NURSES’ AWARENESS OF HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Abstract

In human history, there have always been diseases, often with high mortality, that were new to a particular area and community and that often occurred in epidemics. Nowadays, we encounter infectious diseases in patients as well as diseases against which they have been vaccinated and yet became infected (e.g. mumps). This indicates that viruses are changing, mutating and taking on a different character unknown to us. It is a diverse group of diseases characterized by the penetration, existence and multiplication of pathogens in the human body – viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasites or prions, which, just like the human race in the process of evolution, have undergone adaptive changes during their existence, so as to survive under the best possible conditions. Over the past 20 years, more than 30 new microorganisms, in many cases capable of inducing very serious infectious diseases, have been identified. The development of infectious diseases, like any evolutionary process, is a phenomenon that is constantly ongoing. Manifestations of such development are observed in several directions. The clinical picture of some infections changes mainly in terms of the severity of the course, but also in terms of symptomatology. This results from the very ability of the microorganisms to undergo developmental changes, but also from the changes in the external environment and other causes such as people's lifestyle, trade, transport, medical practices, wars, etc.
Uncontrolled spread of the disease can occur in the population at any time. If the patient was isolated and their contacts were tracked and monitored, there would be virtually a zero risk of spreading the disease. The problem may arise especially due to the current intense population movement around the world, when the introduction of any infectious disease into any country can not be ruled out, which poses a threat of new epidemics in the future. Therefore, it is important to know whether the country, but especially the medical staff – nurses are prepared for such situation.