Clinical meaning
Labs and Diagnostics involves host-pathogen interaction, immune response, and tissue-specific infectious pathology related to labs and diagnostics.
Diagnosis & workup
Diagnostics & workup: - Wound/tissue/fluid cultures with Gram stain - Procalcitonin for bacterial infection likelihood - Urinalysis with urine culture and sensitivity - CBC with differential (left shift, leukocytosis, lymphopenia) - Lactate level for sepsis severity (>2 mmol/L concerning) - Lumbar puncture for CNS infection (meningitis, encephalitis) - Sensitivity testing for targeted antimicrobial therapy
Risk factors: - Age extremes (<2 and >65 years with immature/declining immunity) - Indwelling medical devices (central lines, urinary catheters, prosthetic joints) - Malnutrition with impaired immune cell production - Diabetes mellitus with impaired neutrophil function - Prolonged hospitalization (>48h increases nosocomial infection risk) - Crowded living conditions (TB, meningococcal disease) - Recent travel to endemic areas (malaria, dengue, typhoid)