Infectious Diseases — Guides

COVID-19, influenza, RSV, antibiotics, and infection prevention.

• Antibiotic Resistance — When bacteria and fungi no longer respond to the drugs meant to kill them, infections become harder — sometimes impossible — to treat.
• Azelastine Nasal Spray and COVID-19 Prevention — Review of a phase 2 clinical trial testing whether azelastine, an allergy nasal spray, can reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections.
• Bacterial Meningitis — Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, requiring immediate antibiotics and hospital care.
• Cellulitis — Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection causing redness, swelling, warmth, and pain; severe cases may spread rapidly and require urgent care.
• COVID-19 Vaccines: What We Know, What We Don’t — mRNA vaccines changed the course of the pandemic. Understanding their benefits, limitations, and uncertainties is key to informed choice.
• How E. coli Responds to Chemical Cues — Overview of how Escherichia coli regulates transport of antibiotics and other chemicals through porins and efflux pumps.
• Evidence-First COVID Vaccine Policy — A framework for evaluating COVID-19 vaccine policy based on absolute risk, safety signals, and transparent choice.
• Flu vs. Cold — Key Differences & What to Do — How to tell influenza from a common cold, what symptoms to watch for, when to test, and when to seek care.
• Gastroenteritis — Preventing the Spread — How gastroenteritis spreads and the steps you can take to prevent infection in households and communities.
• Hepatitis B: Risks, Prevention, and Treatment — Hepatitis B is a viral infection that can cause chronic liver disease and cancer. Vaccination and safe practices are the best prevention.
• Legionnaires' Disease — Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention — What Legionnaires' disease is, how it spreads, symptoms to watch for, who's at risk, and how to reduce exposure — especially when traveling.
• Measles (Rubeola): The Disease and the Vaccine — Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide strong, long-lasting protection.
• Pneumonia — Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that inflames the air sacs, causing cough, fever, and breathing difficulty; it can be life-threatening in infants, older adults, and people with chronic illness.
• Rabies — Risks, Symptoms & What To Do After a Bite — Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but 100% preventable with prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Learn risks, symptoms, prevention, and urgent steps after exposure.
• Sepsis — Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to an infection, leading to organ damage and shock if untreated.
• Tuberculosis (TB): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment — Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. Learn about transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) — A UTI is an infection of the urinary system — most often the bladder — causing burning urination, frequency, and urgency; kidney infections can be serious and require prompt care.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines — United States (August 2025, Updated October 2025) — The FDA’s latest approvals, CDC’s stalled guidance, and AAP/ACOG recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination as of October 2025.
• Vaccine Myths and Facts — Separating persistent vaccine myths from evidence-based facts — from autism claims to ‘too many, too soon.’
• West Nile Virus (WNV) — What West Nile virus is, how it spreads, how to recognize it, and what you can do to prevent infection.
• Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Why Vaccination Still Matters — Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Vaccination remains the best protection for children and communities.
• Why Combination Vaccines Exist — Combination vaccines like MMR and DTaP reduce injections, improve coverage, and maintain identical safety and immune response compared to single shots.