Approach to the Critical Patient

Immediate priorities

Airway and breathing threats

Circulation and septic shock threats

Infection control and public health

Monitoring and targets

Continuous monitoring bundle

Escalation triggers

Immediate consults

Mandatory consultation triggers

History

Epidemiologic exposure

Travel and contact history

Symptom characterization

Respiratory symptoms

Constitutional and GI symptoms

Alarm features

Red flag symptoms requiring urgent evaluation

Risk factors

High-risk host characteristics

Physical Exam

Vital signs

Hemodynamic and oxygenation assessment

Respiratory examination

Lung auscultation

Neurologic examination

Neurologic findings

Abdominal examination

Abdominal assessment

Differential Diagnosis

Viral respiratory infections

High-priority viral mimics

Bacterial pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia mimics

Sepsis and multiorgan failure

Sepsis from alternative sources

Laboratory Tests

Diagnostic confirmation

RT-PCR testing strategy

Hematologic studies

Complete blood count interpretation

Metabolic and organ function

Comprehensive metabolic panel

Inflammatory and prognostic markers

Coagulation and gas exchange

Microbiologic co-infection workup

Bacterial co-infection evaluation

Diagnostic Tests

Scoring Systems

Severity and prognostic scoring

MRI

MRI in MERS-CoV

CT

CT chest protocol and findings

Ultrasound

Point-of-care ultrasound applications

Disposition

Admission criteria

Indications for hospital admission

ICU criteria

Indications for direct ICU admission

Discharge criteria

Safe discharge requirements

Transfer criteria

Transfer indications

Treatment

Infection control measures

Mandatory isolation precautions

Respiratory support

Oxygen supplementation strategy

Mechanical ventilation protocol

Antiviral and investigational therapies

No approved specific antiviral therapy for MERS-CoV

Interferon beta-1b plus lopinavir-ritonavir

Ribavirin plus interferon alfa-2a

Remdesivir

Supportive care

Empirical antibiotics for co-infection

Vasopressor therapy

Renal replacement therapy

Fever and symptomatic management

Antipyretics

Special Populations

Pregnancy

MERS-CoV in pregnancy

Geriatric

MERS-CoV in elderly patients

Pediatrics

MERS-CoV in children

Background

Epidemiology

Global burden and distribution

Transmission dynamics

Pathophysiology

Viral biology and receptor binding

Organ injury mechanisms

Therapeutic Considerations

Evidence base for treatment decisions

Patient Discharge Instructions

copy discharge instructions

MERS-CoV home isolation instructions

References

Guidelines and key sources

Primary MERS-CoV clinical references

Antiviral trial references

Imaging and ICU references

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