Acknowledgment The author would like to acknowledge the first edition authors Thomas A. Kurrus † † Deceased. and Martin G. Tauber. Abstract Meningitis is a relatively rare inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation results…
Abstract Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection involving the interior of the heart, most commonly the heart valves. It is predominantly bacterial, most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcal species. This chapter reviews the pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis,…
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Abstract Exacerbations are episodes of increased respiratory and sometimes systemic symptoms in patients with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They reflect increased airway inflammation usually induced by bacterial and/or viral tracheobronchial infection. These episodes are a major contributor to…
Abstract “Sore throat” or pharyngitis is one of the most frequent complaints of patients in the acute care setting, accounting for nearly 7 million pediatric and 6 million adult visits each year. On the surface, pharyngitis would appear to pose…
Abstract Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common bacterial infection seen in pediatric patients, and treatment of AOM is the most common reason children receive antibiotics. Physician visits and antibiotic use for otitis media, however, have decreased in the…
Abstract Sinusitis is defined as an inflammation of the mucosal lining of the paranasal sinuses and can be caused by various factors including allergy, environmental irritants, and infection by viruses, bacteria, or fungi. It is also commonly referred to as…
Abstract Viruses are an important but underrecognized cause of pneumonias. The exact percentage of all pneumonias caused by viral infection is unknown, but viruses are probably responsible for at least 25% of cases. This figure will likely change as a…
Abstract While microaspiration of oropharyngeal secretions is usually the cause of most cases of community- and hospital-acquired pneumonias, macroaspiration of oropharyngeal or upper gastrointestinal contents is the cause of aspiration pneumonia (AP). Chemical pneumonitis (CP) is triggered by aspiration of…
Abstract The term atypical pneumonia was first used more than 50 years ago to describe cases of pneumonia caused by an unknown agent(s) and that appeared clinically different from pneumococcal pneumonia. Although the original distinction between atypical and typical pneumonia…