by Olivia Bredbenner

Created on: November 11, 2009   Last Updated: February 27, 2011

Medical science behind Infection control measures

The study of infection control includes science based research that is on going in the area of pathogens. It requires that those doing research as well as clinicians in this area follow the path of pathogens. Their awareness of many microbial strains of viruses and their potential for subtle changes over time, is critical; as they continually have the potential to become an even more serious threat to our health.

Infection control addresses the spread of disease and an on going overview of microbes and their means of transmission. It dedicates time and research into the establishment of appropriate precautions along with the implementation of infection control methods and the management of a disease.

According to "e science news" and from a study published in Nature Biotechnology. The researchers are now saying that the "Pandemic flu can infect cells deep in the lungs" There by explaining that people who become infected with the pandemic strain origin of H1N1 influenza are more likely to suffer more severe symptoms than those infected with the seasonal strain of H1N1.

"Influenza viruses infect cells by attaching bead-like molecules on the outside of the cell, called receptors. Different viruses attach to different receptors. If a virus cannot find its specific receptor it can not get into a cell. Once inside a cell the virus uses the cell's machinery to make thousand more viruses, which then busts out of the cell and infects the neighboring ones, thus establishing an infection."

There is always a chance that a virus will mutate in the future. Therefore, it is essential that scientists constantly be on the look out.  As It will be necessary to finding ways to minimize the impact of those changes.

"The H1N1 pathogen is more virulent then previously thought." In contrast with run of the mill seasonal viruses, the H1N1 exhibits the ability to infect cells deep in the lungs where it can cause pneumonia and in severe cases death. "This is similar to the 1918 virus, which killed millions."  This is according to ICT {Infection Control Today.}

This timely research reinforces the need for "a multi pronged intervention strategy in order to weaken the severity of a pandemic infection, to minimize the risk of development of a new strain and to hopefully delay predicted peaks of infection and allow for effective vaccination deployment."

Many people may have a mild and uncomplicated course of the flu.

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