risk factor

Examples of risk factor in the following topics:

• Compromised Host

  • Numerous risk factors in the hospital setting can predispose a patient to infection.
  • Numerous risk factors in the hospital setting predispose a patient to infection.
  • These risk factors can broadly be divided into three areas.
  • Patients' treatments can leave them vulnerable to infection: immunosuppression and antacid treatment undermine the body's defences, while antimicrobial therapy (removing competitive flora and only leaving resistant organisms) and recurrent blood transfusions have also been identified as risk factors.
  • Discuss the risk factors that contribute to the acquiring of nosocomial infections or hospital-acquired infections

• Host Risk Factors

  • Long-term hospitalization or residence in a nursing home within the previous year are independent risk factors for increased colonization.
  • Risk of infection is a nursing diagnosis which is defined as "the state in which an individual is at risk to be invaded by an opportunistic or pathogenic agent (virus, fungus, bacteria, protozoa, or other parasite) from endogenous or exogenous sources. " The risk of infection depends on a number of endogenous sources.
  • Examples of risk factors include decreased immune system resulting from disease, compromised circulation caused by peripheral vascular disease, compromised skin integrity as a result of surgery, or repeated contact with contagious agents.
  • Good nutrition is necessary to reduce risk.
  • By avoiding illicit drugs, using a condom, and entering an exercise program one can improve one's risk factors.

• Descriptive Epidemiology

  • Not every person who works the night shift will have high blood pressure, but shift work has been shown to increase the risk for developing the condition.
  • The goal of epidemiology is to establish causal factors for health issues in order to improve the health and safety of entire populations.
  • The end goal of both branches is to reduce the incidence of health events or diseases by understanding the risk factors for the health events or diseases.
  • Frequency evaluates the rate of occurrence, and pattern helps analytical epidemiologists suggest risk factors.
  • Descriptive epidemiology examines factors like age, education, socioeconomic status, availability of health services, race, and gender.

• Helminths

  • Populations in the developing world are at particular risk for infestation with parasitic worms.
  • Risk factors include the following:
  • List the four groups of parasitic worms (helminths), routes of transmission and risk factors

• Analytical Epidemiology

  • It is the cornerstone of public health, and informs policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive medicine.
  • Using the case control method, the epidemiologist can look for factors that might have preceded the disease.
  • In this way, other possible factors, e.g., genetic or environmental, might be identified as factors related to the outbreak .
  • The outdated public health advice demonstrates the lack of understanding of the disease and its actual causative factors in the absence of epidemiological analysis.

• Experimental Epidemiology

  • It is the cornerstone of public health, and informs policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive medicine.
  • Controversially, in experimental studies, the epidemiologist is the one in control of all of the factors entering a certain case study.
  • Experimental epidemiology contains three case types: randomized control trial (often used for new medicine or drug testing), field trial (conducted on those at a high risk of conducting a disease), and community trial (research on social originating diseases) .
  • In this case, the antibiotic is the variable, i.e., the experimental factor being tested to see if it makes a difference between the two otherwise similar groups.

• Predisposing Factors

  • The spread and severity of infectious disease is influenced by many predisposing factors.
  • Genetics is another contributing factor.
  • Overall health is a very important factor in preventing disease.
  • Age is another critical factor.
  • Inadequate diet can raise the risks too.

• Bacterial Vaginosis

  • However, having sex with a new partner or multiple partners increases the risk of getting BV but it is unclear how and why that happens.
  • Factors that are known to disturb the balance are: antibiotics, pH imbalance (douching can alter vaginal pH), psychosocial stress, iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women and women with STD.
  • Women who already have BV are at increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.
  • Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth.

• Type I (Anaphylactic) Reactions

  • Less common causes include physical factors, biological agents (such as semen), latex, hormonal changes, food additives (e.g. monosodium glutamate (MSG) and food coloring), and medications that are applied to the skin (topical medications).
  • People with atopic diseases such as asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis have a high risk of anaphylaxis from food, latex, and radiocontrast agents.
  • These people do not have a higher risk from injectable medications or stings.
  • People who have disorders caused by too many mast cells in their tissues (mastocytosis) or who are wealthier are at increased risk.
  • The longer the time since the last exposure to an agent that caused anaphylaxis, the lower the risk of a new reaction.

• Control of Nosocomial Infections

  • Because agent and host factors are more difficult to control, interruption of transfer of microorganisms is directed primarily at transmission.
  • Gloves play an important role in reducing the risks of transmission of microorganisms.
  • In the USA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has mandated wearing gloves to reduce the risk of blood-borne pathogen infections.
  • Use of hydrogen peroxide vapor has been clinically proven to reduce infection rates and risk of acquisition.
  • Wearing an apron during patient care reduces the risk of infection.