Resistance).

Incidence. A general term used to characterize the frequency of new occurrences of a disease, infection, or other event over a period of time and in relation to the population in which it occurs. Incidence is expressed as a rate, commonly the number of new cases during a prescribed time in a unit of population. For example, one may refer to the number of new cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 population per year. Invasive Infection. Infection involving the bloodstream or internal organs, not including infection of the skin or mucous membranes. Invasive infection is usually established by the recovery of an etiologic agent from a usually sterile body fluid or tissue. Isolation. Separation, for the period of communicability, of infected persons from others in such places and under such conditions as will prevent the direct or indirect transmission of an infectious agent to susceptible people or to those who may spread the agent to others. Isolation applies also to animals (compare 105 CMR 300.020: Quarantine). Laboratory. As defined in M.G.L. c. 111D, § 1 "… a facility or place, however named, the purpose of which is to make biological, serological, chemical, immuno-hematological, cytological, pathological, or other examinations of materials derived from a human body. This includes laboratories in hospitals and other facilities. Laboratory Data. Characteristics or attributes associated with biological serological, chemical, immune-hematological, cytological, pathological, or other examinations of materials. MAVEN. The Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiologic Network, the Department's infectious disease surveillance and case management system. Novel Influenza A Viruses. A strain of influenza A that substantially differs antigenically from circulating or recently circulating influenza A viruses. Outbreak or Cluster. The occurrence in a community, facility, workplace or region of cases of an illness clearly in excess of the number of cases usually expected. The number of cases indicating an outbreak or cluster will vary according to the infectious agent or the site conditions/hazards, size and type of population exposed, previous experience or lack of exposure to the disease, and time and place of occurrence. Outbreaks or clusters are therefore identified by significant increases in the usual frequency of the disease in the same area, among the specified population, at the same season of the year. Point of Care Testing. Testing done at or near the site of patient care by use of a test cleared by the federal Food and Drug Administration for such use. Prophylaxis. The administration of a drug or biologic agent to prevent the development of an infection or disease, or limit the progression of an infection. Quarantine. Restricting the freedom of movement of well persons or domestic animals who have been exposed to a communicable disease for a period of time relating to the usual incubation period of the disease, in order to prevent effective contact with those not so exposed (compare 105 CMR 300.020: Isolation). Report of a Disease. A notice submitted pursuant to reporting requirements in 105 CMR 300.000 that shall include contact information for the clinician responsible for reporting the disease and full personal demographic, clinical, epidemiologic and laboratory information on the case, to the appropriate authority of the occurrence of a specified disease in people or animals, directly by telephone, in writing, by facsimile, or by electronic means. Content of reports to the Department shall be defined on a disease by disease basis. Also see 105 CMR 300.170 for laboratory reports. Resistance. The sum total of body mechanisms which interpose barriers to the progress of invasion or multiplication of infectious agents or to damage by their toxic products. (1) Immunity is that resistance usually associated with possessing antibodies or cells having a specific activity against the etiologic agent of an infectious disease. Passive immunity is attained either naturally by maternal transfer or artificially by introducing specific protective antibodies. Passive immunity is of brief duration. Active immunity is attained by infection, with or without symptoms, or by introducing certain fractions or products of the infectious agent or the agent itself in a killed, modified or variant form. (2) Natural resistance is the ability to resist disease independently of antibodies or a specific cellular response. It commonly rests in anatomic, cellular or physiologic characteristics of the host. It may be genetic or acquired, permanent or temporary. Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette. Measures to prevent the transmission of all respiratory infections, that includes covering of the nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing, use and safe disposal of tissues and hand hygiene. Risk. The probability of an individual developing a given disease or experiencing a change in health status over a specific period of time. Self-monitoring. The practice of an individual observing their own clinical presentation to promote prompt recognition of infection or illness. This may include documentation of the observation by public health authorities. Spinal Cord Injury. The occurrence of an acute traumatic lesion of neural elements in the spinal canal (spinal cord or cauda equina) resulting in temporary or permanent sensory deficit, motor deficit, or bowel or bladder dysfunction. Standard Precautions. Refers to consistent and prudent preventive measures to be used at all times regardless of patient’s infection status. The Department adopts, by reference, as standard precautions for infection control, the 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Surveillance of Disease. Monitoring the occurrence and spread of disease and indications of such occurrence and spread. Susceptible. A person or animal not possessing resistance to a pathogenic agent. Such a person or animal is liable to contract a disease if or when significantly exposed to such agent. Suspect Case. A person or animal with clinical and/or laboratory evidence suggestive of the existence of a disease or condition dangerous to the public health, but prior to the confirmation of such a diagnosis. Traumatic Amputation. An unintentional severing of some or all of a body part. Traumatic Brain Injury. An occurrence of injury to the head, arising from blunt or penetrating trauma or from acceleration-deceleration forces, with one or more of the following conditions attributed to the injury: decreased level of consciousness, amnesia, skull fracture, or objective evidence of a neurological or neuropsychological abnormality or diagnosed intracranial lesion. Tuberculosis. (1) Active Tuberculosis. A disease that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or other members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex family in any part of the body and that is in active state as determined by either: (a) a positive diagnostic test for tuberculosis on any human specimen and the person has not completed the appropriate prescribed course of medication for active tuberculosis disease; (b) radiographic, current clinical, or laboratory evidence sufficient to support a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis for which treatment is indicated. (2) Tuberculosis Infection (also known as Latent Tuberculosis Infection). Condition in which living tubercle bacilli are present in an individual, without producing clinically active disease. Infected individuals usually have a positive tuberculin skin test or laboratory test for tuberculosis infection (such as an interferon release assay or IGRA), but are not infectious. Unusual Disease. A disease, by any indication, occurring for the first time, or rarely, in a geographic area or circumstance, or associated with signs and symptoms not otherwise expected to occur based on the known or presumed etiology of the disease. Unusual Illness. An illness, by any indication, occurring for the first time, or rarely in a geographic area or circumstance, or an illness associated with signs and symptoms not otherwise expected to occur based on the known or presumed etiology of the illness. Work-related Disease. A disease or condition which is believed to be caused or aggravated by conditions in the individual’s workplace. Work-related Serious Traumatic Injury to a Person Younger than 18 Years Old. An injury to a person younger than 18 years old which: (1) results in death, hospitalization, or, in the judgment of the treating physician, results in significant scarring or disfigurement, permanent disability, significant loss of consciousness, or loss of a body part or bodily function; or which (2) the physician determines is less significant but is of the same or similar nature to injuries previously sustained at the same place of employment. Zoonotic. Infectious disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans.