1. Infectious Diseases

2. Host Defenses
Nonspecific mechanisms are the body’s primary defense against disease-anatomical barriers, physiological deterrents and presence of normal flora
Anatomical barriers-skin, nasal opening, skull, vertebral column
Physiological deterrents-tears, vaginal secretions, saliva, blood, sweat and some tissue fluids
Normal flora-successfully compete with pathogens

3. Host Defenses Continued
Specific mechanisms- immunity
Cell mediated-uses T-cells
Antibody-mediated-uses B-cells
Vaccinations-produces immunity

4. Public Health Measures toward Prevention of ID
Safe Water
US water is purified through settling, filtration, and chlorination
Private wells must follow safe guidelines
Municipal water is usually tested
Sewage treatment and disposal is mandated by US government
** After hurricanes water safety is a concern

5. Food Safety
US has many standards, inspection plans and regulations dealing with food preparation, handling and distribution
Milk is pasteurized and dated as well as analyzed periodically
Restaurants, meat-packing plants and supermarkets are inspected regularly

7. Animal Control Programs
Domestic herds are inspected
Rabid animals are destroyed
Rat control programs are in place in urban areas

8. Vaccination Programs
Mandate that children be vaccinated prior to school
Works well- Pathogens cannot reproduce itself enough to maintain disease in the population

9. Pesticides Programs Used to block vector-borne disease
Mosquito spray trucks.

10. Public Health Organizations
Goals
Enforce regulations
Provide public health services
Conduct research
Patient advocacy groups

11. Public Health Organizations
National Institutes of Health (NIH) –Supports health related research
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigates disease outbreaks, published reports, sponsors education/research, reference labs
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-monitors safety of food and medications sold to the public
World Health Organization (WHO) provides international surveillance and control of disease

12. Benefits of Public Health Research
New research techniques-rapid identification
Public health can be improved with biomedical research
HIV Protease Inhibitors
One class of medication that prevents immature viruses of the HIV from assembling into structures capable of replication. Most current research on AIDS
Vaccine Research
Identification of better preventative measures