RT Book, Section
A1 Palavecino, Elizabeth L.
A2 Kline, Mark W.
SR Print(0)
ID 1182933610
T1 Diagnostic Approaches for Infectious Diseases
T2 Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e
YR 2018
FD 2018
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259588594
LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182933610
RD 2024/04/24
AB Although  not  all  infectious  diseases  require  diagnostic  laboratory  testing,  clinicians  often  rely  on  laboratory  tests  to  help  identify  a  causative  agent,  select  an  appropriate  antimicrobial  agent,  and/or  assess  response  to  therapy.  Children  are  more  susceptible  than  adults  to  certain  infections  such  as  viral  respiratory  infections,  streptococcal  pharyngitis,  and  otitis  media.  The  variety  of  potential  pathogens  and  difficulties  in  collection  of  specimens  create  diagnostic  challenges  that  are  specific  to  children.  Ordering  the  right  test  at  the  right  time  is  paramount  for  laboratory  diagnosis  of  infectious  diseases  and  for  preventing  false-positive  and  false-negative  results.  Therefore,  it  is  important  that  clinicians  have  a  basic  understanding  of  diagnostic  microbiology  so  that  they  collect  the  optimal  specimen  and  order  the  most  appropriate  test  for  diagnosing  and  selecting  the  most  appropriate  therapy  for  the  infectious  process.