Common cold (Rhinitis)
Causative organism: Approximately 200 viruses (rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and coronaviruses)
Mode of Transmission: Indirect contact, droplet contact
Virulence factors: Attachment proteins; most symptoms induced by host response
Culture/Diagnosis: Not necessary
Prevention: Hygiene practices
Treatment: For symptoms only
Sinusitis (virus)
Causative organism: Viruses
Mode of Transmission: Direct contact, indirect contact
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture not usually performed; diagnosis based on clinical presentation
Prevention:Hygiene
Treatment: None
Sinusitis (bacteria)
Causative organism: Various bacteria, often mixed
infection
Mode of Transmission: Endogenous (opportunism)
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture not usually performed;
diagnosis
based on clinical presentation, occasionally X-rays or other imaging
technique used
Prevention: N/A
Treatment: Recommendation is for no antibiotics unless it remains unresolved for some weeks
Sinusitis (fungi)
Causative organism: Various fungi
Mode of Transmission: introduction by trauma or
opportunistic overgrowth
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture not usually performed;
diagnosis
based on clinical presentation
Prevention: N/A
Treatment: Physical removal of fungus; in severe cases, antifungals used
Otis Media (Streptococcus)
Causative organism: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mode of Transmission: Endogenous (may follow upper
respiratory
tract infection by S. pneumoniae or other microorganisms)
Virulence factors: Capsule, hemolysin
Culture/Diagnosis: Usually relies on clinical symptoms
and
failure to resolve within 72 hr
Prevention: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13)
Treatment: Wait for resolution; if needed, amoxicillin (high rates of resistance) or amoxicillin + clavulanate or cefuroxime; antibiotic usage recommended for babies less than 6 months old
Otis Media (Candida)
Causative organism: Candida auris
Mode of Transmission: Not known
Virulence factors: Biofilm formation
Culture/Diagnosis: MALDI-TOF or PCR; CDC will identify if requested
Prevention: None
Treatment: Consult with CDC; in Urgent Category in CDC Antibiotic Resistance Report
Pharyngitis (Streptococcus)
Causative organism: Streptococcus pyogenes
Mode of Transmission: Droplet or direct contact
Virulence factors: LTA, M protein, hyaluronic acid capsule, SLS and SLO, superantigens, induction of autoimmunity
Culture/Diagnosis: Beta-hemolytic on blood agar, sensitive to bacitracin, rapid antigen tests
Prevention: Hygiene practices
Treatment: Penicillin, cephalexin in penicillin-allergic
Pharyngitis (Fusobacterium)
Causative organism: Fusobacterium necrophorum
Mode of Transmission: Usually endogenous
Virulence factors: Invasiveness, endotoxin
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture anaerobically; CT scan for
abscess(es)
Prevention: ?
Treatment: Penicillin
Pharyngitis (virus)
Causative organism: Viruses
Mode of Transmission: All forms of contact
Virulence factors: N/A
Culture/Diagnosis: Goal is to rule out S. pyogenes
(and F.
necrophorum); further diagnosis usually not
performed
Prevention: Hygiene practices
Treatment: Symptom relief only
Pertussis (Whopping Cough)
Causative organism: Bordetella pertussis
Mode of Transmission: Droplet contact
Virulence factors: FHA (adhesion), pertussis toxin and tracheal cytotoxin, endotoxin
Culture/Diagnosis: PCR or growth on B-G, charcoal, or potato-glycerol agar; diagnosis can be made on symptoms
Prevention: Acellular vaccine (DTaP), azithromycin for contacts
Treatment: Azithromycin; drug-resistant B. pertussis is
a
concerning threat on the CDC’s list of antibiotic resistance threats
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Causative organism: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Mode of Transmission: Droplet and indirect contact
Virulence factors: Syncytia formation
Culture/Diagnosis: RT-PCR
Prevention: Passive antibody (humanized monoclonal) in high-risk children
Treatment: Ribavirin plus passive antibody in severe cases
Influenza
Causative organism: Influenza A, B, and C viruses
Mode of Transmission: Droplet contact, direct contact, or indirect contact
Virulence factors: Glycoprotein spikes, antigenic drift and shift
Culture/Diagnosis: Gold standard is RT-PCR tests
Prevention: A variety of vaccines are available and should
be
received annually
Treatment: Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), baloxavir (Xofluza)
Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium)
Causative organism: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mode of Transmission: Vehicle (airborne)
Virulence factors: Lipids in wall, ability to stimulate
strong
cell-mediated immunity (CMI)
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture, PCR test (Xpert®),
IGRA,
complemented by skin test and chest X-ray
Prevention: Avoiding airborne M. tuberculosis; BCG
vaccine in
other countries
Treatment: Isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide +
ethambutol
or streptomycin for varying lengths of time (always lengthy)
Tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
Causative organism: MDR-TB and XDR-TB
Mode of Transmission: Vehicle (airborne)
Virulence factors: Lipids in wall, ability to stimulate strong cell-mediated immunity (CMI)
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture, PCR test (Xpert®),
IGRA,
complemented by skin test and chest X-ray
Prevention: Avoiding airborne M. tuberculosis; BCG
vaccine in
other countries
Treatment: Multiple-drug regimen, which may include
pretomanid,
bedaquiline; and linezolid; in Serious Threat category in CDC
Antibiotic Resistance Report
Community-acquired pneumonia (rhinovirus)
Causative organism: Rhinoviruses
Mode of Transmission: Droplet contact or endogenous
transfer
Virulence factors: N/A
Culture/Diagnosis: Failure to find bacteria or fungi
Prevention: Hygiene
Treatment: None
Community-acquired pneumonia (Streptococcus)
Causative organism: Streptococcus pneumoniae
Mode of Transmission: Droplet contact or endogenous
transfer
Virulence factors: Capsule
Culture/Diagnosis: Gram stain often diagnostic, alpha-hemolytic on blood agar
Prevention: PCV-13 or PPSV23 vaccine
Treatment: Doxycycline, ceftriaxone, with or without vancomycin; much resistance
Community-acquired pneumonia (Mycoplasma)
Causative organism: Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Mode of Transmission: Droplet contact
Virulence factors: Adhesins
Culture/Diagnosis: Rule out other etiologic agents; serology; PCR
Prevention: No vaccine, no permanent immunity
Treatment: Erythromycin
Community-acquired pneumonia (Legionella)
Causative organism: Legionella species
Mode of Transmission: Vehicle (water droplets)
Virulence factors: N/A
Culture/Diagnosis: Urine antigen test; culture requires selective charcoal yeast extract agar
Prevention: N/A
Treatment: Fluoroquinolone, azithromycin, clarithromycin
Community-acquired pneumonia (Histoplasma)
Causative organism: Histoplasma capsulatum
Mode of Transmission: Vehicle (inhalation of fungal
spores in
contaminated soil)
Virulence factors: Survival in phagocytes
Culture/Diagnosis: Rapid antigen tests, microscopy
Prevention: Avoid soil contaminated with
bird and bat droppings
Treatment: Itraconazole
Community-acquired pneumonia (Pneumocystis)
Causative organism: Pneumocystis jirovecii
Mode of Transmission: Vehicle (inhalation of fungal spores)
Virulence factors: N/A
Culture/Diagnosis: Microscopy
Prevention: Antibiotics given to AIDS patients to prevent this
Treatment: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
Health-care associated pneumonia
Causative organism: Gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria from upper respiratory tract or stomach; environmental contamination of ventilator
Mode of Transmission: Endogenous (aspiration)
Virulence factors: N/A
Culture/Diagnosis: Culture of lung fluids
Prevention: Elevating patient’s head, preoperative education, care of respiratory equipment
Treatment: Varies by etiology
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Disease
Causative organism: Hantavirus
Mode of Transmission: Vehicle—airborne virus emitted from rodents
Virulence factors: Ability to induce inflammatory response
Culture/Diagnosis: Serology (IgM), PCR identification of antigen in tissue
Prevention: Avoid mouse habitats and droppings
Treatment: Supportive