The infectious disease process: An overview

Abstract

All health care providers and family members should be aware of the potential for infections in the homebound patient. They should be familiar with and watch for some general signs and symptoms that can be indicative of an infection process at work and, in addition, should recognize that each infectious disease process has signs and symptoms unique to its pathology. For patients with a known infectious disease, individual care plans should be developed stating signs and symptoms that are to be observed, recorded, and reported. Health care providers must strive to continually update their knowledge and practice techniques in order to deal with these infections and promptly recognize impending ones.