Comprehensive Guide to Microbiology, Health, and Disease

Posted on May 26, 2024 in Medicine & Health

Microbiology

Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are single-celled or cell-cluster organisms. These microorganisms include bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, protozoa, and helminths.

Common Micro-organisms of Microbiology

Microbiology encompasses a diverse group of microscopic organisms that exist as single cells, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, protozoa, and helminths. Some specific examples include:

  • Moulds: Moulds such as Mucor, Rhizopus, Botrytis, Aspergillus, and Penicillium can deteriorate food. However, certain species of mould are used in the manufacturing of specific foods and substances, such as mould-ripened cheese and oriental foods (soy sauce, miso, etc.).
  • Yeast: Yeast is typically non-filamentous and reproduces by fission or budding. It can be both harmful and beneficial in food production. Examples of yeast used in the food industry include Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Candida, and Kluyveromyces.
  • Bacteria: Bacteria can also be both harmful and beneficial in food production. Examples include:
    • Bacillus coagulans: A proteolytic species used for curdling milk.
    • Bacillus pumilus: A recommended test organism in sterility testing.
    • Microbacterium lacticum: Used in the production of vitamins.
  • Amylases: Amylases are used in the preparation of starch hydrolysates, which are used in various product formations such as beer and vinegar.

Respiratory Tract Infections

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are infections of the sinuses, throat, airways, or lungs.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a disease of the upper respiratory tract characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nose. The causative agent is Corynebacterium diphtheriae.

Epidemiology

  • Source of Infection: The source of infection may be a patient or carrier, with most carriers being 5-8 years old.
  • Infective Material: Nose and throat secretions contain the diphtheria bacilli.
  • Infective Period: 14-28 days
  • Age: 1-5 years old and newborns
  • Incubation Period: 2-5 days
  • Mode of Transmission: Diphtheria is transmitted via respiratory droplets and fomites. The bacteria enter through the respiratory tract.

Role of Pharmacist in Educating the Public in Prevention

Diphtheria can be prevented by immunization with the DPT vaccine, which should be given to children at 6, 10, and 14 months of age.

Chicken Pox

Chicken pox, also known as varicella, is a common childhood illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VRZ), which belongs to the herpes family.

Diagnosis

Chicken pox is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms, which may include:

  • Cold
  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Headache
  • Abdominal pain
  • Rash
  • Fatigue
  • Sore throat

Epidemiology of Chicken Pox

The causative agent of chicken pox, V-Z virus, is highly communicable and primarily occurs among children under 10 years of age. One attack typically provides durable immunity, and secondary attacks are rare. The disease is most common during the first six months of the year, with an incubation period of usually 14-16 days.

Role of Pharmacist in the Prevention of Chicken Pox

Pharmacists can play a vital role in preventing chicken pox by educating parents at pharmacies, local schools, and community health fairs about the importance of timely immunization with the chickenpox vaccine.

Solid Waste Management

Solid waste management involves the monitoring and regulation of waste management processes and waste-related laws, technologies, and economic mechanisms.

Principles of Waste Management

  • Waste Hierarchy: The waste hierarchy classifies waste management strategies according to their desirability in terms of waste minimization. It prioritizes reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.
  • Life-cycle of a Product: The life cycle of a product begins with design and proceeds through manufacture, distribution, and primary use. Each stage offers opportunities for waste minimization and sustainable practices.

Solid Wastes

Solid wastes include garbage (food wastes), rubbish (paper, plastics, wood, metal, throw-away containers, glass), demolition products (bricks, masonry, pipes), sewage treatment residue, dead animals, manure, and other discarded materials.

Types of Solid Waste

Solid waste can be categorized based on its source of generation or nature:

  • Residential waste
  • Commercial waste
  • Industrial waste
  • Institutional waste
  • Municipal waste
  • Healthcare waste
  • Agricultural waste
  • Waste from open areas
  • Construction and demolition waste
  • Electronic and electrical waste (e-waste)

Solid Waste Disposal

The principal methods of refuse disposal include:

  • Landfills
  • Incineration
  • Composting
  • Recycling

Protein Deficiency Diseases

Protein deficiency diseases include kwashiorkor and marasmus.

Vitamins Deficiency Diseases

Vitamins deficiency diseases include:

  • Vitamin A (Retinol): Night blindness
  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Beri-beri
  • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Retarded growth, bad skin
  • Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin): Anemia
  • Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid): Scurvy
  • Vitamin D (Calciferol): Rickets
  • Vitamin K (Phylloquinone): Excessive bleeding due to injury

Causative Agent of Tuberculosis

The causative agent of tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Whooping Cough is Caused By

Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.
Pharmacoeconomics:  It is defined as the analysis of the cost of drug therapy to health care system and society.
Importance Role of Pharmacoeconomics :- 1. Fixing the price of a new drug and re-fixing the price of an existing drug. 2. Drug development and clinical trials. 3. Finalizing a drug formulary. 4. Introduction of new schemes and programs in hospital pharmacy and clinical pharmacy. 5. Including a drug in the medical/insurance reimbursement schemes. 6. Creating data for promotional materials of medicines.
Health Insurance:  In the Indian health insurance system, mostly inpatient services are covered, so it is necessary to stay for a day in the hospital to claim the insurance.Type of Health insurance They are following types in belowA.Family Health insurance:- Family Health Insurance Policy secures your entire family under a single cover. Health insurance plans for family covers all the members of your family including your spouse, kids, and elders. B.Critical Illness Insurance:- The Critical Illness Insurance plan insures the person by offering a lump sum amount of money for life-threatening diseases. Below is a list of all the critical diseases that are covered up in the Critical Illness Insurance.  Major organ transplant  Kidney failure  Paralysis  First heart attack  Cancer C. Senior Citizen Health Insurance:- The Senior Citizen Health Insurance will offer you coverage for the cost of hospitalisation and medicines, whether it arises from a health issue or any accident. D.Individual Health Insurance:- An Individual Health Insurance plan is meant for a single person. As the name suggests, it can be bought by a single individual. The individual who gets himself insured with this plan is compensated for the expenses incurred for illness and medical expenses  


Occupational illnesses- Occupational illnesses are the serious problem for the working person due to workplace specific hazards. It is arising out of in the course of employment or work environment. It occurs as a result of exposure to physical, chemical, biological and physiological factors in the workplace.Generally harmful chemical are present in the workplace area and cause the adverse health conditions and damage the people. Example- Lead, Arsenic, Pesticides, mercury, silica. Sources of Occupational illness— • Paint industries— • Cement industries. • Coal industries. • Pesticides industries • Pharmaceutical industries. • Radioactive manufacturing industries. • Mineral extraction—heavy metal extraction

Maternal and child health programmes  According to WHO 1976 maternal and child health MCH  Service is defined as promoting, preventing, therapeutic or reliabilation facility or care for the mother and child  Thus maternal and child health service is an important and essential services related to mother and child overall development Objectives of Material and Child Health Programme 

Objectives of Material and Child Health Programme

The ultimate objective is to provide life-long health.
To reduce maternal, perinatal, infant and child mortality and morbidity.
To promote reproductive health.
To promote physical and psychological development of the child and adolescent within the family.
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO):-  A type of health insurance plan that usually limits coverage to care from doctors who work for or contract with the HMO.  It generally won’t cover out-of-network care except in an emergency.  An HMO may require you to live or work in its service area to be eligible for coverage. HMOs often provide integrated care and focus on prevention and wellness.  


 PHARMACISTS ROLE IN MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH

If any problem come regarding to the mother or child health then pharmacists supply various contraceptive options and prescribe initiate emergency contraception. • Aware the parents and supply vitamins and nutritional supplements, including folic acid and iron supplements and also promote cessation of alcohol and nicotine use. • Pharmacists recommend drug therapy, dosages, and duration of the essential medicine during the pregnancy and also decide the drug for developing embryo. • Pharmacists make decisions regarding accessibility of critical medications in labor and delivery and provide required sterile medication products during delivery.• Pharmacists, support breastfeeding (when replacement feeding is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable and safe, avoidance of all breast feeding by HIV- infected mother is recommended). • Pharmacists supply the effective treatment to the child and drug therapy (Oral rehydration salts and Zinc therapy) and also insure no deficiencies quality, purity, or potency of medicinal products. • Pharmacist also participated in health program and aware the parents to any disease conditions and provide the proper precaution.

Disease/ill related to substituted milks. • Substituted milk some time causes the severe allergic reaction in infants and cause eczema, rashes. • Some infants are not able to digest the substitute milk, so it cause the diarrhea and increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)  • Due to lack of nutritional value it is not improve the proper growth and development of the infants. • Due to lack of nutrition proper immunity are not developed against the infections or disease. So baby faces many diseases like diabetes, pneumonia, obesity, leukemia, respiratory disease etc. • Substituted milk is easily deteriorated by the bacterial or fungal growth so it also harms the infants. • Due to lack of nutrition it also causes the malnutrition.