Category:Infections

From WardWiki - Foundation Doctor Helper

Infection is a pathological process where microorganisms overcome host immunity to cause local and systemic damage to the host. This differs from colonisation where the same bacteria cause no ill effects to the host.

Infections can be classified by site and also by organism. Infection in an immunocompetent host triggers inflammation as part of the immune response, hence the reason so many common infections are described as site specific inflammation. Effective treatment is multidisciplinary and relies on anti-infective agents as its mainstay. Infections mentioned inlcude those treated by foundation doctors. Numerous infections including avian influenza and Hepatitis B and C are important but their management lies outside foundation level when medications are required.