Foundations of Infectious Disease: A Public Health Perspective

Book excerpt: Designed to introduce senior undergraduates and graduate students in public health and nursing to the study of infectious disease, Foundations of Infectious Disease: A Public Health Perspective places the study of infectious diseases squarely into its social, historical, and scientific context to demonstrate how it applies to the public and community health setting. Beginning with an introductory chapter that surveys how infectious diseases have impacted human societies over the centuries, this broad descriptive text moves on to examine epidemiological concepts related to infectious disease, from outbreak and epidemic investigations, to study design infectious disease transmission and prevention. Subsequentially, it delves into infectious disease topics of concern to today's public and community health professionals: sexually transmitted infections, foodborne infections, healthcare-acquired infections, and neglected tropical diseases.