Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Abstract

An understanding of infectious diseases and immunology has a substantial role in the practice of critical care medicine, most commonly seen in sepsis or postoperative care. Infectious diseases are not a subject heavily emphasized in core anesthesiology training (the other being nutrition). In many instances, the intricate details of immunologic management are frequently relegated to consulting subspecialists by the average practicing intensivist. Familiarity with the content of this chapter allows an intensivist to demonstrate detailed knowledge of the management of patients with this pathology and of organ transplant recipients. This chapter has an additional emphasis on clinically challenging concepts that likely prepare the reader for practice as well as abstruse questions that could be present on the examination.