Infectious Diseases
HIV & Viral Infections · Bacterial Infections & Sepsis · Tuberculosis & Mycobacteria · Sexually Transmitted Infections · Parasites & Tropical Medicine · Antimicrobials · Immunisation, Splenectomy & Misc
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HIV & Viral Infections
- Hepatitis C — Hepatitis C is likely to become a significant public health problem in the UK in the next decade. It is thought around 2
- Antiviral Agents — Drug Mechanism of action Indications Adverse effects/toxicity Aciclovir Guanosine analog, phosphorylated by thymidine ki
- Hsv, Vzv — Crystalline nephropathy Ganciclovir Guanosine analog, phosphorylated by thymidine kinase which in turn inhibits the vira
- HIV: Anti-Retrovirals — Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) involves a combination of at least three drugs, typically two nucleoside r
- HIV: Opportunistic Infections and Other Disorders — The table below shows the infections and other disorders that may be encountered by patients with HIV according to the C
- Hepatitis E — RNA hepevirus
- Infectious Mononucleosis — Infectious mononucleosis (glandular fever) is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, also known as human herpesvirus 4,
- H1n1 Influenza Pandemic — The 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) outbreak was first observed in Mexico in early 2009. In June 2009, the WHO declared
- HIV: Pneumocystis Jiroveci Pneumonia — Whilst the organism Pneumocystis carinii is now referred to as Pneumocystis jiroveci, the term Pneumocystis carinii pneu
- HIV: Neurocomplications — Focal neurological lesions Toxoplasmosis
- HIV: Diarrhoea — Diarrhoea is common in patients with HIV. This may be due to the effects of the virus itself (HIV enteritis) or opportun
- Rabies — Rabies is a viral disease that causes an acute encephalitis. The rabies virus is classed as a RNA rhabdovirus (specifica
- HIV: Seroconversion — HIV seroconversion is symptomatic in 60-80% of patients and typically presents as a glandular fever type illness. Increa
- Chickenpox Exposure in Pregnancy — Chickenpox is caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus. Shingles is reactivation of dormant virus in dors
- HIV and Pregnancy — With the increased incidence of HIV infection amongst the heterosexual population there are an increasing number of HIV
- HIV: Testing — HIV antibody test
- HIV: Immunisation — The Department of Health 'Greenbook' on immunisation defers to the British HIV Association for guidelines relating to im
- Hsv, Vzv — Crystalline nephropathy Ganciclovir Guanosine analog, phosphorylated by thymidine kinase which in turn inhibits the vira
Bacterial Infections & Sepsis
- Meningitis: Csf Analysis — The table below summarises the characteristic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in meningitis: Bacterial Viral Tubercul
- Diphtheria — Diphtheria is caused by the Gram positive bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae Pathophysiology
- Legionella — Legionnaire's disease is caused by the intracellular bacterium Legionella pneumophilia. It is typically colonizes water
- Meningitis: Management — Transfer ALL patients to hospital urgently; pre-hospital suspected meningococcal disease → IM benzylpenicillin if it doe
- Tetanus — Tetanus is caused by the tetanospasmin exotoxin released from Clostridium tetani. Tetanus spores are present in soil and
- Meningococcal Septicaemia: Investigations — Meningococcal septicaemia is a frightening condition for patients, parents and doctors. It is associated with a high mor
- Leptospirosis — Also known as Weil's disease*, leptospirosis is commonly seen in questions referring to sewage workers, farmers, vets or
- Gastroenteritis: Causes — Gastroenteritis may either occur whilst at home or whilst travelling abroad (travellers' diarrhoea) Travellers' diarrhoe
- Shigella — causes diarrhoea (may be bloody), abdominal pain
- Lyme Disease — Lyme disease is caused by the spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi and is spread by ticks Features Published by Medbooksvn.o
- Cellulitis — Cellulitis is a term used to describe an inflammation of the skin and subcutaneous tissues, typically due to infection b
- Pneumonia: Causes — Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) may be caused by the following infectious agents:
- Brucellosis — Brucellosis is a zoonosis more common in the Middle East and in farmers. Four major species cause infection in humans: B
- Botulism — Clostridium botulinum
- Mycoplasma Pneumoniae — Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a cause of atypical pneumonia which often affects younger patients. It is associated with a num
- Identifying Gram-Positive Bacteria — Gram positive bacteria will turn purple/blue following the gram staining. Microscopy will then reveal the shape, either
- Meningitis: Causes — Group B Streptococcus (most common cause in neonates)
- Streptococci — Streptococci are gram-positive cocci. They may be divided into alpha and beta haemolytic types Alpha haemolytic streptoc
- Classification of Bacteria — Gram-positive cocci = staphylococci + streptococci (including enterococci)
Tuberculosis & Mycobacteria
- Tuberculosis: Drug Therapy — Active pulmonary TB (NICE NG33) — initial phase, first 2 months: Rifampicin + Isoniazid + Pyrazinamide + Ethambutol (RIP
- Bcg Vaccine — The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine offers limited protection against tuberculosis (TB). In the UK it is given to
- Leprosy — Leprosy is a granulomatous disease primarily affecting the peripheral nerves and skin. It is caused by Mycobacterium lep
- Tuberculosis: Screening — The Mantoux test is the main technique used to screen for latent tuberculosis. In recent years the interferon-gamma bloo
Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Sti: Ulcers — Genital herpes is most often caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 (cold sores are usually due to HSV type 1).
- Chlamydia — Chlamydia is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the UK and is caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, an obli
- Gonorrhoea — Gonorrhoea is caused by the Gram negative diplococcus Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Acute infection can occur on any mucous mem
- Bacterial Vaginosis — Bacterial vaginosis (BV) describes an overgrowth of predominately anaerobic organisms such as Gardnerella vaginalis. Thi
- Non-Gonococcal Urethritis — Non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU, sometimes referred to as non-specific urethritis) is a term used to describe the presenc
- Genital Warts — Genital warts (also known as condylomata accuminata) are a common cause of attendance at genitourinary clinics. They are
- Syphilis: Management — First-line: IM benzathine penicillin. Early syphilis (primary, secondary, early latent under 2 years): a single dose of benzathine penicillin 2.4 MU IM. Late latent, cardiovascular or gummatous syphilis: benzathine penicillin 2.4 MU IM once weekly for 3 weeks.
- Syphilis — Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochaete Treponema pallidum. Infection is characterised by
- Trichomonas Vaginalis — Trichomonas vaginalis is a highly motile, flagellated protozoan parasite. Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infec
- Syphilis: Investigation — Treponema pallidum is a very sensitive organism and cannot be grown on artificial media. The diagnosis is therefore usua
Parasites & Tropical Medicine
- Trypanosomiasis — Two main form of this protozoal disease are recognised - African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and American trypan
- Schistosomiasis — Schistosomiasis, or bilharzia, is a parasitic flatworm infection. The three main species of schistosome are S. mansoni,
- Leishmaniasis — Leishmaniasis is caused by the intracellular protozoa Leishmania, usually being spread by sand flies. Cutaneous, mucocut
- Amoebiasis — Amoebiasis is caused by Entamoeba histolytica (an amoeboid protozoan) and spread by the faecal-oral route. It is estimat
- Malaria: Non-Falciparum — The most common cause of non-falciparum malaria is Plasmodium vivax, with Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium malariae accou
- Toxoplasmosis — Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoa which infects the body via the GI tract, lung or broken skin. It's oocysts release troph
- Malaria: Falciparum — Feature of severe malaria
- Nematodes — Ancylostoma braziliense
- Aspergilloma — An aspergilloma is a mycetoma (mass-like fungus ball) which often colonises an existing lung cavity (e.g. secondary to t
- Giardiasis — Giardiasis is caused by the flagellate protozoan Giardia lamblia. It is spread by the faeco-oral route Features
Antimicrobials
- Cephalosporins — Cephalosporins are a type of β-lactam antibiotic which are bactericidal. They are less susceptible to penicillinases tha
- Linezolid — Linezolid is a type of oxazolidonone antibiotic which has been introduced in recent years. It inhibits bacterial protein
- Vancomycin — Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic used in the treatment of Gram positive infections, particularly methicillin-resi
- Trimethoprim — Trimethoprim is an antibiotic, mainly used in the management of urinary tract infections. Mechanism of action
- Tetracyclines — Tetracyclines are a class of antibiotics which are commonly used in clinical practice. Examples
Immunisation, Splenectomy & Misc
- Post-Exposure Prophylaxis — Human Normal Immunoglobulin (HNIG) or hepatitis A vaccine may be used depending on the clinical situation Hepatitis B
- Splenectomy — Following a splenectomy patients are particularly at risk from pneumococcus, Haemophilus, meningococcus and Capnocytopha
- Animal Bites — The majority of bites seen in everyday practice involve dogs and cats. These are generally polymicrobial but the most co
- Vaccinations — It is important to be aware of vaccines which are of the live- attenuated type as these may pose a risk to immunocomprom