Non-communicable diseases account for more than half of disease burden in every state of India today. While deaths due to communicable diseases have been declining due to improving hygiene, vaccines, vector control, antimicrobials etc., the potential of milder infections in triggering major events in people living with damaged organs due to NCDs is underestimated. Any microbial infection elicits an immune response in every individual. The degree of this immune response varies from person to person. Immune responses are associated with the release of a multitude of chemicals aimed at destroying the invading microorganism. However, these chemicals have the potential to cause collateral damage to healthy tissues.
For people whose organs are damaged by a prior heart stroke or chronic diseases of lungs, kidneys, or the liver, the collateral injury induced by activated immune responses can decompensate organ functions due to reduced reserve capacities. Seasonal spurts in hospital admissions due to acute organ dysfunctions in patients with preexisting NCDs are due to the increased prevalence of infections. Rainy seasons bring infections that are vector born (dengue fever, malaria, chikungunya etc.,) and water borne (cholera, typhoid, gastroenteritis etc.). Similarly, winters bring airborne infections like influenza.
Socioeconomic development is inevitable. Rapid urbanization associated with overcrowding of places is a reality. Physical proximity among people in malls, trains, planes, stadia, schools, offices are unavoidable. Mosquitoes continue to thrive in water logged areas. People continue to crowd roadside eateries. Airplanes loaded with people cross country borders every minute. People continue to have unprotected sex. Hence, in a complex web of such scenarios, the spread of infections is inevitable. Organisms continue to mutate as they multiply in different hosts. Some of these mutations escape vaccine-induced immunity or may become resistant against multiple antimicrobials. Industry will come up with more tests, more drugs, and more vaccines. However, there is a need to prevent and control infections to prevent avoidable deaths and disabilities triggered by these in people with other morbidities.
Hand wash and antiseptic rub are highly effective in preventing the transfer of a pathogen from one person to another. Face masks are effective against airborne infections. Coughing and sneezing etiquette avoids spraying infected droplets over neighbors. Condoms prevent transmission through sex. Screening prevents inadvertent injection of infections during blood transfusions. Vaccines have the capacity to eradiate certain infections. Avoiding close interactions with wild animals is a simple preventive tool. COVID-19 created and reinforced the awareness around these simple measures and their effectiveness in infection prevention and control.
Based on the argument provided above, it is time that there should be continuing emphasis on adopting simple infection prevention and control measures by the general public to reduce preventable deaths. They should become a part of normal habits.
Photo Credits: QNC