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The field of transplant medicine has evolved significantly since the first kidney transplant was performed in 1954. Innovations in transplant immunosuppression have lowered the risk of organ rejection so that infectious complications are now the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality after solid organ transplant. Infection is also cited as the leading cause of non-relapse mortality after stem cell transplantation. As transplant centers have recognized the importance of transplant specific expertise in patient outcomes, the field of transplant infectious diseases has expanded into a recognized and highly valued subspecialty. International growth in solid organ and stem cell transplantation has outpaced access to such expertise, with some centers employing microbiology laboratory directors and transplant nephrologists as their lead infectious diseases consultants. This has been a particular challenge as the use of novel immunosuppressive regimens in new geographic and immigrant populations have fueled the emergence of new infection syndromes, with the initial presentation sometimes occurring in this most vulnerable patient population. This digital-first book is designed to meet the needs of practitioners engaged in transplant infectious disease practice who need more depth than they are able to find in UpToDate. It provides an overview of emerging infectious disease challenges with clinically relevant information regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of infections in solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients. Each chapter focuses on a clinical syndrome or pathogen with new or emerging implications for transplant patients. Given the rapidly evolving nature of emerging infections and topics in transplant infections, no resource has been published on these increasingly notorious issues; this this text is written by top, global experts who regularly update the material to ensure that readers will always have access to the most cutting edge material available. The editorial team consists of three experienced leaders in the field, all of whom have a strong record of scholarship and publication, as well as an international reputation. All three have focused their academic careers on emerging infectious diseases in transplantation, including a current and a past president of various infectious diseases and transplantation societies. The editors are also experienced reviewers and authors who have collaborated on multiple previous projects. All are committed to this project as a unique opportunity to make an important contribution to their field.

This volume aims to enhance the current understanding of clinical features, treatment and pathogenic aspects in necrotizing soft tissue infections. Various representative case studies are discussed to enhance the readers'understanding of these complex diseases. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rapidly spreading infections that may cause extensive soft tissue or limb loss, multiorgan failure and are associated with a considerable fatality rate. It is undisputed that rapid diagnosis and prompt intervention is directly related to survival. The initial presentation may be limited to unspecific symptoms such as tenderness, swelling, erythema and pain. Thus, diagnosis and management are challenging due to heterogeneity in clinical presentation, in co-morbidities, in microbiological aetiology, as well as in the pathogenic mechanisms. An international and multidisciplinary consortium, INFECT, has for the last 6 years been pursuing research aimed to advance the understanding of the clinical and pathogenic aspects of these infections. A central part has been to create a comprehensive clinical registry and associated biobank which have also formed the basis for the experimental studies. Using the INFECT patient cohort, as well as an integrated systems biology approach in patients and clinically relevant experimental models, an advanced insight of diagnostic features, causative microbial agents, treatment strategies, and pathogenic mechanisms (host and bacterial disease traits and their underlying interaction network) has been obtained.

Cardiac implantable device (CIED) infections are a key issue since they have serious consequences in terms of morbidity, mortality and associated costs for healthcare systems. Such infections are highly complex, which has implications for prevention (several factors underlie its development), diagnosis (requiring patient specific integration of several elements), acute treatment (choice of the antibiotic, lead extraction procedure), as well as long-term management (CIED re-implantation strategy and follow-up). Dealing with CIED infections requires appropriate organization of healthcare provision, with the creation of integrated hub-spoke referrals, and it has prompted many of the recent developments in CIED technologies: leadless pacemakers, subcutaneous defibrillators, antibacterial envelops and lead extraction devices. This book systematically examines all aspects of this multifaceted condition, discussing each clinical and organizational issue in a separate self-contained chapter. It starts by reviewing the epidemiology/pathophysiology of CIED infections, and then addresses acute and long-term management. Offering a comprehensive overview of the prevention of infections, considering both current and future perspectives, the book also provides practical suggestions along with recommendations from the literature in the field. This is the first book entirely focused on CIED infections. Written by an international team of leading experts it will appeal to broad audience, including cardiologists, electrophysiologists, infectious disease specialists, internists, healthcare professionals, health service managers and providers, researchers and those working in industries involved in the field.

This comprehensive volume provides a platform from which both major and minor infectious diseases related issues are addressed in-depth among this highly susceptible population. The book begins with an overview of infections in various modalities. This is followed by chapters on clinical disorders, etiologic agents, therapeutics, and infection prevention. Chapters include easy-to-follow figures and tables, radiologic images, and pictorial demonstrations of various disease states to familiarize and reacquaint the transplant clinicians and surgeons in practice and training, and those belonging to subspecialties providing supportive care for these patients. Discussions to enumerate the noninfectious causes that mimic infectious diseases; clinical relevance and effective utility of existing and emerging diagnostic tools are presented throughout the book. Authored by leaders in their fields, this book is the go-to reference for management of patients undergoing hematopoietic and solid organ transplantation.

Clinically-focussed, with easily accessible tables and chapter summaries suitable for clinicians and researchers, this comprehensive book provides a systematic, critical evaluation of the current literature. An updated clinical decision-making algorithm specifically tailored to the antiretroviral drugs is also provided. The identified interactions are interpreted in the context of known mechanisms derived from clinical, preclinical, and in vitro data. The clinical relevance of the interactions is systematically evaluated and gaps in literature discussed in the context of potential future experiments. In addition to the comprehensive summary of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions associated with WHO-recommended antiretroviral drugs on the market today (i.e. nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors, integrase inhibitors, and protease inhibitors), this book also provides detailed section summaries on theepidemiology of HIV infection, diagnosis and pharmacotherapy, basic pharmacology of the individual antiretrovirals, pertinent pre-clinical and in vitro molecular pharmacology, and in vitro drug interaction data available in the literature today.

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is rapidly becoming a major concern of medical practitioners worldwide. In fact, unless it is dealt with as a matter of urgency, we shall return to the ‘Dark Ages of Medicine'as the British Prime Minister has recently warned. This book vividly paints the scenario before the ‘germ theory'was conceived, and at a time when antimicrobials and anti-parasite agents were not even envisaged. How were the cause and management of infections viewed and treatment implemented, both in Britain and in tropical countries? Should antibiotic resistance become absolute, it is possible that humanity throughout the world will be faced with a major catastrophe and will thus be plunged back to a bygone era.

This unique book summarizes current knowledge on co-development of infectious diseases and cancer. It provides an overview of the complex and unique role of the immune system, inflammation, tumor-mediated immunosuppression and infection-induced immunomodulation in cancer and infection progression.Chapters are organized into themed parts, beginning with a look at the historical perspective of human tumor viruses, then aspects and examples of infection-related cancers and cancer-associated infections. The work discusses how cancer- and infection-associated immune responses interact in a bi-directorial fashion and how these interactions may evolve during both disease progression and in response to therapy. The phenomenon of independent development of cancer and infection in the same host, known as comorbid cancer-infection progression, is explored.Understanding the complex pathways involved in the progression of infection and cancer will allow the prevention of the development of certain types of cancer, as well as advancing prophylactic anti-cancer vaccines. Readers of this work will discover innovative approaches for multidisciplinary projects, focusing on the design of original therapeutic modalities for cancer therapy. The book will therefore be particularly valuable to scholars interested in cancer immunology and researchers and clinicians in the field of basic and applied immunobiology and microbiology.

Of the innumerable ways that science and humanity interact, few are as central or as significant as our interaction with microorganisms. Though these single-celled and'complete'living organisms have major impacts on many chemical and ecological processes, they are most often recognized for their ability to cause serious and sometimes fatal diseases. From diseases caused by bacteria, like pneumonia, tuberculosis, anthrax, meningitis, typhoid, and bubonic plague, to diseases caused by viruses, like HIV, polio, yellow fever, hepatitis, and influenza, humanity has struggled to cope with the rapidly changing capabilities of microorganisms. They are intimately involved with life, and must be taken into account in many ways when considering the welfare and health of all people. This book is a response to the current confusion and misunderstanding of microbes amongst the general public; written in narrative form, it will allow readers of all backgrounds to understand better the scientific concepts and terminology of how microbial or viral diseases are caused, to ask intelligent questions about the impact of diseases on our wellbeing, and to comprehend the reports about disease outbreaks that flood the media. The book begins by introducing the microbe, its history, and its basic science. Then, in an engaging narrative, Firshein describes seven critical microbial and viral diseases that plague our world, showing how each one illustrates the basic characteristics of infection. Each of these seven diseases follows the same path: invasion, internal spread, toxin effects, excretion, and transmission to a new host. In this lively discussion of pathogenicity, William Firshein reveals the fascinating scientific relationship between human and microbe, and shows us how humanity can live with microorganisms.

While advances in both the treatment of cancer and the management of its complications have led to significant improvement in patient survival, infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with neo plastic disease. In this patient population, infection risk results from a complex interplay between the host's underlying immunodeficiencies, local tumor effects and treatment-induced immunosuppression. New chemotherapeutic approaches and antimicrobial prophylaxis and treatment practices continue to shape the spectrum of infections in these patients. Clinicians who treat infections in cancer patients are continually challenged by the emergence of new pathogens and by the increasing antimicrobial resistance of established ones. The aim of this book is to emphasize unique aspects of management of infectious diseases in the cancer patient. With the increasing complexity of this patient population, optimal management requires a multidisciplinary approach and this fact is fully reflected in the contributions, all from recognized authorities in the field. Ultimately, it is hoped that this volume will assist specialists in infectious diseases and haematology/oncology in the diagnosis, management and prevention of infection and optimization of the overall care of patients with malignancies.

Trichuriasis: Global Status is one in a series of GIDEON ebooks which summarize the status of individual infectious diseases, in every country of the world. Data are based on the GIDEON database (www.gideononline.com) which relies on standard text books, peer-review journals, Health Ministry reports and ProMED, supplemented by an ongoing exhaustive search of the medical literature. Chapters are arranged alphabetically, by country name. Each section is divided into five subsections. 1. Descriptive epidemiology 2. Summary of clinical features 3. Global status including distribution map 4. Status of the disease in a specific country 5. References

Examines the mechanisms of both the innate and adaptive immune systems as they relate to infection and disease.

A multifaceted approach to the detection and characterization of infections encountered in this high-risk patient group. Serves as a reference for laboratory professionals, infectious disease physicians, oncologists, transplant specialists, and other healthcare providers who care for immunocompromised patients.

Because aging is accompanied by a steady decline in resistance to infectious diseases, the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases in the elderly is not only much more complex, but also often quite different from that for younger patients. In the second edition of Infectious Disease in the Aging: A Clinical Handbook, a panel of well known and highly experienced geriatric physicians and infectious disease experts review the most important common infections affecting the elderly and delineate their well-proven diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive techniques. Among the illnesses discussed are urinary tract infections, pneumonia, ocular infections, tuberculosis, and fungal and viral infections. In addition, there are detailed discussions of sepsis, infective endocarditis, intraabdominal infections, bacterial meningitis, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, and prosthetic device infections.

Approximately 60% of all hospital-associated infections, over one million cases per year, are due to biofilms that have formed on indwelling medical devices. Device-related biofilm infections increase hospital stays and add over one billion dollars/year to U.S. hospitalization costs. Since the use and the types of indwelling medical devices commonly used in modern healthcare are continuously expanding, especially with an aging population, the incidence of biofilm infections will also continue to rise. The central problem with microbial biofilm infections of foreign bodies is their propensity to resist clearance by the host immune system and all antimicrobial agents tested to date. In fact, compared to their free floating, planktonic counterparts, microbes within a biofilm are 50 – 500 times more resistant to antimicrobial agents. Therefore, achieving therapeutic and non-lethal dosing regimens within the human host is impossible. The end result is a conversion from an acute infection to one that is persistent, chronic, and recurrent, most often requiring device removal in order to eliminate the infection. This text will describe the major types of device-related infections, and will explain the host, pathogen, and the unique properties of their interactions in order to gain a better understanding of these recalcitrant infections.

The past decade has been highlighted by numerous advances in research of medical scientific knowledge, medical technology and the biological and diagnostic techniques-but somewhat less dramatic changes or improvement in management of medical conditions. This volume in the Emerging Infectious Disease of the 21st century series, addresses some of the emerging issues and controversies in Infectious Diseases. The author has chosen these topics for review based on questions and contentions raised by medical residents, internists, emergency physicians, clinical infectious disease specialists and family physicians. This volume will provide guidance and answers to frequently asked questions in infectious diseases to the researcher, clinician, generalists, specialists and trainees in these areas; thus, facilitating improved patient care, prudent and cost effective management and investigation of these disorders. This volume reviews the research, diagnosis, and treatment of some common infections facing researchers, clinicians and family physicians such as sinusitis, otitis media and asymptomatic bacteriuria. Recent studies and surveys have shown that these conditions are often over diagnosed and treated unnecessarily with antibiotics. The approach and guidelines for diagnosis and management are reviewed in this volume. Other more complicated but less common conditions challenging internists, clinical infectious disease consultants and other specialists are also reviewed (i.e. meningitis, ventilator associated pneumonia, sepsis, hepatitis C, B etc.)

Familiarity with nitric oxide is essential to a modern understanding of pathophysiologic mechanisms of infectious disease. Recent research has established nitric oxide and related reactive nitrogen intermediates to be important molecular mediators of diverse physiologic processes such as control of vascular tone, regulation of the immune system, and microbial and tumor cell growth. This book contains chapters by the leading researchers in the field and examines the biology and biochemistry of nitric oxide and its role in a variety of specific infections ranging from sepsis, tuberculosis and malaria to viral myocarditis, influenza, and AIDS.

In Septic Shock Methods and Protocols, an interdisciplinary panel of expert investigators describe proven methods for investigating the often deadly mechanisms of septic shock. Drawing on insights from a wide variety of fields-ranging from molecular and cellular biology to the physiological measurement of whole animals-these experienced laboratorians detail the most important techniques for studying sepsis involving endotoxins, toxins derived from gram-positive organisms, cytokines, nitric oxide and other reactive nitrogen intermediates, and the use of primary cell cultures. They also treat a number of significant techniques that are not well described in the literature, including the Limulus endotoxin assay, the bioassay of TNF, the purification of bacterial endotoxin and superantigens, and the culture of primary human cells. Multidisciplinary and state-of-the-art, Septic Shock Methods and Protocols offers both experimental and clinical investigators a gold-standard collection of key methods for illuminating the basic pathophysiological processes that occur following infection. Its readily reproducible methods will allow both newcomers and those with more experience to apply today's powerful techniques successfully in their work.

Fever has long been recognized as a symptom of disease. Until the past century it was considered a healthy sign; since then this view has changed and the use of drugs to reduce fever has grown quite common. Acting on the revival of interest as to whether the effects of fever are beneficial or harmful, Matthew Kluger and other physiologists began a series of experiments designed to resolve this question. This book synthesizes their research, making a case not only for the beneficial function of fever but also for the re-evaluation of current clinical practices regarding fever.Originally published in 1979.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.