USF Health’s IDPodcasts

Dr. Nguyen examines the complex problem of the addiction crisis, a major cause of morbidity and death in much of the US, and especially in the state of Florida. He first discusses the epidemiology of addictive disorders and the US states where these patients are more likely to be found. He then discusses specific addiction-related medical syndromes, including acute eosinophilic pneumonia, crack co...

Dr. Oehler discusses three fascinating patients from his archives involving cases that were good enough to publish in medical journals. He first discusses a 59 year old patient with a fever, headache, and a lytic bone infection. He next reviews a 49 year old homeless man with an aquatic cellulitis and an unusual bacteremia. Lastly, he shares the history on a 50 year old patient with acute graft th...

Dr. Lopez-Perez examines the infectious diseases syndromes that via bioterrorism and natural outbreaks could be responsible for “end of the world” scenarios. He initially focuses on agents of bioterrorism, including Anthrax, Smallpox, Plague, Tularemia and Botulism. He then goes on to discuss the threat posed by pandemic influenza. He also touches upon the possibility of genetically en...

Dr. Kraitman reviews the chronology of cancer treatment history, beginning with the dawn of cancer surgery and progressing through radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and ultimately, gene therapy. He then explains the basics of Chimeric Antigen Recepter T Cell therapy, a new state of the art therapy utilizing targeted T cells to destroy specific cancer cells. Dr. Kraitman then discusses potent...

Dr. Sabapathy reviews the epidemiology of tick-borne diseases. She discusses the common identification techniques for the various tick species. She compares and contrasts Lyme disease versus Southern Tick-associated Rash Illness (STARI). She also draws a distinction between Lyme and Borrellia myamotoi. Lastly, she discusses how climate change is increasing the prevalence and distribution of tick-a...

In this comprehensive review of breast feeding and breast milk by a physician and new mom, Dr. Asquith opens by discussing why breast feeding benefits both babies and their mothers. She relates the common reasons why some moms elect not to breast feed or stop breast feeding early. Dr. Asquith then shares data on the epidemiology of breast feeding by across the country. Next, she mentions the typic...

Dr. Klinkova reviews the general types of biologic agents available for patients today and their classification system. She focuses specifically on Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors. Dr. Klinkova extensively reviews their noninfectious and infectious adverse effects. Among the infectious complications, mycobacterial disease is among the most significant, and she reviews risk facto...

Dr. Garcia takes a close look at how large animal bites of can cause significant morbidity to human victims. She first reviews exposures due to large cats, including lions and tigers. She then discusses bites due to bears. Next, she discusses exposures due to reptiles, including venomous snakes. She emphasizes the knowledge and tools that infectious diseases specialists and patients need to know t...

Dr. Gllava reviews the value of the procalcitonin laboratory test as an inflammatory marker useful in making treatment decisions in infectious diseases patients. First, she introduces the idea of a biomarker: a laboratory assay that is useful in detecting inflammatory states. She then explains the advantages and disadvantages of procalcitonin as an ideal biomarker. Dr. Gllava goes on to describe t...

Dr. Moore Pardo’s comprehensive timeline of HIV and AIDS spans the last 40 years of the history of HIV infection. She covers the important decade of the 1980’s, when the epidemic was first recognized, the virus identified, and public awareness of the syndrome was heightened by the deaths of celebrities such as Rock Hudson. She then discusses drug development and the age of HAART in the...

Dr. Klinkova reviews CSF device-associated infections, an important potential source of morbidity for neurosurgical patients. She first discusses risk factors, and then transitions to discuss the pathogenesis and microbiology of shunt infections. Next, she reviews the typical clinical presentation of patients who present with the syndrome, and then discusses diagnostic pearls for identifying patie...

Dr. Jamie Morano reviews updated information regarding the current epidemiology, prevalence, pre-treatment assessment, and therapeutic options for the management of this common viral pathogen.  She begins by discussing current worldwide epidemiology.  She breaks down U.S. trends both regionally and state by state. She elaborates on the significance of specific genotypes in hepatitis treatment and...

Dr. Sandin provides a general overview of identification techniques for Mycobacterial organisms. He discusses and outlines classification systems for the Mycobacteria that are human pathogens. He then discusses laboratory stains that are useful in identifying Mycobacteria and reviews other diagnostic methods which have become essential to Mycobacterial species identification, including the various...

Dr. Oehler conducts a lively quiz session regarding infectious diseases historical figures and events dating from 600 BC to 1900. In this fast paced and humorous podcast, listeners are exposed to the accomplishments of infectious disease titans such as Hippocrates, Anton Van Leewenhoek, Ignaz Semmelweis, and John Snow. After listening to this podcast, participants will have a much broader sense of...

Dr. Jamie Morano reviews sexually transmitted infections among MSMs (men who have sex with men). She discusses current sexually transmitted infection screening, testing, and treatment guidelines for the group. The use of preexposure prophylaxis for MSMs is also introduced, and includes information on eligibility and an implementation strategy for patients. Lastly, Dr. Morano touches upon HIV scree...

Dr. Jamie Morano reviews HIV infection. She starts out by presenting up to date statistics about the current epidemiology of HIV infection across the US and Florida. She then goes on to discuss the HIV life cycle, and how various antiretroviral treatments appear to interact with the virus at different points of the viral reproductive process. HIV resistance mechanisms are also addressed. Lastly, s...

Dr. Baluch reviews the topic of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in individuals who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCST). The author begins by reviewing risk factors for IFIs. She then discusses what constitutes an IFI. She differentiates infections caused by yeasts versus those due to molds, and discusses the assessment and management of invasive candida disease. Next, Dr. Balu...

Dr. Ward reviews basic concepts about antimicrobial drug interactions. She begins by discussing the basic classification scheme, and then moves on to discuss several commonly recognized adverse drug interactions, as well as some that are commonly forgotten. She also reviews the topic of QT drug prolongation, the interaction between daptomycin and statins, as well as the most relevant azole interac...

Dr. Chugtai reviews the family of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. He starts out by discussing transmission factors and major common symptoms for the class of disorders. He then covers the Bunyaviridae, including Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Rift Valley Fever. Dr. Chugtai then mentions the hemorrhagic fevers, including Ebola and Marburg viruses. Other hemorrhagic fevers dicussed includes Nipah virus...

In this updated talk, Dr. Oehler discusses the assessment and management of infections of central catheters. Dr. Oehler begins his talk by covering the epidemiology of central line infections, including the most common organisms involved, and covers the different types of intravascular devices. He then discusses the mechanisms by which central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI’s...

Dr. Kraitman reviews the management and treatment of infections occurring in the pregnant female. He initially reviews medication pregnancy risk categories, and then through interactive case review, goes over several examples where antimicrobial agents are used that are contraindicated in pregnancy. He reviews interactions relevant to HIV/AIDS, AIDS associated opportunistic infections, Tuberculosi...

The relationship between genetics and infectious diseases is explored. Dr. Akoghlanian also discusses the immune system’s innate and adaptive components, and presents pathogen-host interactions at different levels of the immune system. Lastly, the major types of iatrogenic, acquired, and genetic immune deficiencies are presented, including IgA deficiency, Common variable immhunodeficiency, t...

Dr. Lakshmi discusses the infectious evaluation of burn patients. She relates the common sources of fever, the principles of burn management, and both common and uncommon infections in the burn victim. Lastly, she mentions other infectious conditions not directly related to the burn exposure that must also be considered.

Dr. Addisu looks at inflammation, and how it can be used as a marker of certain physiologic processes such as infection. He then differentiates the different types of acute phase reactants that are well-described markers of inflammation. He focuses upon the two most widely used markers, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the C-reactive protein, and compares and contrasts the two. Next, h...

In the midst of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus pandemic, the concept of “zoonotic” infections–and how previously unknown diseases can transfer from the animal kingdom to humans–is facing more attention than ever.  In this spirit, we present this encore lecture originally presented by Dr. Mindy Sampson in 2018. Dr. Sampson looks at the underlying features of a zoonotic disease. S...