Pneumocystis pneumonia
Pneumocystis pneumonia: form of pneumonia caused by the yeast-like fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, most commonly as an opportunistic infection in the immunosuppressed
Pressure Areas and Pressure Ulcers
A pressure ulcer is localized injury to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence, as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear
Q Fever
Q Fever: infection caused by Coxiella burnetii
Selective Digestive Decontamination
Selective Digestive Decontamination (SDD) is a prophylactic strategy to prevent or minimize nosocomial endogenous and exogenous infections in critically ill patients
Soil-related Infections
Soil-related Infections
Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome
Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome: staphylococcal toxin producing infection -> intoxication of exotoxins (TSS-1, 2 or 3 enterotoxin)-> toxic shock syndrome
Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcus Aureus: aerobic gram positive cocci; has developed beta-lactamase activity thus is not susceptible to penicillin (use flucloxacillin at doses of 2g 4-6 hrly)
Tetanus
Tetanus: potentially lethal condition characterised by muscular rigidity and spasms, caused by the tetanospasmin toxin produced by Clostridium tetani, that may lead to life-threatening respiratory failure and autonomic dysregulation in severe cases
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis: disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii; obligatory intracellular protozoan; cat gut multiplication -> oocysts excreted in faeces -> invasion of hosts and formation of tissue cysts (retinal and brain).
Transmission-based precautions
Transmission-based precautions are recommended where standard precautions alone may be insufficient to prevent transmission of an infection, such as an outbreak.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is the most important infectious cause of death worldwide and is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex
Standard Precautions
Previously known by various names including "universal precautions", standard precautions are designed to reduce the risk of microorganism transfer from both recognised and unrecognised sources to a susceptible host.