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Infectious disease images on the World Wide Web
David H Priest1, Stephen J Williams
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA. david.h.priest@vanderbilt.edu
Summary
Infectious diseases (ID) physicians can find many useful medical images online. A review of 24 websites revealed diverse resources for teaching, research, and clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infectious diseases (ID) physicians require medical images for education, research, and clinical applications.
- Access to high-quality, relevant medical imagery is crucial for effective practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and evaluate online resources providing medical images beneficial for infectious diseases (ID) physicians.
- To assess the scope, features, and usability of available image repositories.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an internet exploration to find relevant websites.
- Reviewed 24 selected websites, noting image content (bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungi), image quantity and size, copyright, fees, navigation, and layout.
- Cataloged specific features such as microscopy, clinical images, illustrations, and multimedia content.
Main Results:
- Identified 24 websites offering medical images for ID physicians.
- Ten sites provided broad coverage of pathogens, while others specialized in fungi, viruses, or parasites.
- Detailed descriptions of site features, including image types and usability factors, were compiled.
Conclusions:
- A diverse range of online medical image resources is available to infectious diseases (ID) physicians.
- These resources can significantly support the teaching, research, and clinical activities of ID specialists.