The Interplay of Pharmacy, Microbiology, Public Health, and Health Informatics in Combating Epidemiological Challenges

Abstract

Some of the epidemiological challenges are considered major and serious threats to health throughout the world from infectious diseases and pandemics. These include elements of knowledge in pharmacy, microbiology, public health, and health informatics. The pharmacists are out in front, dispensing the medications, performing the antimicrobial stewardship, and teaching patients proper use. The microbiologists will identify the offending pathogens, develop the vaccines, and monitor the resistance. Public health professionals address diseases, their prevention, their surveillance, and equity in health care provision, whereas health informatics enables data collection, integration, and analysis on which interventions could be informed. It is against this background that this paper discusses the role of the highlighted disciplines in responding to infectious diseases and identifies collaboration, new technologies, and standards for data sharing.