Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases - Missouri ...

GLOSSARY
COLONIZATION: When bacteria are present on or in the body without causing illness (e.g.,
Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae).
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE: Illness caused by germs (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) that
can be spread from person to person or by touching objects contaminated with body fluids. Illness can
be spread from infected pets. Many communicable diseases are reportable to the local or state health
department.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINKEYE): Redness and swelling of the delicate tissue which lines the
eyelids and covers the eyeball (conjunctiva).
CONTAGIOUS PERIOD: The period of time when an infected person is capable of spreading
infection to another person.
CONTAMINATION: The presence of infectious germs in or on the body, on environmental
surfaces, on articles of clothing, or in food or water.
CROUP: Spasms of the airway that cause difficult breathing and a cough sounding like a seal's bark.
Viruses most often cause croup; therefore, antibiotics are not needed.
DIARRHEA: Increased number of stools compared with a person's normal pattern, along with
decreased stool form and/or watery, bloody, or mucus-containing stools.
DISINFECTION: A physical or chemical process that eliminates virtually all disease-causing germs
on environmental surfaces, except bacterial spores.
ENCEPHALITIS: Inflammation (swelling) of the brain which can be caused by a number of agents
such as viruses, bacteria, or parasites.
EPIDEMIOLOGY: The scientific study of the occurrence and distribution of diseases in
populations.
EXEMPTION: Written documentation of refusal of vaccine administration for religious, medical, or
philosophical reasons.
EXCLUSION (DUE TO ILLNESS): Denying admission of an ill child or staff member to a
childcare, preschool, school, or worksite.
EXTENSIVELY DRUG-RESISTANT TUBERCULOSIS (XDR TB) - Is a relatively rare type of
multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). It is resistant to almost all drugs used to treat TB,
including the two best first-line drugs: isoniazid and rifampin. XDR TB is also resistant to the best
second-line medications: fluoroquinolones and at least one of three injectable drugs (i.e., amikacin,
kanamycin, or capreomycin). Drug-susceptible (regular) TB and XDR TB are spread the same way.
TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes,
speaks, or sings. These germs can float in the air for several hours, depending on the environment.
Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected. Because XDR TB is
resistant to the most powerful first-line and second-line drugs, patients are left with treatment options
that are much less effective and often have worse treatment outcomes. XDR TB is of special concern
for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system. These
persons are more likely to develop TB disease once they are infected, and also have a higher risk of
death once they develop TB disease.
FEBRILE: Having a fever.
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