Endocarditis : Endocarditis is a serious inflammation of one of the four heart valves. Endocarditis is caused by a growth of bacteria on one of the heart valves, leading to an infected mass called a "vegetation". The infection may be introduced during brief periods of having bacteria in the bloodstream, such as after dental work, colonoscopy, and other similar procedures.
Drugs used - Cefazolin, penicillin, daptomycin, metronidazole, ceftazidime, gentamicin, tobramycin, cilastatin/imipenem
Tuberculosis : Definition:
It is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the bacterium mycobacterium tuberculae
Pathogenesis:
It is a chronic granulomatous infection caused mainly by the inhalation of tubercular bacilli. The bacilli enters the lungs and get deposited on the upper lobe of the lungs there it forms a primary complex. Once this complex is formed the disease spread through the lymphatic vessel to the adjacent organs or locally.
Drugs:
First line drugs: Isoniazid, Rifampicin, ethambutol and Pyrizanamide
Second line drugs: Aminoglycosides like Amikacin, kanamycin.
Polypeptides like capreomycin.
Fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin
Thioamides like ethionamide, prothionamide
Cycloserine
Para aminosalicylic acid
Third line drugs : Rifabutin
Macrolides like clarythromycin
Linezolid
Thioacetazone
Vitamin D
Thioridazine
Plague : Plague is a severe and potentially deadly bacterial infection. Plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis. Rodents, such as rats, carry the disease. It is spread by their fleas.
People can get the plague when they are bitten by a flea that carries the plague bacteria from an infected rodent. In rare cases, you may get the disease when handling an infected animal.
A plague lung infection called pneumonic plague can spread from human to human. When someone with pneumonic plague coughs, tiny droplets carrying the bacteria move through the air. Anyone who breathes in these particles may catch the disease. An epidemic may be started this way.
There three most common forms of plague are:
• Bubonic plague -- an infection of the lymph nodes
• Pneumonic plague -- an infection of the lungs
• Septicemic plague -- an infection of the blood
The time between being infected and developing symptoms is typically 2 to 7 days, but may be as short as 1 day for pneumonic plague.
Symptoms
Bubonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, usually after 2 - 5 days of exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms include:
• Chills
• Fever
• General ill feeling (malaise)
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Seizures
• Smooth, painful lymph gland swelling called a bubo
o Commonly found in the groin, but may occur in the armpits or neck, most often at the site of the infection (bite or scratch)
o Pain may occur in the area before the swelling appears
Pneumonic plague symptoms appear suddenly, typically 2 - 3 days after exposure. They include:
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Fever
• Frothy, bloody sputum
• Pain in the chest when you breathe deeply
• Severe cough
Septicemic plague may cause death even before its symptoms occur. Symptoms can include:
• Abdominal pain
• Bleeding due to blood clotting problems
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
Treatment
People with the plague need immediate treatment. If treatment is not received within 24 hours of when the first symptoms occur, death may occur.
Antibiotics such as streptomycin, gentamicin, doxycycline, or ciprofloxacin are used to treat plague. Oxygen,intravenous fluids, and respiratory support usually are also needed.
Patients with pneumonic plague should be strictly isolated from caregivers and other patients. People who have had contact with anyone infected by pneumonic plague should be watched carefully and given antibiotics as a preventive measure.