Approach to the Critical Patient

Immediate priorities

High-risk states and triggers

Source control and complications

Complication screen

Monitoring and escalation

Monitoring plan

History

Symptom profile and tempo

Timeline and pattern

Exposures and portals of entry

Portal of entry and exposures

Host factors and recurrence risks

Risk modifiers

Physical Exam

Local exam and mapping

Local findings

Severity and alternative diagnoses

Severity cues

Mimic screen

Regional and systemic exam

Regional findings

Systemic findings

Differential Diagnosis

Life-threatening and can’t-miss

High-acuity alternatives

Mimics and look-alikes

Noninfectious mimics

Etiology patterns by context

Pathogen and exposure patterns

Laboratory Tests

Core labs by severity

Lab selection framework

Cultures and microbiology

Culture strategy

Necrotizing infection adjuncts

Necrotizing infection supportive labs

Diagnostic Tests

Scoring Systems

Risk stratification tools

MRI

MRI use cases

CT

CT use cases

Ultrasound (or US)

Ultrasound roles

Disposition

Admission and level of care

Admission indications

Higher level of care triggers

Discharge criteria and follow-up

Outpatient criteria

Follow-up plan

Treatment

General management

Core principles

Oral antibiotics for outpatient

Nonpurulent, mild to moderate

Purulent or MRSA risk

IV antibiotics for inpatient or severe

Nonpurulent, moderate to severe

MRSA coverage when indicated

Necrotizing infection or polymicrobial risk

Broad-spectrum regimens

Adjuncts and supportive therapy

Symptom control

Edema management

Special Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy considerations

Geriatric

Older adult considerations

Pediatrics

Pediatric considerations

Background

Epidemiology

Disease burden and patterns

Pathophysiology

Mechanism overview

Therapeutic Considerations

Treatment rationale

Patient Discharge Instructions

copy discharge instructions

Discharge instructions

References

Clinical guidelines and evidence sources

Guideline sources

Decision support and reviews

SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.