SIRS & Sepsis
SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) can be an early sign of sepsis (the body’s life-threatening response to infection) and is critical to quickly identify. Catching these signs, doing cultures to detect possible bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and initiating appropriate treatment can not only potentially avoid hospitalization or rehospitalization, but can save the patient’s life. Our ID specialists […]
Wounds & Joints
Several infected Wounds & Joints are common in hospital patients due to their comorbidities (two or more diseases in a patient) and facility-specific, nosocomial (originating in the hospital) infectious agents and MDROs. Risk factors for these infections include chronic lymphedema (abnormal lymph accumulation), peripheral vascular disease or PVD, peripheral nerve damage (neuropathy), diabetes, immunodeficiency, bacteremia (bacteria in the […]
Active & Latent TB
TB (tuberculosis) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a bacterium spread through respiratory droplets. Millions of individuals around the world are infected, though the prevalence in the U.S. is lower. TB is either Active or Latent. Latent TB patients have no symptoms and are not contagious. Treatment of latent TB patients is important to prevent transition to active TB. Prevalence […]
Hepatitis B & C
Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B and C typically have long incubation times (up to 6 months) and relatively asymptomatic acute courses. These factors can make early diagnosis difficult. Chronic cases exhibit a variety of potential symptoms as described below. Coinfection with both hepatitis B and C also sometimes happens. Coinfection with HIV is also a common finding […]
Pneumonia
Hospital patients may have risk factors that predispose them to acquiring pneumonia – older age, various respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, or impaired functional status. Certain Beers criteria medications (evidence-based drug recommendations in the geriatric population) can also put your older patients at higher risk for pneumonia. The Beers criteria specify not only potentially harmful medications, but also […]
C. diff
Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile or C. diff causes almost 30,000 deaths yearly in the U.S. It is one of the most common health care-associated infections worldwide. C. diff can develop 5 to 10 days after taking various antibiotic, and the biggest culprits are amoxicillin, ampicillin, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and clindamycin. The resulting swelling and inflammation of the colon (colitis) is due to a disruption […]
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a common and potentially serious bacterial skin infection. The three most common indications for antibiotics in hospital patients are lung, urinary, and skin infections. Cellulitis is the most common skin infection, and the leg is the most frequent location. Cellulitis is most commonly caused by strep or staph infections. You or your patients with cracked or peeling skin […]
Osteomyelitis
A prompt diagnosis of osteomyelitis (OM), or bone infection, is critical for effective treatment, prognosis, and eventual clinical outcome. Left untreated, OM can lead to major surgery or even amputation. The diagnosis can be difficult to establish and requires the coordination of infectious disease specialists, radiology, and orthopedics. Treatment may require surgical intervention by orthopedics and […]
Outbreaks
Infectious outbreaks in the hospital setting usually send a shiver down the spine of both clinical and administrative staff members. We’re here to help. Our IDS specialists can aid your staff in identifying the potential causes of disease spread from patient to patient. Outbreaks rarely occur when staff closely follow infection control protocols, including all staff – […]
Fever & Leukocytosis
Fever: Temperature above 100.4-101⁰ F or 37.5-38⁰ C usually defines a fever. Fever is a common concern in hospital patients, with some studies showing up to 1/3 of patients developing a fever during their stay. Sometimes the source of fever is obvious. If a patient exhibits rapid breathing (tachypnea), cough, and lung crackles or wheeze, pneumonia is […]
