ABSTRACT
Infectious Diseases Em ergency physicians (EPs) are frequently confronted by a wide array o f infec
tions, from trivial upper respiratory viral infections to life threatening necrotizing soft tissue infections. Em ergency departm ent (E D ) patients are also diverse, ranging from septic neonates to febrile travelers from foreign countries. Potentially life-threatening infections m ust be identified early and appropriate antimicrobial therapy initiated promptly. T h is section reviews specific infectious diseases issues in the E D . Certain individual diseases are covered in detail in other chapters.
