Infectious Diseases 101

Goal:  Apply your knowledge of clinical infectious diseases to develop a
strategic approach to antibiotic use in caring for both outpatients and inpatients
 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE

  1. Define the concepts of bacteriostatic, bacteriocidal, MIC, and MBC
  2. Define the classes of antibiotics and know some specific antibiotics within each class
  3. Define the classes of organisms that are commonly associated with the following organ systems: HEENT, Pulmonary, Cardiac, Abdomen, Lymph Node, Skin, Bone, Genitourinary
  4. List reasons why a particular antibiotic regimen may fail
  5. Define the concept of antibiotic synergy
  6. Identify infectious diseases that are potentially life threatening
  7. Define the describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, symptoms, signs, typical clinical course, and preventive strategies for the most common nosocomial infections, including:
    1. Urinary tract infection
    2. Pneumonia
    3. Surgical site infection
    4. Intravascular device-related bloodstream infections
    5. Skin infections
    6. Health care associated diarrhea
  8. Define and describe the general clinical risk factors for nosocomial infection, including:
    1. Immunocompromise
    2. Immunosuppressive drugs
    3. Extremes of age
    4. Compromise of the skin and mucosal surfaces secondary to
      1. drugs
      2. irradiation
      3. trauma
      4. Invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
      5. invasive indwelling devices (e.g. intravenous catheter, bladder catheter, endotracheal tube, etc.)
  9. Define and describe empiric antibiotic therapy for the most common nosocomial infections recognizing resistance patterns
  10. Define and describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, symptoms, signs, typical clinical course, and preventive strategies for colonization or infection with the following organisms:
    1. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci
    2. Clostridium difficile
    3. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
    4. Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria
  11. Describe clinical presentation of sepsis syndromes
  12. Develop appropriate treatment plan for patients with fever including the selection of an initial, empiric treatment regimen for patients with life-threatening sepsis
  13. Recommend appropriate empiric therapy based on an understanding of urinary tract infection pathogenesis and resistance patterns
  14. Interpret a urinalysis (overlap with Renal Tests, Acute Renal Failure)
  15. Demonstrate knowledge of cerebrospinal fluid analysis and its interpretation
  16. Define and describe the major routes of nosocomial infection transmission, including:
    1. Contact
    2. Droplet
    3. Airborne
    4. Common vehicle
       

PATIENT CARE SKILLS:

  1. Integrate your knowledge of common organisms associated with clinical disease with an appropriate antibiotic regimen for a given patient
  2. Begin to anticipate the need for inpatient versus outpatient management of infectious diseases and the appropriate dose and duration of antibiotic therapy
  3. Anticipate which patients will need surgical intervention to effect cure in certain infectious diseases
     

PROFESSIONALISM:

  1. Recognize that IV antibiotics can be administered at home, but the psychosocial impact on structuring this care can be enormous

 

References :

  1. Liu, Chien “An Overview of Antimicrobial Therapy” Comprehensive Therapy, 1992, 18 (11)