Assignment:
Using the Epidemiological Triangle and the Chain of Infection
There are many different visual models and tools that can be used to map the transmission of infectious diseases. Two such models are the epidemiological triangle and the chain of infection. The epidemiological triangle illustrates the relationships between the agent, host, and environment for a disease. The chain of infection depicts how the disease travels from a reservoir into a host.
In this Assignment, you design a graphic of both the epidemiological triangle and the chain of infection for an infectious disease of your choice. Additionally, you write a detailed description for each of your graphics, explaining the components and links, how the disease is transferred, and ways to limit the spread of the disease.
To prepare for this Assignment,
• Select an infectious disease of interest to you, and that is different from the one you selected for the Discussion.
• Review the information in this week's Learning Resources on the epidemiological triangle and the chain of infection. You may also want to search for examples of each model from credible online sources.
• Consider how the infectious disease you selected can be illustrated using each of the two models.
To complete this Assignment:
• Create a graphic of the epidemiological triangle for the disease you selected. Include captions for each component of the triangle.
• Write a 1-page description of the epidemiological triangle for your disease. Explain the relationships between and among the agent, host, and environment.
• Create a graphic of the chain of infection for the disease you selected. Include captions for each link of the chain.
• Write a 1-page description of the chain of infection for your disease. Explain how the disease flows from one link to the next and what can be done at various stages to break the chain.
Support your work with specific citations from this week's Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct.