MMIC: Case Study 1

A 85-year-old male was found to be staying alone in a one-room flat. It is found that his mattress was soiled with human excreta and urine. The premise is infested with cockroaches, fleas and rats. It is known to the nieghbours that the elderly man has the habit of feeding stray dogs and cats in the neighbourhood.

The elderly man was referred to a nursing home and is presented with high fever, rash and general weakness.

How would you approach this situation in order to provide the final diagonosis of the suspected microorganisms?

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Potential diseases:

1. Cat Scratch Disease
Medline Plus. (2005). Cat scratch disease. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://medlineplus.gov/ > Medical Encyclopedia > C-Cg > Cat scratch disease

Information on the definition, causes, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, signs and tests, treatment of Cat Scratch Disease.

2. Lyme Disease
Mayo Clinic. (2007). Lyme Disease. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/ > Search: Lyme Disease > Lyme Disease

Information on the introduction, signs & symptoms, causes, risk factors, when to seek medical help, screening and diagnosis, treatment and prevention of Lyme Disease

3. Rat-bite Fever
Medline Plus. (2005). Rat-bite Fever. Retrieved May 7, 2007, from www.medlineplus.gov > Medical Encyclopedia > R > Rat-bite Fever

Information on the definition, causes, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, signs and tests, treatment of rat-bite fever.

4. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Medline Plus. (2005). Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://medlineplus.gov/ > Medical Encyclopedia > R > Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Information on the definition, causes, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, signs and tests, treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

5. Toxoplasmosis
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2004). Toxoplasmosis. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/index.htm > Search: Toxoplasmosis > Toxoplasmosis: Index | CDC Parasitic Diseases > Fact Sheet: Toxoplasmosis

Information on the definition, incidences, symptoms, who are the people at risk, what to do if at risk of severe toxoplasmosis or contracting toxoplasmosis, prevention, treatment, will infected cats be able to remain at home and will they always spread the disease to people.

6. Typhoid Fever
Medline Plus. (2005). Typhoid Fever. Retrieved May 9, 2007, from www.medlineplus.gov > Medical Encyclopedia > To-Tz > Typhoid Fever

Information on the definition, causes, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, signs and tests, treatment of typhoid fever.

7. Typhus
Medline Plus. (2005). Typhus. Retrieved May 8, 2007, from www.medlineplus.gov > Medical Encyclopedia > To-Tz > Typhus

Information on the definition, causes, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, signs and tests, treatment of typhus.

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