Showing 1-20 of 106 for: Essential Evidence Topics > Infectious disease 
- Anthrax
Essential Evidence Topics, 24-Jun-2022
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect anthrax when there have been several cases of acute febrile illness that follow a fulminant course and lead to high death rates, and in patients with acute febrile illness following a specific bioterrorism attack. Among farm w
- Arthritis (septic or pyogenic)
Essential Evidence Topics, 28-Jun-2021
Overall Bottom Line: Fever, inability to bear weight, sed rate >40 s, and WBC >12,000 are the best independent predictors of septic arthritis in children. The cornerstone of diagnosis of septic arthritis is arthrocentesis and synovial fluid analys
- Ascariasis
Essential Evidence Topics, 26-Mar-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Mild infection may result in only nausea, mild abdominal discomfort, mild anorexia, and/or dyspepsia, whereas more severe infection may lead to mechanical obstruction, perforation, biliary and pancreatic duct obstruction, and/or appen
- Aspergillosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 15-Jan-2022
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients who do not respond to antibiotics; invasive pulmonary aspergillosis typically presents with respiratory symptoms, infiltrates, and fever. Many diagnostic tests exist and are under
- Avian influenza
Essential Evidence Topics, 17-Mar-2023
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect avian influenza in patients with confirmed fever, influenza-like illness, and exposure to poultry or an infected human in an H5N1 infected country; confirm diagnosis with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test from
- Babesiosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 9-Dec-2022
Overall Bottom Line: Consider the diagnosis of babesiosis in individuals who present with flulike signs and symptoms who have recently traveled to areas endemic for babesiosis (northeast United States) or have had exposure to persons who traveled to these
- Blastomycosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 17-Jun-2021
Overall Bottom Line: Direct visualization of the yeast form in tissues or sputum is diagnostic. The drug of choice is amphotericin B and/or an azole, depending on the severity of disease, type of infection, and immune status of the patient. summarizes
- Bloodborne pathogen exposures
Essential Evidence Topics, 3-Aug-2021
Bottom-Line: Engineering and environmental interventions may reduce the incidence of needlestick and other sharps injuries. At the time of a potential bloodborne pathogen exposure (BBPE), test the source patient for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infe
- Botulism
Essential Evidence Topics, 13-Jan-2023
Overall Bottom Line: Consider infant botulism in an infant with progressive generalized weakness, poor suck, weak cry, ophthalmoplegia, and constipation. Advise parents not to give their infant honey or honey products before 1 year of age. While askin
- Brain abscess
Essential Evidence Topics, 20-Oct-2021
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect brain abscess in patients with risk factors who have any combination of headache, fever, seizure, or focal neurologic deficits. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI is the preferred initial test if readily available. About two-thirds o
- Brucellosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 26-Oct-2021
Overall Bottom Line: Travelers to endemic areas should avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products and raw meats. Suspect brucellosis in a patient with unexplained chronic fevers and nonspecific complaints, especially if there is a history of consumpti
- Candidiasis (oral and esophageal)
Essential Evidence Topics, 29-Nov-2021
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect oropharyngeal or esophageal candidiasis in at-risk patients with pain or discomfort in the mouth, angles of the lips, or beneath an oral prosthesis; dysphagia or chest pain when swallowing. Visually examine the oropharynx; s
- Cat scratch disease (bartonella henselae)
Essential Evidence Topics, 3-Feb-2023
Overall Bottom Line: Patients typically present with regional lymphadenopathy 1 to 3 weeks after a cat bite or scratch, often following an erythematous vesiculopapular. Indirect fluorescent antibody testing for Bartonella henselae confirms the diagnosi
- Cervicitis
Essential Evidence Topics, 16-Sep-2021
Overall Bottom Line: Screen for chlamydia in all sexually-active women 24 years and younger and other asymptomatic women at increased risk. Test for chlamydia and gonorrhea with nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). Suspect chlamydia or gonorrhea
- Chancroid
Essential Evidence Topics, 13-Dec-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Chancroid is characterized by painful genital ulceration and inflammatory inguinal lymphadenopathy. Test for HSV and syphilis in all patients with genital ulcers. Effective treatments include azithromycin 1 g as a single dose, cip
- Chickenpox
Essential Evidence Topics, 29-May-2019
Overall Bottom Line: Clinical presentation typically includes fever, myalgia, and classic rash. Chickenpox (varicella) and related complications are largely preventable with a two-dose vaccine series for healthy children and adolescents, and for adult
- Chlamydia urethritis and cervicitis
Essential Evidence Topics, 11-Jun-2022
Overall Bottom Line: While often asymptomatic, men may have penile discharge, dysuria, or urethral pruritus and women may have abnormal vaginal discharge, dysuria, or intermenstrual vaginal bleeding. Screen all pregnant and nonpregnant women who are sex
- Cholera
Essential Evidence Topics, 20-Feb-2023
Overall Bottom Line: Prevention using decontaminated water and good food hygiene can be very effective. Profound diarrhea can develop very quickly and become life threatening. Rapid, aggressive rehydration is essential for control of dehydration and r
- Clostridium difficile infection
Essential Evidence Topics, 29-Jul-2022
Overall Bottom Line: Suspect Clostridium difficile in any patient with acute watery diarrhea during or shortly after antibiotic therapy. When there is a high baseline likelihood of CDI (i.e., hospitalized patient, antibiotic use, no other explanation)
- Coccidioidomycosis
Essential Evidence Topics, 21-Sep-2022
Background: OVERALL BOTTOM LINE If a patient who resides in or who has traveled to the endemic area presents with symptoms of pneumonia, consider laboratory evaluation for coccidioidomycosis. Most primary infections resolve without treatment. Conditio
