Infectious Disease Flashcards
What causes scarlet fever?
Streptococcus pyogenes
You are a surgical house officer and have been bleeped to see a 34 year old man who is post op day 1 following abdominal surgery. He complains of intense pain around his leg. On examination it is erythematous. His temperature is 38.3, HR 160, BP 135/96. He is a known diabetic and heavy drinker. What is the most appropriate management?
IV morphine and urgent referral for surgical debridement
This patient has necrotising fasciitis
What are risk factors for necrotising fasciitis?
Abdominal surgery
Diabetes
Alcoholism
Malignancy
What 4 drugs are used to treat TB?
Rifampicin
Isoniazid
Pyrazinamide
Ethambutol
What is a main side effect of ethambutol? What should be done before commencing treatment?
Toxic optic neuropathy
Test visual acuity and colour vision before treatment
What test should be performed prior to commencing rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide treatment?
LFTs as they can cause hepatitis
What type of bacteria is E.coli?
Gram negative bacilli
What is infectious mononucleosis?
Glandular fever
Self limiting infection due to Epstein Barr virus
Low grade fever, sore throat, lethargy
How do you diagnose glandular fever?
Monospot test
What happens if you prescribe amoxicillin to patients with glandular fever?
Severe rash
What is leptospirosis?
Weils disease
Infection caused by spirochaetes
Due to contact with infected urine, usually from rats
Mild flu like symptoms, jaundice, meningitis and renal failure in severe cases
How long after HIV exposure is post exposure prophylaxis effective for?
Most effective within an hour of infection
After 72 hours, effectiveness is very limited
What are the 3 most common chase of lung infection in people with cystic fibrosis?
Staph aureus
Haemophillus influenza
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: rusty coloured sputum
What sort of infections are people with a splenectomy susceptible to? And why
Encapsulated organisms for example h. Influenza and strep pneumoniae
Because spleen provides environment where encapsulated organisms are opsonised
What is antimicrobial stewardship?
Organisational approach to promoting and monitoring judicious use of antimicrobials to preserve their future effectiveness
What are the principles of antimicrobial stewardship?
How: Prescribe only when needed, Review need for abx in accordance with local formularies and guidelines
Why: Optimise therapy for individual patients, Prevent overuse, misuse, abuse, Minimise development of resistance at patient and
community levels
Who has responsibility for antimicrobial stewardship?
Clinicians
Society: Demand and supply
Politicians
Corporations
Why is antimicrobial stewardship important?
Optimise therapy for individual patients
Minimise side effects
Microbiome: all antibiotics, limit with narrower spectrum
Allergy and intolerance, specific contraindications and interactions
Prevent overuse, misuse, abuse
Minimise development of resistance at patient and community levels
How can we limit the need for antimicrobials?
Prevention and control of infection: No infection means no antibiotic needed, No multi-resistant organism means narrower spectrum antibiotic can be used
List resources available to aid optimal antimicrobial prescribing
TARGET antibiotics toolkit: treat antibiotics responsibly guidance, education and tools
NICE guidelines
Department of health antimicrobial stewardship guide
Local primary and secondary care guidance
What is contained in the TARGET toolkit?
Commissioner resources Information for patients Audit tools Training resources Self assessment National antibiotic management guidance