globulins act more quickly than vaccines to prevent infection but give only temporary protection. Physicians prescribe these drugs after a person who not been vaccinated is exposed to an infectious disease. Antiserums are used against such diseases as diphtheria and tetanus (lockjaw). Examples of diseases against which globulins protect include hepatitis, rabies and tetanus.

23. The global campaign to reduce antimicrobial resistance trough promotion of more appropriate antibiotic use has been launched. Provide a set of recommendations on making the antibiotic therapy more effective.

Antibiotic is a drug produced by certain microbes. Most antibiotics are used by physicians to fight various diseases caused by harmful microbes. Antibiotics are selectively toxic – that is, they damage certain types of cells, but don’t damage others.

Recommendations on making the antibiotic therapy more effective:

1. Before prescribing an antibiotic physician must ask if patient has ever had an allergic reaction to the drug or make test on antibiotic sensitivity.

2. Not taking antibiotics for a long period of time. Extensive use of some antibiotic may damage tissues and organs.

3. Prescribing drugs to combat the suprainfection. Many antibiotics – especially broad-spectrum drugs – often destroy harmless and helpful microbes. This lead to the development of a new infection called a suprainfection.

24. You are a member of the team involved in the project devoted to compiling the Infectious Disease Control Manual. What information regarding the main ways the infectious diseases can spread would you suggest to place in?

There are five common ways in which infectious agents spread:

1. Direct physical contact with infected person.  Examples of transmission: Shaking hands kissing.  Examples of infections: Common cold; sexually transmitted diseases.  Precautions: Hand hygiene; masks; condoms.

2. Droplet spread - transmission is through the air. When people cough, sneeze, have runny noses, or do anything that spreads droplets of secretions from the respiratory tract, the germs can spread.  

Examples of transmission: Sneezing; coughing. Examples of infections: influenza, respiratory viruses.  Precautions: Masks, side-step from cougher. 

3. Transmission by insect or animals.  Example of infections: mosquitoes and malaria. Precautions: Protect via barriers (window screens, bed nets); insect sprays.

4. Contaminated Objects: contaminated objects like toys, towels, even food and water, can also infect people.  All objects should be properly cleaned and sanitized and all food/water should be from approved sources.

5. Contact with blood: Several infections may be spread by direct contact with blood if there is a break in the skin (blood to blood) or direct contact with mucous membranes (i.e. eye, mouth)

Precautions: gloves, and proper cleaning and disinfection of exposed objects must occur.