Abstract
The infectious disease process has been studied since the times of Louis Pasteur and Jonas Salk. Three key components comprise any infection: the agent, the spread, and the incubator (host). When considering these three components, it is recognized that the causative agents have remained relatively consistent through the years and include bacterium, spirochetes, virus, fungi, chlamydiae, parasite, ricketsettia, protozoans, and helminths, to name the more common. These agents can be located in both animate and inanimate environments and are spread by being released from their usual environment. The invasion and multiplication of these agents, microorganisms, throughout the host leads to the signs and symptoms and responses exhibited by the patient. Home health care nurses are well aware of the transmission of organisms from the more common body systems, such as respiratory gastrointestinal (GI), genitourinary, integumentary, and cardiovascular. Home care nurses also need to become increasingly aware o the spread of infectious diseases through nonhuman channels, such as through flies, mosquitoes, ticks, parrots, and contaminated food sources, as well as transmission through water, ventilation systems, the soil, and contaminated infusion products, such as drugs and blood products.
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