Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Abstract

Most textbooks dealing with the epidemiology of infectious diseases address the epidemiological features (also called biology) of specific infectious diseases. In this chapter, the focus is placed on the concepts and methods more specific to the general epidemiological study of infectious diseases. For infectious disease epidemiologists, it is necessary to understand many epidemiological criteria of the specific disease. Mode of transmission, incubation period, proportion of asymptomatic persons, carriers, disease severity, environmental persistence, availability of vaccines, and treatment options are necessary to prevent and control infectious diseases. Surveillance systems that track diseases are necessary to monitor secular trends and identify disease clusters and outbreaks to respond in a timely manner. Mathematical modeling is performed to understand the transmission patterns in populations. Besides epidemics and pandemics, healthcare-associated infections, antimicrobial resistance, and expansion of disease vectors and pathogens due to climate change add more challenges to the field of infectious disease epidemiology. Better and faster data systems are necessary to decide on best prevention methods. Our knowledge and detection methods of disease pathogens are expanding to find best and properly implemented prevention and control programs. This will help to protect and save untold millions of lives in our present and future generations.