Infections Without Borders

 

Infectious agents cross state and country boundaries in many ways and can appear at our facility unexpectedly. Pathologists have an important role in the diagnosis of these infections, including: a) identifying the organism, but not necessarily defining the specific genus and species; b) providing guidance for alternative specimens and methods that can be helpful for diagnosis; c) contributing to the knowledge of the pathogenesis of different infectious diseases. I will use three cases to exemplify the role of pathology in the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Originally published on November 6, 2023

Lecture Presenter

Jeannette Guarner, MD

Jeannette Guarner, MD

Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs
Emory University

Dr. Jeannette Guarner trained in anatomic and clinical pathology and completed a fellowship in surgical pathology at Emory University in Atlanta. After training, she returned to Mexico City where she grew up. She worked for seven years at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (INCan) where she became the director of Ancillary Diagnostic Services. During her years at INCan, she implemented a laboratory information system, and established flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and numerous tumor marker systems in the clinical laboratory. She returned to Atlanta and worked at the CDC in the Infectious Disease Pathology Branch. During her tenure at the CDC, she participated in the investigation of the anthrax bioterrorism attack, the discovery of SARS, and the introductions of the monkeypox and the West Nile viruses in the U.S. Currently she works at Emory University and is a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the vice chair for Faculty Affairs in the Pathology Department, and the medical director of the Clinical Laboratories at Emory University Hospital Midtown. Dr. Guarner has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Explore infectious diseases in patients that have travelled or lived in other locations thus, the microorganism may not be suspected
  • Identify tests that can be used for diagnosis of the cases presented
  • Discover pitfalls in diagnoses of the cases presented

Sponsored by:

University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, and ARUP Laboratories