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Infectious diseases manifested in the peripheral blood.
1Division of Hematopathology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. kroft.steven@pathology.swmed.edu
Clinics in Laboratory Medicine
|April 6, 2002
Summary
Morphologic examination of blood smears can diagnose uncommon infectious diseases in the US. Recognizing distinctive organism features and clinical context aids diagnosis and guides further testing.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Hematology
Background:
- Diagnosis of infectious diseases in the US typically relies on methods other than blood smear morphology.
- However, morphologic examination offers a valuable diagnostic pathway for less common infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the diagnostic utility of blood smear morphology in identifying uncommon infectious agents.
- To emphasize the importance of integrating morphologic findings with clinical and epidemiologic data.
Main Methods:
- Review of characteristic morphologic features of various infectious organisms visible on blood smears.
- Correlation of morphologic findings with relevant clinical presentations and epidemiological factors.
Main Results:
- Distinctive morphologic characteristics of certain organisms can lead to their identification on blood smears.
- Nonspecific infectious manifestations observed in blood smears can serve as crucial indicators for further diagnostic investigations.
Conclusions:
- Blood smear morphologic examination, when combined with clinical and epidemiologic insights, enables the diagnosis of rare infections.
- This approach is vital for guiding appropriate diagnostic work-ups and managing patients effectively.