Posted: June 14th, 2023

AN EPIDEMIC IN THE COMMUNITY

AN EPIDEMIC IN THE COMMUNITY
RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
WEEKLY RESOURCES
Tuberculosis Treatment for Mexican Americans – ProQuest
• Zuñiga, J. A., Muñoz, S. E., Johnson, M. Z., & Garcia, A. (2014). Tuberculosis Treatment for Mexican Americans Living on the U.S.-Mexico BorderLinks to an external site.. Journal Of Nursing Scholarship, 46(4), 253-262. http://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12071
• Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2020). Public health nursing: Population-centered health care in the community (10th ed.). Elsevier.
o Chapter 6, “Environmental Health” (pp. 121-148)
o Chapter 13, “Epidemiology” (pp. 269-298)
o Chapter 14, “Infectious Disease Prevention and Control” (pp. 299-332)
o Chapter 15, “Communicable and Infectious Disease Risks” (pp. 333-355)
o Chapter 17, “Community as Client: Assessment and Analysis” (pp. 370-394)
• McKenna, M. (2015). What do we do when antibiotics don’t work anymore?Links to an external site. [Video]. TED conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/maryn_mckenna_what_do_we_do_when_antibiotics_don_t_work_any_more
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 17 minutes.

Maryn McKenna is a journalist who specializes in public health, global health, and food policy. She describes how bacteria and viruses are mutating in response to new antibiotics at an alarming rate.

• TEDx Talks. (2014, October 20). Will the poor always be with us?Links to an external site. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHQes6P5XnQ
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 10 minutes.

Jim Yong Kim talks about his vision of transformation for development, drawing on his personal experience as an activist and AIDs researcher. He shares why ending poverty is possible in our lifetimes and concludes that the poor will not always be with us.

To prepare for this Discussion, visit the CDC Wonder site in this week’s resources. Investigate the incidence and prevalence of TB in your community. What information did you find? Analyze how your community compares to county, state, or national data for the same topic. Was the incidence and prevalence of each higher or lower than you expected?
Consider the following scenario: This is Debbie’s first year working as a nurse at the local health department in a rural county. Most of her days are spent in the clinic seeing clients who often do not have health insurance.
Over the past month, Debbie has noticed that several young Hispanic men have come to the health department, each diagnosed with tuberculosis. Debbie is concerned about what the outbreak of tuberculosis among the migrant workers could mean for the community. Through a community health profile, Debbie identifies the group of migrant farm workers as being at highest risk for contracting tuberculosis.
Using the Epidemiologic Triangle concept, consider the relationship among causal agents, susceptible persons, and environmental factors.
Post your response to the following:
• As a BSN-prepared community health nurse, what steps should Debbie take next?
• Considering economic and social considerations within the community, what are the primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions that Debbie might use in managing this outbreak?
• Can similar interventions be applied to your community and its TB prevalence?
• What considerations need to be addressed within your community that are different form Debbie’s community?
Support your response with references from professional nursing literature.
Notes Initial Post: This should be a 3-paragraph (at least 350 words) response. Be sure to use evidenceLinks to an external site. from the readings and include in-text citationsLinks to an external site.. Utilize essay-levelLinks to an external site. writing practice and skills, including the use of transitional materialLinks to an external site. and organizational framesLinks to an external site.. Avoid quotes; paraphraseLinks to an external site. to incorporate evidence into your own writing. A reference listLinks to an external site. is required. Use the most current evidenceLinks to an external site. (usually ≤ 5 years old).
Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question.
Respond to at least two colleagues. Your responses should be substantial and should contribute to the Discussion. Support with evidence, if indicated.
Enter the discussion thread on 3 separate days. Write at least two posts to two separate peers.

As a BSN-prepared community health nurse, Debbie should take immediate steps to manage the outbreak of tuberculosis in her community. Firstly, she should collaborate with the local health department to develop an action plan to address the issue. This should include identifying and tracking all confirmed cases, conducting contact tracing to identify those at risk of infection, and providing appropriate treatment and follow-up care. She should also prioritize outreach and education efforts to raise awareness among the community and promote early detection and treatment of tuberculosis.

In managing this outbreak, Debbie should consider the economic and social considerations within the community. Primary interventions may include promoting infection prevention and control measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and social distancing. Secondary interventions could involve targeted screening and testing of high-risk groups such as migrant farm workers. Tertiary interventions could include providing treatment, support, and rehabilitation services to those affected by tuberculosis, including access to healthcare and financial assistance for medical expenses.

Similar interventions can be applied to other communities with high TB prevalence. However, the specific strategies used may vary depending on the unique characteristics of each community. For example, in urban settings, outreach and education efforts may need to be more targeted to specific high-risk populations such as homeless individuals or those living in crowded housing conditions.

By and large, managing an outbreak of tuberculosis requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the epidemiologic triangle of causal agents, susceptible persons, and environmental factors. As a BSN-prepared community health nurse, Debbie should take a proactive approach to managing this outbreak, working collaboratively with the local health department and implementing a range of primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions to promote infection prevention, early detection, and appropriate treatment of tuberculosis.