title: Diagnosis and management of zoonoses - a tool for general practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Zoonotic infections such as Q fever, brucellosis and leptospirosis can lead to serious complications but pose diagnostic and management challenges to general practitioners (GPs) as patients often present with non-specific symptoms such as fever.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a tool to assist GPs in the diagnosis and management of common zoonotic infections
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An algorithm was developed with advice and comments from GPs, laboratory specialists and infectious disease specialists. Emphasis is placed on understanding patient risk factors, such as non-household contact with animals, excluding other possible causes of fever, such as influenza, and commencing empirical treatment as soon as a zoonotic infection is suspected. The algorithm is not exhaustive and GPs are urged to consult infectious disease specialists and medical microbiologists for further guidance if required.
authors.affiliation: BA (Hons), MSc Public Health, NSW Public Health Officer Training Program and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
authors.forename: Praveena
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gunaratnam
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eastwood
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Durrhein
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graves
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coote
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents