Final answer:
Mandell's Principle & Practice of Infectious Diseases is a key resource for diagnosing and treating infectious diseases. It could guide physicians in diagnosing conditions such as foodborne diseases or infections from animal bites, like rabies, by suggesting appropriate lab tests and treatments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mandell's Principle & Practice of Infectious Diseases is a comprehensive reference resource in the field of infectious diseases and microbiology. When clinicians encounter patients with symptoms that suggest an infectious disease, such as the ones presented in the clinical focus narratives, they consult references like Mandell's for guidance on diagnosis and treatment. For instance, a patient showing signs of weakness, fever, and agitation after a dog bite might be tested for rabies, while another patient experiencing illness after a party where food was consumed may be tested for foodborne diseases.
For the patient suspected of a foodborne disease, a physician would conduct a blood test to check for pathogens, often ordering a culture and sensitivity test to determine the exact microorganism and appropriate antibiotic therapy. Confirmation of a gram-positive rod, possibly indicative of a bacterium such as Listeria monocytogenes, would lead to treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and may necessitate hospitalization for intravenous antibiotic therapy and fluids.