Respiratory Infections

Part 1 Pathogenesis of pneumonia: host defenses- overview of the system and discussion of cellular factors, includes specific pathogens especially fungus, mycobacteria; non-specific host defences - cough, mucociliary clearance, etc.; host defences - humoral immune system; pathogenesis of airway colonisation; host impairments with AIDS; nutrition and respiratory infection. Part 2 Clinical approach to upper and lower respiratory tract infection - the approach in specific populations: upper respiratory infections, middle ear infections and sinus infection - adults and children; bronchitis and acute febrile tracheobronchitis; infants and pre-school children; nosocomial pneumonia in children; out-patients with community acquired pneumonia; nosocomial pneumonia - outside the ICU - incl. COPD, heart disease pt.; nosocomial pneumonia - mechanically ventilated and critically ill - ARDS; immuno-compromised patient (2 separate chapters); respiratory infections in HIV infected persons; mimics of pneumonia in HIV infected persons; surgical patient - trauma, burn, post-operative, including aspiration; elderly in the nursing home; economically disadvantaged, incl. homeless immigrants, prison; the patient with cystic fibrosis and respiratory infection; pneumonia complicated by pleural effusion - incl. empyema; non-resolving pneumonia and recurrent pneumonia - incl. mimics of pneumonia; bronchiectasis; lung abscess and other subacute pulmonary infections, including the prevention of aspiration. Part 3 Specific pathogens leading to pneumonia: pneumococcus; haemophilus influenza; legionella group of organisms; atypical pneumonia - incl. TWAR, C. Psittaci, M. Pneumoniae; anaerobic bacteria - lung abscess, empyema, aspiration; gram-negative bacteria (excluding pseudomonas); pseudomonas aeruginosa; other bacterial agents - group B strep, branhamella, etc; fungal infection - endemic mycoses; nocardia and actinomyces; zoonoses - tularemia, plague, anthrax; pneumocystis carinii; mycobacterium tuberculosis; mycobacteria other than tuberculosis; viruses and influenza A and B. Part 4 Diagnostic methods: an approach to diagnostic methods - which should be used and in what circumstances?; invasive diagnostic methods - bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage, transbronchial biopsy, protested specimen brush, open lung biopsy. Part 5 Therapy: antimicrobials; anti-fungal agents; inhaled antibiotics - nosocomial pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, HIV infection; adjunctive support measures - oxygen, hydration, chest PT, bronchscopy etc. Part 6 Prevention: infection control methods; selective contamination - European approach and prophylactic antibiotics; therapy and prevention of pneumonia with monoclonal antibodies; vaccines; preventive interventions for HIV infected persons; chronic bronchitis - role of antibiotics.