Prostatitis Prostatitis, which is inflammation of the prostate gland, occurs in several forms. Acute prostatitis most often results from gram-negative bacteria and is easily recognized and treated. It is the…

Powassan Viral Disease The Powassan (POW) virus is a rare, tickborne encephalitis virus related to the flavivirus. This disease had its earliest origins in the town of Powassan, Ontario. The…

Poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis, also called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute communicable disease caused by the poliovirus, an enterovirus. It ranges in severity from inapparent infection to fatal paralytic illness….

Pneumonia Pneumonia is an acute infection of the lung parenchyma that often impairs gas exchange. Many types of organisms can cause pneumonia, including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoal, mycobacterial, mycoplasmal, or…

Pediculosis Contact Precautions Any human infestation of lice is known as pediculosis. Pediculosis can occur anywhere on the body. In the most common type, pediculosis capitis, lice feed on the…

Plague Droplet Precautions Plague, also known as black death, is an acute infection caused by the gram-negative, nonmotile, nonsporulating bacillus Yersinia pestis. Bubonic plague, the most common form, causes the…

Pharyngitis The most common throat disorder, pharyngitis is an acute or chronic inflammation of the pharynx. It’s widespread among adults who live or work in dusty or dry environments, use…

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an umbrella term that refers to any acute, subacute, recurrent, or chronic infection of the oviducts and ovaries, with adjacent tissue involvement….

Paratyphoid Fever Contact Precautions Transmitted by the fecal-oral route, typhoid and paratyphoid fever are bacterial infections of the intestinal tract and bloodstream. Affected patients usually experience mild fever, malaise, anorexia,…