Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean Essay

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Introduction

The research study pays attention to the population challenged by Salmonella bacteria who experienced abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and headache. In the 1980s, infectious cases increased among Caribbean locals and tourists (Stehr-Green, 2016). The emergence of Enteritidis infection was 6.8 per 100,000 annually in 1992: 48% of males and 52% of females (Stehr-Green, 2016). From 1988 to 1997, real-life investigations were initiated in Trinidad and Tobago.

The most common social and behavioral determinants include limited awareness, poor hygiene, and no control and management. One of the strategies to prevent the infection includes public health education, which proves a lack of knowledge on the disease, its causes, and outcomes. In addition, all egg-producing farms in the region lack microbial monitoring and appear unsanitary (Stehr-Green, 2016). According to the study, diseases are spread through contaminated food and water (Stehr-Green, 2016). People who neglect simple hygiene rules like washing hands with soap and drying with paper towels increase their chances of infection.

Three disparities associated with the health of the Caribbeans are age, the period between diagnosis and treatment, and antibiotic access. Pediatric patients (from birth to nine years) are more commonly exposed to Salmonella infections than adolescents, young adults, and the elderly (Stehr-Green, 2016). In addition, the infection can be transmitted if it is not treated within the next 24 hours. Finally, not all locals have access to antibiotics as one of the most effective treatment options, causing new concerns. The identified determinants are related to the disparities because people can hardly understand a transmission threat or the worth of hygiene from an early age without education.

Health Issue

The connections between the Caribbean and infection spreading are evident in the case study. For example, suppose the population does not get enough education on a particular health issue. In that case, there is a high risk of the infection getting to the body without appropriate hygiene and damaging the system. In addition, if local organizations and farms neglect to monitor, they put the health of their customers at risk of being infected. Finally, governmental and healthcare support is crucial in controlling the disease. The region does not have a strong system, which explains the high rates.

Risk factors

Salmonella is a genus of gram-negative bacteria shaped like rods and belongs to the family of Enterobacteria. The disease caused by the bacterium is Salmonellosis which is usually characterized by a sharp increase in temperature, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. The significant risk factors include failure to maintain proper hygiene, such as washing hands after the bathroom or taking care after sick. Not washed fruits or raw meat are also primary causes of catching a bacterium.

Mode of transmission

The Salmonella bacterium is widespread among domestic and wild animals, mainly among animals used for food, such as poultry, pigs, and cattle; and among domestic animals, including cats, dogs, birds, and reptiles. As a rule, people become infected with Salmonellosis due to consuming contaminated food products of animal origin (mainly eggs, meat, poultry, and milk). Other food products, including green vegetables contaminated with manure, may also be involved in the transmission of infection.

Incidence and prevalence

The study investigated the prevalence of Salmonella on pig farms. It was identified that “about 25 of all the farms in Suriname were sampled, and prevalence was 9%” (Butaye et al., 2021, p. 1495). The incidence rate is considered to be 6 cases per 100,000 population annually (Butaye et al., 2021). In general, the bacterium is widespread in the Caribbean for widespread cattle breeding and consumption.

Mortality and odds ratio

Salmonella is one of the four leading causes of diarrheal diseases worldwide. The identified mortality rate is 20-25 cases per 100,000 people, which is average among all infectious diseases (Butaye et al., 2021). Concerning the odds ratio, approximately 20 individuals would catch the disease by eating eggshells, and the other 15 consume raw meat or fish. It signifies that people are exposed to the infection due to their eating habits.

Levels of Prevention

Promoting healthy lifestyles is a primary preventative method represented in the research study. This technique seeks to address critical factors like inactivity, poor eating habits, and stress, all of which have been linked to an increased chance of acquiring certain health conditions. For instance, promoting food safety education is urged in the reaction to the Salmonella outbreak in the Caribbean. Early detection of health concerns by surveillance and monitoring is a secondary preventative method represented in the research study. This technique identifies individuals at a higher risk of health problems and gives them the necessary interventions to prevent the disease from progressing (Butaye et al., 2021). For instance, the surveillance and monitoring plan addresses the crucial aspect of prompt discovery and reaction to the Salmonella outbreak in the Caribbean.

Implementing an outbreak response plan is a tertiary preventative strategy in response to the Caribbean Salmonella outbreak. This strategy addresses the critical problem of providing immediate care and treatment to those who are already ill (Butaye et al., 2021). The primary, secondary, and tertiary preventative strategies address the major causes of the Caribbean Salmonella outbreak differently. Secondary prevention tactics aim to identify and manage the disease as soon as possible, whereas tertiary prevention strategies aim to mitigate its effects after it has already struck. Primary prevention strategies aim to keep the disease from ever forming. These three levels of prevention must be combined to manage and prevent the spread of sickness effectively.

Conclusion

The following research question can be developed to learn more about the particular public health problem and population: What primary, secondary, and tertiary preventative techniques are most successful in lowering the incidence and prevalence of the relevant public health problem in the impacted population? This research question might be better investigated using an observational research strategy, enabling the analysis of real-world scenarios and gathering data from a sizable sample size. The success of various prevention techniques in lowering the incidence and prevalence of Salmonella can be assessed using this design. The population’s health can be improved by conducting further research on this health problem and population. Public health practitioners can seek to lessen health inequities and enhance population health by identifying the most effective prevention techniques. Thus, creating efficient and long-lasting remedies that can improve population health and reduce the burden of a particular public health issue is one of the potential benefits of additional research.

References

Butaye, P., Halliday-Simmonds, I., & Van Sauers, A. (2021). . Antibiotics, 10(12), 1495. Web.

Stehr-Green, J. K. (2016). . Southern New Hampshire University. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2024, January 26). Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean. https://ivypanda.com/essays/epidemiological-study-on-salmonella-in-the-caribbean/

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"Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean." IvyPanda, 26 Jan. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/epidemiological-study-on-salmonella-in-the-caribbean/.

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean'. 26 January.

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean." January 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/epidemiological-study-on-salmonella-in-the-caribbean/.

1. IvyPanda. "Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean." January 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/epidemiological-study-on-salmonella-in-the-caribbean/.


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IvyPanda. "Epidemiological Study on Salmonella in the Caribbean." January 26, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/epidemiological-study-on-salmonella-in-the-caribbean/.

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