Self Care Health Facts Column
By John Bell – 17 October 2012
No.
132
http://www.psa.org.au/selfcare
Staying free from infection
The history of infectious disease is as old as life itself. The various plagues of Egypt were documented in
the Old Testament (though the causes might be in some dispute) and in this context the word plague
really means, and from time to time still means, not just some widespread infectious disease but any form
of major calamity.
From a medical perspective, plague refers to a specific disease caused by a bacterium and carried by
rats. The plague (also called the Black Death) of the mid 14th century is said to have wiped out between
30% and 60% of the population of Europe.
Of course other significant epidemics of infection have occurred since then. It’s estimated that the flu
pandemic of 1918 killed 75 million people worldwide. SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) first
identified in Hong Kong in 2002 and spread to 37 countries within a few weeks. And, more recently this
century, the influenza variations of Swine Flu and Avian Flu have raised concerns of uncontrolled
infection; whilst in the last couple of years there have been major outbreaks of mumps, meningitis,
measles, cholera and dengue fever.
The “germ theory” of disease was promoted vigorously by French chemist and microbiologist Louis
Pasteur in the 1860s. Then, the discovery a short time later by German physician Robert Koch of the
organisms which cause anthrax, tuberculosis and cholera, and the pioneering of antiseptic surgery by
Scotsman Joseph Lister all increased our pool of knowledge relating to infectious diseases and the
likelihood that such diseases could be effectively treated and prevented.
Antibiotics were not freely available till well after World War II; and we now tend to take the use of
antibiotics very much for granted, but they are not effective against all infections; and overuse or
inappropriate use will make them even less effective. At least equally important in combating infectious
disease have been improved sanitation and hygiene and the introduction of immunisation programs.
The spread of infections such as the common cold and influenza, which can be transmitted by respiratory
droplets (both airborne and on surfaces such as door handles and eating utensils), can be reduced by
practising good respiratory hygiene. This includes:
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Turning away from others when coughing or sneezing.
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Covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
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Disposing of used tissues in a waste basket or rubbish bin.
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If a tissue is not available, coughing or sneezing into the arm – not the hands. An
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After coughing or sneezing, washing hands with soap and water or cleaning them with an alcoholbased hand rub.
Alcohol hand rubs are effective for reducing bacterial and viral contamination on the hands. However,
these products are not effective for cleaning dirty hands. If soap and water are not available, and provided
the hands are not visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand rub can certainly be used.
Many infectious diseases can be prevented by immunisation with an appropriate vaccine. And the risks
from these diseases that immunisation prevents are far greater than the very small risks of the
immunisation itself. Comprehensive information about vaccines which are available in Australia can be
found in the Australian Immunisation Handbook. It's online, too, at www.immunise.health.gov.au The
Department of Health and Ageing also publishes a booklet titled Immunisation, Myths and Realities. It
puts the immunisation debate into proper perspective with an objective view of the risks and the benefits.
More advice about preventing, or at least reducing the risk of, infection can be obtained from pharmacies
around Australia which provide the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care information. There are special
“fact cards” on Antibiotics, Childhood Immunisation, Travel Health and a number of specific infectious
diseases. Phone 1300 369 772 for the nearest Self Care location.
 Pharmaceutical Society of Australia