Diagnosis of infectious disease is nearly always initiated by medical history and physical examination. More detailed identification techniques involve the culture of infectious agents isolated from a patient. Culture allows identification of infectious organisms by examining their microscopic features, by detecting the presence of substances produced by pathogens, and by directly identifying an organism by its genotype. Other techniques (such as X-rays, CAT scans, PET scans or NMR) are used to produce images of internal abnormalities resulting from the growth of an infectious agent. The images are useful in detection of, for example, a bone abscess or a spongiform encephalopathy produced by a prion. COUNT 5
QSN1 How is diagnosis of infectious disease almost always initiated? ANS1 by medical history and physical examination QSN2 What does taking a culture of an infectious agent isolated from a patient allow? ANS2 detailed identification QSN3 What features of an infectious organism does a culture allow examining? ANS3 microscopic features QSN4 What can organisms be directly identified by? ANS4 its genotype QSN5 What technique can be used to produce images of internal abnormalities? ANS5 X-rays, CAT scans, PET scans or NMR