Assignment:
Case report
Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005. with major impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast. During August 29--September 11, surveillance identified 22 new cases of a severe illness with five deaths in persons who had resided in two states. These organisms are acquired from the environment and are unlikely to cause outbreaks from person-to-person transmission with illness onset and reporting during August 29--September 11 where the species was isolated from a wound, blood, or stool culture. Among the three cases, a wound-associated case was defined as an illness that likely resulted from infection of a wound or abrasion acquired before or during immersion in floodwaters. Three case studies were outlined to show the need for heightened clinical awareness, appropriate culturing of specimens from patients, and treatment of illnesses especially from wound cases.
Patient A. A man aged 60 years with a history of stroke. hypertension, and alcohol abuse arrived in Texas on August 31, after spending 3 days wading in the floodwaters of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was not housed at an evacuation center. On September 1. 2005, the man visited an emergency department with bilateral ankle wounds and diarrhea; he was treated and released. No details regarding treatment were available. Blood cultures subsequently yielded the causative agent The patient was admitted to the hospital on September 2. He died the next day.
Patient B. A man aged 61 years from Mississippi with human immunodeficiency virus infection, coronary artery disease, and hyperiipidemia was examined on August 29 and determined to have hypothermia and multiple second- and third-degree abrasions on his trunk. The man had rice water stools. The causative agent was isolated from his blood. Despite receiving antimicrobial therapy, he died the next day.
Patient C. A woman aged 49 years reported by her family to have hepatitis C was evacuated from New Orleans after a boat rescue. She visited an Arkansas hospital on September 4 with bullae, septic shock, and necrotaing fasciitis on her left leg, which was extensively debrided. The pathogen was isolated from her blood. As of September 12, she was being treated with antibiotics and remained in critical condition.
The following topics should be answered. Type the question and then your answer under the question.
1. Introduce your disease. Include other names, history, researchers who studied it.
2. The microorganism that causes the disease (scientific name where appropriate)
3. Is the causative agent bacterial, viral, protozoan, parasitic (helminthes), or a fungal disease?
4. Characteristics of the microorganism;
Shape; Genetic Material; Gram staining; add fast staining; endospore forming; nutrition requirements; environmental conditions (i.e. in which type of environment does the pathogen thrive (ie. oxygen, acid, salt) If your disease is caused by a virus for example, give an overview of its shape, nucleic acid etc.
5. How does the microorganism cause the disease? Elaborate on the disease. Which organ system is affected?
6. What are some of the symptoms of the disease? What would occur if there is worsening of symptoms?
7. What is the mode of transmission or source of the infection (how does a person become infected)?
8. How would you confirm the disease (serum, antibodies, diagnostic test etc? Be specific)?
9. What medical treatment is recommended and appropriatte?
10. What else must be determined about the disease or your particular case study if you choose; (particulars about the patient history, source of infection, reoccurrence, risk of exposure, etc)
11. Is this a nationally notifiable disease, or an emerging infectious disease?
12. What are some statistics of incidence and prevalence of this disease in certain areas of the world as reported by WHO? In the United States reported in MMWR by the CDC??
13. Any other information you might find appropriate for your particular disease such as a case study (find on cdc.gov) and/or up to date research.
14. The last page of your should include "Reference page" with resources cited.