Category Infectious Disease
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infection caused by the spirochaete genus of Leptospira. Severe forms may result in critical illness, including Weil disease and severe pulmonary haemorrhage

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Antibacterial Resistance

Antibacterial Resistance: Natural Resistance – they do not possess the molecular target of the drug or are impermeable to it; Acquired resistance – occurs through mutation or the acquisition of new genetic material carried by mobile elements

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Antimicrobial Stewardship is defined as ‘an ongoing effort by a health-care institution to optimise antimicrobial use among hospital patients in order to improve patient outcomes, ensure cost-effective therapy and reduce adverse sequelae of antimicrobial use (including antimicrobial resistance)’

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis: fungal disease caused by the mold Aspergillus, ranging from hypersensitivity to invasive infection. Important species include Aspergillus fumigatus, niger, flavus, calavtus; transmission by inhalation; high mortality

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis = pyogenic infection of the cerebral ventricles and subarachnoid space -> CSF; usually confined to meninges (although in neonates and adults with Listeria monocytogenes -> cerebritis, encephalitis and abscesses can form)

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Candidiasis

Diagnosis and treatment of candidiasis is a contentious issue; invasive candidiasis is difficult to diagnose; >150 species of Candida (a yeast), few are pathogens

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Cholera

Cholera: Gastrointestinal infection caused by vibrio cholerae (Gram negative rod); transmission through consumption of contaminated drinking water or food

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by two different yeast species, that usually manifests as meningitis or pneumonia; cryptococcus neoformans meningitis is an AIDS defining illness

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Definitions in Infectious Diseases

DEFINITIONS Bacteria = single celled prokaryotic organism. Eukaryote = organism that possess a cell nucleus and other organelles. Fungi = eukaryotic organisms that absorb their food from other living or dead organisms. Parasite = an organism that grows, feeds, and…