[Guidelines of initial diagnostic procedures for bacterial infectious disease].
The practice of the initial diagnostic procedures for infectious disease in febrile patients is important. The rational screening steps to the correct diagnosis of infections are: 1) thorough history taking and physical examination (identification of the organs affected), 2) simpler essential laboratory tests such as white blood cell count, microscopy of blood smear, determination of C-reactive protein, electrocardiography and chest x-ray film (confirmation of infection), 3) direct or indirect demonstration of pathogenic organisms by stain-enhanced microscopy and culture of specific specimens (identification of etiologic organisms). Extensive culture and serologic testing on febrile patients for identification of organisms depend on individual basis. Indeed, medical care is a team effort with collaboration of doctors, nurses and technologists. More importantly the doctor in charge is fully responsible for interrogation and examination of the patients, interpretation of laboratory results, diagnoses and treatments.
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University School of Medicine.
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M
Arakawa
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination