Nosocomial and Healthcare Associated infections

Track 8: Emerging Infectious Diseases

Emerging infectious diseases are caused by newly recognized species or strains (such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, HIV / AIDS) that may have evolved from a known infection (such as influenza) or spread to a new population (Such as West Nile fever) or undergoing ecological transformation (such as Lyme disease) or re-emerging infections, such as drug-resistant tuberculosis. Nosocomial infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus are emerging in hospitals and are extremely difficult to treat as they are resistant to many antibiotics. Many emerging diseases are zoonotic - an animal reservoir incubates the body with only intermittent transmission in human populations.