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Infections and sepsis in disasters
1Department of Surgery, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Critical Care Clinics
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Infections are expected following disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes. This study examines how injuries, living conditions, and disrupted medical care increase infection risks after various disaster types.
Area of Science:
- Disaster medicine
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- Infections are a known complication following various disaster types.
- Existing data from tornadoes, hurricanes, and mass trauma events suggest a link between disasters and subsequent infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To predict the infectious consequences of different disaster scenarios.
- To analyze the factors influencing post-disaster infection risk.
Main Methods:
- Extrapolation of existing data from previous disaster studies.
- Consideration of host factors (injury), environmental factors (living conditions), and healthcare system factors (disruption of medical care).
Main Results:
- Disasters significantly alter host susceptibility and environmental conditions, creating favorable environments for pathogen transmission.
- Disruption of medical infrastructure and services exacerbates infection risks.
Conclusions:
- Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective public health interventions and mitigating infectious disease outbreaks post-disaster.
- Proactive planning for infectious disease surveillance and control is essential in disaster preparedness and response efforts.