Improving Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases
Author Information
Author(s): Bradley A. Perkins, David Relman
Primary Institution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
Can advancements in diagnostic technology improve our understanding of unexplained critical illnesses caused by infectious diseases?
Conclusion
The study highlights the need for better diagnostic technologies to identify causative agents in cases of unexplained critical illnesses.
Supporting Evidence
- The number of unexplained critical illnesses due to infectious causes is substantial.
- Only a small fraction of patients with unexplained critical illnesses have a probable causative agent identified.
- Community-acquired pneumonia cases often do not have a causative agent identified.
Takeaway
Doctors want to find out why some people get really sick from infections, and they think better tests can help them figure it out.
Methodology
The study involved examining patterns of tissue injury and using advanced diagnostic techniques to identify infectious agents.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in diagnostic practices due to outsourcing and decreased emphasis on standard microbiology.
Limitations
The study does not provide specific limitations.
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