Figure 22.1 Two health-care professionals treat a patient with COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for preparedness and knowledge about effectively treating worldwide infections. (credit: “U.S. Navy Doctors, Nurses and Corpsmen Treat COVID Patients in the ICU Aboard USNS Comfort” by Navy Medicine / Flickr, Public Domain)
Chapter Outline
22.1 Infectious Process
22.2 Viral and Fungal Infections
22.3 Antibiotic Resistance
22.4 Preventing Secondary Infections
Infections are one of leading causes of death and disability globally, with more than 7.7 million deaths in 2019 from bacterial pathogens alone (GBD 2019 Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators, 2022). The total number of deaths that year from fatal infections was even higher, given that infections can also be caused by viruses, parasites, and fungi. During the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in 2019, we saw firsthand the destruction that widespread infections can cause both to human life and the economy. Additionally, we are starting to see the development of “superbugs” that are resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics, making it even more difficult to effectively treat infections. Nurses are on the frontlines of these battles, which highlights the need for knowledge regarding the causes of and treatments for various infections.
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