Rapid infectious killers

Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2004 Nov;22(4):1099-115. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2004.05.007.

Abstract

Central to the practice of emergency medicine is the ability to identify patients in whom immediate intervention is needed to prevent long-term morbidity and mortality. This article has highlighted some of the characteristics of several infectious diseases that may become fatal quickly if not treated quickly and appropriately by physicians. Bacterial meningitis,necrotizing soft tissue infections, invasive gram-negative disease, pneumo-coccal pneumonia, and West Nile encephalitis all require prompt recognition and treatment by emergency care providers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Central Nervous System Infections / diagnosis
  • Central Nervous System Infections / therapy
  • Communicable Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases / etiology
  • Communicable Diseases / therapy*
  • Debridement
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Emergency Medicine / methods*
  • Emergency Treatment / methods*
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / diagnosis
  • Fasciitis, Necrotizing / therapy
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / therapy
  • Humans
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / diagnosis
  • Meningitis, Bacterial / therapy
  • Morbidity
  • Physician's Role
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / therapy
  • Risk Factors
  • Sepsis / diagnosis
  • Sepsis / therapy
  • Soft Tissue Infections / diagnosis
  • Soft Tissue Infections / therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vaccination
  • West Nile Fever / diagnosis
  • West Nile Fever / therapy

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents