Infectious Agent In Terms of its Microbial Classification - Assignment Example

ALshareef_ENVM510_M6GradedAssign Describe the Infectious Agent In Terms of its Microbial ification and Incubation Period? Based on the article ‘Shigellosis from Swimming in a Park Pond in Michigan’ by Joel Blostein implied that there was an outbreak of an infectious disease due to the prevalence of Shigella. According to Blostein (1991), Shigellosis is acknowledged as a one of the most infectious disease, which is usually caused by Shigella. In this regard, Shigella is a group of bacteria, which incubates within 1-2 days in a human body (Blostein, 1991). As an effect, several problems and symptoms can be observed amid human being such as diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps among others. On the other hand, Shigella bacterium does not show any sort of symptoms even after the propagation, rather it spread from one person to other person more before resolving completely. In general, Shigella bacterium takes 5 to 7 days to resolve completely (Blostein, 1991). The propagation of Shigella bacterium can be controlled by incorporating hygiene measures and medication. At the same time, human can protect or reduce the chances of attack of the Shigella bacterium on their body by adopting caution steps such as frequently washing the exposed organs of human body (Blostein, 1991). Following picture highlights the structure of Shigella bacterium. Fig. 1: Shigella Bacterium Source: (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014) From the above picture, it can be defined that there are variety of Shigella bacterium observed in the environment such as ‘Shigella sonnei’, which is also acknowledged as a ‘Group D’ in the United States. Similarly, ‘Shigella flexneri’ is also known as ‘Group B’ Shigella. According to the report published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), Shigellosis usually transfers into the human body via drinking water or it can be also transmitted by food in human body (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014; Sureshbabu, 2012). 2. The Investigator Identifies Several Potential Sources of Infection in This Outbreak. Are There Any Other Potential Sources of Infection not identified in This Study? The investigator identifies couple of potential sources of infection in the outbreak such as ‘Shigella sonnei’ and ‘Shigella flexneri’. On the other hand, one of the potential sources not identified in the outbreak is ‘Shigella dysenteriae’. In this regard, it can be asserted that ‘Shigella dysenteriae’ is one of the rare potential sources of infection, which is specially observed in the United States. This special type of ‘Shigella dysenteriae’ bacteria can spread from an infected individual, through contained water or food. Apart from this, the infection can also spread from the stool of the infected person. In this context, it can be asserted that slight intrude of Shigella bacterium in the human body can cause symptoms and disease for an individual. In this case, the incubation period will be around 7 days (National Institutes of Health, 2014). Similarly, in this context, it has been recognized that in the swimming pool, Shigella infection can spread from one person to another person. In this regard, Shigella infection can be transmitted into the human body by spending long hours in infected water. At the same time, by coming in contact with Shigella infection can spread from one person to other person (Blostein, 1991). 3. The Investigator Utilizes A Case-Control Study Design to Assess Infection and Identify Possible Sources of Infection. What Other Study Design Could Be Used to Assess Infection and Identify Possible Sources of Infection? Describe How You Would Carry Out An Outbreak Investigation Using That Study Design. The access of the Shigella infection on the human body can be protected by improving consciousness of the public health department regarding shigellosis. In this regard, public health department should incorporate clinical laboratories in order to identify the infection caused for the invasion of Shigella in the United States. At the same time, with the aim of preventing Shigella infection, government should have concentrate towards ensuring that appropriate food and water is supplied to the restaurants of the US. Simultaneously, in order to reduce the treats of Shigella infection, government of US should have adopted effective measures such as improving the habit of hand washing among the adult populace along with children by promoting hand washing and basic hygienic message. In this context, consuming vegetable and fruit as well as packaged food will help US citizens to prevent Shigella infection related disease. At the same time, it can be also recommended that water supply as well as sewage system be cleaned on a periodic basis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014; Blostein, 1991). 4. What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Questioning Individuals who were not ill? Valuable insights and rare exposures about the Shigella bacteria can be obtained by questioning individuals not suffering from ill. In this regard, healthy individuals are able to have adequate information relating to multiple exposures and causes relating to the invasion of Shigella. Additionally, the healthy people are able to prevent themselves from having Shigella infection in the US. At the same time, through the help of questionnaire survey it has possible to recognize the symptoms of the Shigella infection. Consequently, with the help of investigation, it is possible to estimate the proportion of infected individuals and uninfected individuals ratio in the US. Simultaneously, the investigation would also help to recognize Shigella bacteria attack rate in the US. These are the advantages of questioning individuals in the US (Song & Chung, 2010; Blostein, 1991). On the other hand, the disadvantage of questioning individuals is, it is wastage of a massive amount of time. In addition, conducting the questionnaire survey is identified to be a time loss factor regarding Shigella bacteria and its symptoms amid healthy individuals. Apart from this, gathering information from healthy individuals would not provide relevant data regarding the causes and severity of the disease. At the same time, certain proportion of respondents has expressed irrelevant exposures about the Shigella bacteria leading to wastage of money factor (Song & Chung, 2010; Blostein, 1991). 5. What Problems Can You Identify in This Study Design? What Could Have Been Done to Correct Those Problems? From the questionnaire survey relating to investigation about Shigellosis disease, it has been recognised that the research study has only relied on the qualitative measures in order to collect data from questionnaire survey. In this regard, it has been revealed that the study has emphasized symptoms of Shigella infection. Rather, the research study does not identify the outcome and the potential sources of the disease. Moreover, the study does not tried to identify the potential causes of the transmission of Shigella infection. Apart from this, the validity of the information is very poor, because the research method does not identified the sample framework for the research study. Simultaneously, the sample number is also not satisfactory, as large sample always helps to identify accurate result in case of a research study (Blostein, 1991). In order to mitigate the problems identified above, it will require incorporating qualitative research method. The qualitative research method should primarily rely on the review of literature. Moreover, qualitative method is conventionally considered as an appropriate method for conducting research study regarding health related issues (Roshan & Deeptee, 2009). In this context, in order to collect reliable data, it will be required to rely on the secondary sources such as peer-reviewed journals, articles and books, which have been published recently. Beside these, health related online websites along with other relevant health reports would aid in identifying the problems and the threats of Shigella infection in the US. 6. Given the Likely Sources of Infection in This Outbreak, What Measures Would You Recommend to Protect Public Health? In order to enhance the health condition of the US citizens and to prevent the chances of Shigellosis disease certain preventive measures will be needed to incorporate. In this regard, US public health department will need to implement an evacuation program for individuals with the aim of providing necessary knowledge and education about Shigellosis disease and about Shigella infection. Moreover, with the assistance of evacuation program, the local public health authority will need to highlight the potential sources of Shigella infection and the procedures based on which the disease can be transferred from one person to other person. In this context, proper education would assist in having knowledge about precautionary measures based on which the disease can be prevented amid local US citizens (Department of Health, Victoria Australia, 2007). Apart from this, public health department will need to take few preventive measures with the aim of reducing the transmission of Shigella infection in the US by improving the procedure of water supply and sewage system in the US. At the same time, implementing educative measure such as providing warning guidelines about water supply and sewage system (Department of Health, Victoria Australia, 2007). Simultaneously, maintaining a good hygienic environment by providing awareness measures about hand washing and keeping sanitary clean. Additionally, focus will be imparted on food and fruits beverage in the US. In this regard, food makers should be trained is such a way to produce food considering the hygienic issue. Contextually, to protect public health issue, medical science will need to emphasize treatment and antibiotics of Shigella infection (Department of Health, Victoria Australia, 2007). References Blostein, J. (1991). Shigellosis from swimming in a park pond in Michigan. Public Health Reports, 106(3), 317-322. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Shigella - Shigellosis. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/shigella/general-information.html Department of Health, Victoria Australia. (2007). Shigellosis. Retrieved from http://ideas.health.vic.gov.au/bluebook/shigellosis.asp National Institutes of Health. (2014). Shigellosis. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000295.htm Roshan, B., & Deeptee, P. R. (2009). Justifications for qualitative research in organizations: A step forward. The Journal of Online Education,1-7. Song, J. W., & Chung K. C. (2010). Observational Studies: Cohort and Case-Control Studies. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 126(6), 2234-2242. Sureshbabu, J. (2012). Shigella infection. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/968773-overview#a0199 Read More