Choose a global health issue. For this assignment, you will introduce the health issue and discuss the interventions necessary to prevent the issue and promote health.
Some topics to consider may include:
- Anthrax
- Bioterrorism
- Cholera
- Clostridium botulinum infection
- Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
- Ebola virus disease
- Escherichia coli
- Human immunodeficiency virus disease
- Malaria
- Plague
- Severe respiratory distress syndrome
- Small pox
- Suicide
- Tuberculosis
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus infection
- West Nile virus
Include the following in your paper:
- Introduction/overview of the health issue and the prevalence in the United States and worldwide
- Contributing factors
- Prevention strategies
- Signs and symptoms
- Diagnostic tests (if applicable)
- Advanced practice nursing role and management strategies
- Medical/pharmacological management (if applicable)
- Follow-up care
- Conclusion
Write a 3–4 page paper following APA format. You must include 2–3 scholarly sources in your citations and references.
Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. TB primarily affects the lungs, but it can also infect other parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, and bones. It is a significant global health problem, with an estimated 10 million new cases and 1.4 million deaths worldwide in 2019 (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). TB is also a concern in the United States, with 8,920 cases reported in 2019 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021).
Contributing Factors TB is primarily spread through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Factors that contribute to the spread of TB include crowded living conditions, poor ventilation, and inadequate healthcare access (CDC, 2021). People with weakened immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, are also at higher risk for TB infection and disease.
Prevention Strategies The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to identify and treat infected individuals promptly. Screening for TB is recommended for high-risk populations, such as people living with HIV/AIDS and those who have been in close contact with a TB-infected person. Vaccination with the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine can also help prevent severe forms of TB in children, although it is not widely used in the United States (CDC, 2021).
Signs and Symptoms The symptoms of TB can vary depending on which part of the body is affected. Common symptoms include coughing for three weeks or longer, chest pain, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. TB can also cause symptoms such as coughing up blood, night sweats, and chills (CDC, 2021).
Diagnostic Tests Diagnosis of TB typically involves a combination of tests, including a physical exam, medical history, chest X-ray, and sputum culture. A positive sputum culture is the gold standard for TB diagnosis (CDC, 2021).
Advanced Practice Nursing Role and Management Strategies Advanced practice nurses (APNs) play an important role in the prevention and management of TB. APNs can provide education on TB screening, prevention, and treatment to patients and their families. APNs can also perform physical exams, order diagnostic tests, and prescribe appropriate medications for TB treatment. APNs can also monitor patients for side effects and complications of TB medications (Huether & McCance, 2017).
Medical/Pharmacological Management Treatment of TB typically involves a combination of antibiotics taken for six to nine months. The specific drugs used depend on the strain of TB and whether the patient has drug-resistant TB. It is important to complete the full course of treatment to prevent the development of drug-resistant TB (CDC, 2021).
Follow-Up Care Patients with TB require ongoing monitoring and follow-up care to ensure treatment success and prevent the spread of infection. APNs can monitor patients for medication adherence and provide education on infection control measures. Patients should also receive regular follow-up chest X-rays to monitor for disease progression (Huether & McCance, 2017).
Conclusion TB remains a significant global health problem, with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Prevention strategies, including early identification and treatment of infected individuals, screening of high-risk populations, and vaccination, can help reduce the spread of TB. APNs play a vital role in the prevention and management of TB through education, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. By working together, healthcare providers can help to reduce the burden of TB and improve patient outcomes.
References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Tuberculosis. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm