Browse categories and answer follow-up questions to refine your symptom profile.
Immediate priorities
Time critical stabilization
Airway compromise
Altered mental status with loss of protective reflexes
Severe sepsis with impending respiratory failure
Shock physiology
MAP target 65 mm Hg
Lactate trending for perfusion
Sepsis bundle triggers
Suspected infection with hypotension after fluids
Lactate 4 mmol/L or higher
Limb threat triggers
Acute compartment syndrome concern
Critical limb ischemia concern
Spine threat triggers
New focal weakness
Bowel or bladder dysfunction
Early consultation and activation
Orthopedics consultation triggers
Suspected acute hematogenous osteomyelitis with abscess
Failure of outpatient therapy
Neurosurgery consultation triggers
Suspected vertebral osteomyelitis with neurologic deficit
Suspected spinal epidural abscess
Infectious diseases consultation triggers
Bacteremia
Prosthetic material involvement
Vascular surgery consultation triggers
Diabetic foot infection with ischemia
Suspected necrotizing infection
Antibiotics timing decision
Culture before antibiotics pathway
Hemodynamic stability
No neurologic compromise
Planned image guided bone biopsy within 24 to 48 hours
Immediate antibiotics pathway
Sepsis or septic shock
Rapidly progressive soft tissue infection
Neurologic deficit
Initial diagnostics bundle
Blood cultures
Two sets before antibiotics when feasible
Repeat cultures for persistent bacteremia concern
Baseline inflammatory markers
CRP for trend
ESR for supportive evidence
Early imaging pathway selection
Radiographs for baseline and alternate diagnoses
MRI for extent and abscess
Key concepts
Conceptual framework
Infection pathways
Hematogenous seeding
Contiguous spread from soft tissue
Direct inoculation from trauma or surgery
High risk phenotypes
Vertebral osteomyelitis
Diabetic foot osteomyelitis
Core management pillars
Microbiologic diagnosis
Source control
Prolonged targeted antimicrobial therapy
PITFALLS
Common errors
Normal early radiograph interpreted as exclusion
Radiographic changes often delayed 10 to 14 days
MRI preferred for early disease
Antibiotics started before cultures in stable patient
Reduced culture yield from bone biopsy
Prefer cultures first when safe
Vertebral infection missed as mechanical back pain
Fever often absent
Elevated ESR or CRP supports infection
Diabetic foot osteomyelitis missed
Neuropathy masking pain
Probe to bone positive increases likelihood
SymptomDx is an educational tool for medical professionals. It does not replace clinical judgment. Verify all clinical data and drug dosages with authoritative sources.