Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Public Health Concerns

The epidemiology of infectious disease (ID) involves study of the prevalence, incidence and determinants of infections in populations. Infectious diseases remain one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality around the world.  In addition to studying the rates of and risk factors for infectious disease, ID epidemiologists implement and evaluate interventions at the individual and community level to: prevent infection (primary prevention) and, among those with infections, to prevent development of disease (secondary prevention) or disease-associated death and disability (tertiary prevention).