43 - Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory Tract Flashcards
Does bacteria cause most upper respiratory tract infections?
NO
Should you give antibiotics to most patients with an upper respiratory tract infections?
NO
What do you need to know about the use of antibiotics in patients with upper respiratory tract infections?
Antibiotics have no role in uncomplicated and non-specific URI
When you have a young, healthy patient with a cold, do NOT give them antibiotics
Let the virus (most likely) run its course and have them come back if they have any complications
When would you give antibiotics for an upper respiratory tract infection?
When the patient is old, has multiple comorbidities and is not likely to clear the infection on their own, so they will likely develop or already have developed a bacterial infection
What is the rule of thumb that you need to know for the exam?
Antibiotics have no role in uncomplicated and non-specific URI
What is sinusitis?
Inflammatory condition involving the sinuses surrounding the nasal cavities
In which patients do you need to take sinusitis very seriously?
Diabetic patients
What is rhinocerebral mucormycosis
- ## A pathogen-caused condition typically seen in sinus infections in diabetic patients
In what patients will you suspect rhinocerebral mucormycosis?
- Diabetics with ketoacidosis
- Diabetics with pressure in the face
- Diabetics with nasopharyngeal ulcers
- Diabetics with proptosis, ptosis, orbital swelling, cellulitis
- Diabetic patients who do NOT appear seriously ill
Just remember DIABETIC ***
In this case, what do you need to do?
When you see a diabetic with potential rhinocerebral mucormycosis, it needs URGENT EVALUATION ***
There is concern for the spread of this infection into the CNS
What is the key to diagnosing pneumonia?
Chest x-ray
Why do you need to get a chest x-ray before you are able to diagnose pneumonia?
Because you need to see the shadow of fluid in the lungs to rule out any other causes of the symptoms
What is the gold standard for a pneumonia diagnosis?
Chest x-ray
How do you decide which patients with pneumonia you admit or don’t admit to the hospital for treatment?
The decision regarding hospitalization should be based on…
- Stability of patient’s clinical condition
- Risk of death and complication
- Presence or absence of other active medical problems
- Psychosocial issues
