ABSTRACT

This chapter details what is required in terms of competencies, skills and knowledge from junior physicians in core medical training in infectious diseases, tropical medicine and sexually transmitted diseases. Micro-organisms that cause disease in humans and other species are known as pathogens. The transmission of pathogens to a human or other host can occur in a number of ways, depending upon the micro-organism. In epidemiology, an epidemic occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is 'expected', based on recent experience. The most important alpha-haemolytic Streptococcus is Streptococcus p n eu moniae. Pneumococcus is a common cause of pneumonia, meningitis and otitis media. Giardiasis is a major diarrhoeai disease found throughout the world. It usually represents a zoonosis with cross-infectivity between animals and humans. The most common cause of non-falciparum malaria is Plasmodium vivax, with Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae accounting for the other cases.