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Bacterial Toxinology

By Ju Hee Katzman

October 1st, 2020

Dr. Katzman reviews the importance of toxins in the manifestation of bacterial diseases. Bacterial toxins cause injury by producing tissue damage to the host during a bacterial infection. The different mechanisms by which bacterial toxins can produce injury are reviewed, including via intracellular and cell surface targets, membrane damage, superantigens, and involvement of the extracellular matrix. Dr. Katzman next reviews several well-known bacterial toxins, including Staphylococcal and Streptococcal toxins and Pseudomonas exotoxin A. Lastly, toxin therapies, such as toxoids and passive immunization are reviewed.

Infectious Diseases Board Review

By Vivian Vega Rodriguez, MD

September 18th, 2020

Dr. Vivian Vega reviews several interesting Infectious Diseases cases she has managed over the last several years, and includes relavant ID-related pearls about diagnosis and management. From an infectious diseases conference recorded in September 2020.

Great Cases in Infectious Diseases

By Anthony Cannella, MD

September 9th, 2020

Dr. Anthony Cannella, Associate Director of Epidemiology at the James A Haley Veterans Hospital, presents a series of clinical cases from his years in infectious diseases practice. The cases are presented in a visual, interactive format. From a virtual session originally recorded on August 19, 2020.

The Great Debate: Sensitive versus Susceptible

By Amanda Mercurio, PharmD

August 11th, 2020

Dr. Mercurio reviews antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods and explains how this data reported with culture results can be best used to make informed antibiotic treatment decisions. Dr. Mercurio begins by discussing the difference between MIC and MBC, and the misconceptions about MIC values for different antibiotic agents. Next, she reviews recent changes in the susceptibility breakpoints for several bacterial organisms, including Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas. Lastly, she reviews the resistance issues with the “SPACE/SPICE” bacteria as well as inducible clindamycin resistance, and closes with comments on heteroresistance issues in bacterial populations.

Gastroenterocolitis

By John Greene, MD

August 4th, 2020

Dr. John Greene, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Moffitt Cancer Center, reviews disorders involving the gastrointestinal tract. Syndromes discussed include Cholera, traveller’s diarrhea, Typhoid fever, Salmonellosis, Campylobacter, pathogenic E coli, Echinococcosis, aeromonas, and Vibrio. Dr. Greene presents the topics in a fast paced, photo quiz format.

Varicella Zoster Virus Infections: Insights and Therapeutics

By John Toney, MD, FIDSA

July 10th, 2020

Dr. Toney reviews the epidemiology and management of Varicella Zoster infections. He first discusses the prevalence and clinical presentation of this herpesvirus family infection. He points out the importance of recognizing the prodrome in patients before the complete outbreak occurs. He goes on to discuss the clinical complications of VZV disease, including ophthalmologic, multi-dermatomal, and disseminated infections. He next discusses the treatment options available to manage Zoster infections. The subject of available Zoster vaccines is then discussed, with a focus on the newer Recombinant Zoster Vaccine (RZV). Lastly, Dr. Toney presents a couple of photo case-studies.

Impact of Infectious Diseases on the Economy

By Sarah Shewayish, MD

June 16th, 2020

Dr. Shewayish shows how public health is an essential component of economic prosperity. This is at no time more a poignant argument than in the midst of the current pandemic, where it is clear that the key to economic recovery is to vanquish the coronavirus outbreak. As we have seen in the Spring and early Summer of 2020, infectious diseases can affect a large swath of the business sector, from agriculture, to manufacturing, transportation, hospitality/travel, and many others. Some industries may have a business model that is incompatible with an infection outbreak. Others may ride the wave of increased demand that occurs as a result of the disease’s impact on society. A disease outbreak may also cause individuals to withdraw from the economy due to fear, job loss, or reduced services. Investing in public health is an endeavor that pays countless dividends. As the pandemic shows, societies around the world need to do more to invest in the health of their populations and in preparing for the next outbreak that may impact us.

Neglected Tropical Diseases

By Cody Horn, MD

May 22nd, 2020

Dr. Horn reviews several important tropical diseases, including Chagas disease (caused by Trypanosoma cruzii), spread by the Triatomid bug, African Trypanosomiasis, the cause of sleeping sickness, Cystercercosis, caused by the Pork tapeworm, and Buruli ulcer. He closes by discussing Onchocerciasis and its effect on significant areas of the developing world.