Epidemiologic Methods For The Study Of Infectious Diseases

Epidemiologic Methods for the Study of Infectious Diseases

This is the first comprehensive text on the methodological issues in epidemiologic research on infectious diseases. It will be an invaluable resource both to students of epidemiology and to established researchers. The authors address such questions as: What needs to be considered when enrolling participants in a study of sexually transmitted diseases? What are common sources of measurement error in population-based studies of respiratory infections? What are some sources of existing data for epidemiologic studies of infectious diseases? Answers to these and many other related questions can be found in this well-organized, comprehensive and authoritative volume - the first to thoroughly address the methodologic issues in conducting epidimiologic research on infectious diseases. The book will be an ideal complement to texts on general epidemiology and infectious disease. An introductory section will make it accessible to a wide variety of disciplines by providing an overview of topics that are foundational to understanding infectious disease epidemiology, such as the immunology of infections, the biology of infectious diseases, and concepts of causation, transmission, and dynamics. The rest of the book is structured around sections on data sources and measurement; methods by transmission type; outbreak investigation and evaluation research; and special topics such as HIV/AIDS research, infections in the elderly, and research collaborations in developing countries.

Epidemiologic Methods for the Study of Infectious Diseases

Modern Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Hardly a day goes by without news headlines concerning infectious disease threats. Currently the spectre of a pandemic of influenza A|H1N1 is raising its head, and heated debates are taking place about the pro’s and con’s of vaccinating young girls against human papilloma virus. For an evidence-based and responsible communication of infectious disease topics to avoid misunderstandings and overreaction of the public, we need solid scientific knowledge and an understanding of all aspects of infectious diseases and their control. The aim of our book is to present the reader with the general picture and the main ideas of the subject. The book introduces the reader to methodological aspects of epidemiology that are specific for infectious diseases and provides insight into the epidemiology of some classes of infectious diseases characterized by their main modes of transmission. This choice of topics bridges the gap between scientific research on the clinical, biological, mathematical, social and economic aspects of infectious diseases and their applications in public health. The book will help the reader to understand the impact of infectious diseases on modern society and the instruments that policy makers have at their disposal to deal with these challenges. It is written for students of the health sciences, both of curative medicine and public health, and for experts that are active in these and related domains, and it may be of interest for the educated layman since the technical level is kept relatively low.