This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.
BACKGROUND
An infectious disease (ID) is caused by one or more pathogens [viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites and/or infectious proteins (prions)]. |
Infectious diseases are transmitted through various mechanisms, including physical contact with an infected individual or their body fluids, consuming contaminated food or water or by touching contaminated objects. |
Some conditions are transmitted by airborne inhalation and others are spread by a vector (carrier). |
Transmissible diseases that are spread person to person are referred to as communicable or contagious. |
Three primary factors impact treatment decisions in infectious diseases: the bug (pathogen), the drug (antibiotic) and the patient (host). |
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