Infections by Organ System
Cardiovascular
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Gastrointestinal (GI)
Genitourinary (GU)
Intra-Abdominal
Lower/Upper Respiratory
Skeletal (Bones & Joints)
Skin & Soft Tissue
Cardiovascular
Endocarditis Management
"Infective Endocarditis: Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy, and Management of Complications" (Endorsed by IDSA)
Circulation 2005; 111:e394-e434
Despite advances in medical, surgical, and critical care interventions, infective endocarditis remains a disease that is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The continuing evolution of antimicrobial resistance among common pathogens that cause infective endocarditis creates additional therapeutic issues for physicians to manage in this potentially life-threatening illness.
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Endocarditis Prevention
"Prevention of Infective Endocarditis" (Endorsed by IDSA)
Circulation 2007; 116: 1736-1754
Infective endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon but life-threatening infection. Despite advances in diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, surgical techniques, and management of complications, patients with IE still have high morbidity and mortality rates related to this condition. Since the last American Heart Association (AHA) publication on prevention of IE in 1997, many authorities and societies, as well as the conclusions of published studies, have questioned the efficacy of antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent IE in patients who undergo a dental, gastrointestinal (GI), or genitourinary (GU) tract procedure and have suggested that the AHA guidelines should be revised.
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Central Nervous System (CNS)
Bacterial Meningitis
"Practice Guidelines for the Management of Bacterial Meningitis"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2004; 39:1267–84
The objective of these practice guidelines is to provide clinicians with recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial meningitis. Patients with bacterial meningitis are usually treated by primary care and emergency medicine physicians at the time of initial presentation, often in consultation with infectious diseases specialists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. In contrast to many other infectious diseases, the antimicrobial therapy for bacterial meningitis is not always based on randomized, prospective, double-blind clinical trials, but rather on data initially obtained from experimental animal models of infections. more »
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Encephalitis
"The Management of Encephalitis: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008;47:303–327
Encephalitis is defined by the presence of an inflammatory process of the brain in association with clinical evidence of neurologic dysfunction. Of the pathogens reported to cause encephalitis, the majority are viruses. However, despite extensive testing, the etiology of encephalitis remains unknown in most patients. Another major challenge for patients with encephalitis is to determine the relevance of an infectious agent identified outside of the CNS; these agents may play a role in the neurologic manifestations of illness but not necessarily by directly invading the CNS. more »
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Gastrointestinal (GI)
Clostridium difficile
"Clinical Practice Guidelines for Clostridium difficile Infection in Adults: 2010 Update by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)".jpg?n=1977 "New")
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology 2010; 31:431-455
This guideline is designed to improve the diagnosis and management of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in adult patients. A case of CDI is defined by the presence of symptoms (usually diarrhea) and either a stool test positive for C. difficile toxins or toxigenic C. difficile, or colonoscopic or histopathologic findings revealing pseudomembranous colitis. In addition to diagnosis and management, recommended methods of infection control and environmental management of the pathogen are presented. The recommendations are based on the best available evidence and practices, as determined by a joint Expert Panel appointed by SHEA and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) (the SHEA-IDSA Expert Panel). The use of these guidelines can be impacted by the size of the institution and the resources, both financial and laboratory, available in the particular clinical setting. more »
C. difficile 1995 Guideline (PDF)
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Diarrhea
"Practice Guidelines for the Management of Infectious Diarrhea"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2001; 32:331–50
The widening array of recognized enteric pathogens and the increasing demand for cost-containment sharpen the need for careful clinical and public health guidelines based on the best evidence currently available. Adequate fluid and electrolyte replacement and maintenance are key to managing diarrheal illnesses. Thorough clinical and epidemiological evaluation must define the severity and type of illness, exposures, and whether the patient is immunocompromised, in order to direct the performance of selective diagnostic cultures, toxin testing, parasite studies, and the administration of antimicrobial therapy. more »
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Hepatitis B
"Chronic Hepatitis B" (Endorsed by IDSA)
HEPATOLOGY 2009; 50: 1-36
These guidelines have been written to assist physicians and other health care providers in the recognition, diagnosis, and management of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). These recommendations provide a data-supported approach to patients with hepatitis B. more>>
Hepatitis B 2007 Guideline (PDF)
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Hepatitis C
"Diagnosis, Management and Treatment of Hepatitis C" (Endorsed by IDSA)
HEPATOLOGY 2009; 49: 1335-74
Intended for use by physicians, these recommendations suggest preferred approaches to the diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive aspects of care. They are intended to be flexible, in contrast to standards of care, which are inflexible policies to be followed in every case. Specific recommendations are based on relevant published information. To more fully characterize the quality of evidence supporting recommendations, the Practice Guidelines Committee of the AASLD requires a Class (reflecting benefit versus risk) and Level (assessing strength or certainty) of Evidence to be assigned and reported with each recommendation (Table 1, adapted from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart association Practice Guidelines). more »
Hepatitis C Guideline 2004
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Genitourinary (GU)
Asymptomatic Bacteriuria
"Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Adults"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2005; 40: 643–54
The purpose of this guideline is to provide recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in adult populations >18 years of age. The recommendations were developed on the basis of a review of published evidence, with the strength of the recommendation and quality of the evidence graded using previously described Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) criteria. more »
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Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
"Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection in Adults: 2009 International Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2010; 50:625-663
Guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of persons with catheter‐associated urinary tract infection (CA‐UTI), both symptomatic and asymptomatic, were prepared by an Expert Panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The evidence‐based guidelines encompass diagnostic criteria, strategies to reduce the risk of CA‐UTIs, strategies that have not been found to reduce the incidence of urinary infections, and management strategies for patients with catheter‐associated asymptomatic bacteriuria or symptomatic urinary tract infection. more »
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Cystitis-Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
"Guidelines for Antimicrobial Treatment of Uncomplicated Acute Bacterial Cystitis and Acute Pyelonephritis in Women"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 1999; 29:745–58
Symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common of bacterial infections. Their magnitude can be judged either by visits to physicians, estimated as high as 8,000,000 per year in the United States (mostly for cystitis), or by admission to hospitals, estimated at 100,000 per year (mostly for acute pyelonephritis). A variety of antimicrobial regimens comprising different drugs, doses, schedules, and durations have been used to treat UTIs. Thus, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) convened a committee to systematically review this topic and develop guidelines for the antimicrobial treatment of acute uncomplicated bacterial cystitis and acute pyelonephritis in women. more »
*Projected Publication, Fall 2010
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Intra-Abdominal
Intra-abdominal Infections
"Guidelines for the Selection of Anti-infective Agents for Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2010, 50: 133–164
Evidence‐based guidelines for managing patients with intra‐abdominal infection were prepared by an Expert Panel of the Surgical Infection Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. These updated guidelines replace those previously published in 2002 and 2003. The guidelines are intended for treating patients who either have these infections or may be at risk for them. New information, based on publications from the period 2003–2008, is incorporated into this guideline document. The panel has also added recommendations for managing intra‐abdominal infection in children, particularly where such management differs from that of adults; for appendicitis in patients of all ages; and for necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates. more »
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Intra Abdominal Infections Guideline 2003 (PDF)
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Lower/Upper Respiratory
Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP)
"Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Adults: Guidelines for Management"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2007;44:S27–S72
Improving the care of adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has been the focus of many different organizations, and several have developed guidelines for management of CAP. Two of the most widely referenced are those of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS). In response to confusion regarding differences between their respective guidelines, the IDSA and the ATS convened a joint committee to develop a unified CAP guideline document. more »
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Recap - CAP Protocol Development Wizard | CAP 2003 Guideline (PDF) | CAP 2000 Guideline (PDF) | CAP 1998 Guideline (PDF)
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Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)
"Guidelines for the Management of Adults with Hospital-acquired, Ventilator-associated, and Healthcare-associated Pneumonia"
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2005; 171:388–416
Since the initial 1996 American Thoracic Society (ATS) guideline on nosocomial pneumonia, a number of new developments have appeared, mandating a new evidence-based guideline for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), including healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This document, prepared by a joint committee of the ATS and Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), focuses on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of bacterial pneumonia in adults, and emphasizes modifiable risk factors for infection.
*Projected Publication, Winter 2011
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Rhinosinusitis
"Practice Guidelines for Acute & Chronic Rhinosinusitis"
*Projected Publication, Winter 2011
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Streptococcal Pharyngitis
"Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2002; 35:113–25
This statement is an update of the practice guideline published in 1997 and takes into account relevant research published since that time. A major substantive change is the acceptance of negative results of rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) for exclusion of acute streptococcal pharyngitis, without the previously mandated confirmation with a negative culture result. more »
*Projected Publication, Spring 2011
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Skeletal (Bones/Joints)
Prosthetic Joint Infections
*Projected Publication, Winter 2011
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Vertebral Osteomyelitis
"IDSA Clinical Practice Guidelines for The Diagnosis and Management of Vertebral Osteomyelitis"
*Projected Publication, Summer 2011
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Skin & Soft Tissue
Diabetic Foot Infections
"Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Infections"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2004; 39:885–910
Foot infections in persons with diabetes are a common, complex, and costly problem. In addition to causing severe morbidities, they now account for the largest number of diabetes-related hospital bed–days and are the most common proximate, nontraumatic cause of amputations. Diabetic foot infections require careful attention and coordinated management, preferably by a multi-disciplinary foot-care team... Optimal management of diabetic foot infections can potentially reduce the incidence of infection-related morbidities, the need for and duration of hospitalization, and the incidence of major limb amputation. more »
*Projected Publication, Winter 2011
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Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
"Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft‐Tissue Infections"
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2005; 41:1373–406
Soft-tissue infections are common, generally of mild to modest severity, and are easily treated with a variety of agents... Clinical assessment of the severity of infection is crucial, and several classification schemes and algorithms have been proposed to guide the clinician. However, most clinical assessments have been developed from either retrospective studies or from an author's own “clinical experience,” illustrating the need for prospective studies with defined measurements of severity coupled to management issues and outcomes. more »
*Projected Publication, Winter 2011
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