RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKII

Course overview

RICKETTSIA PROWAZEKII IS AN OBLIGATE, INTRACELLULAR, GRAM-NEGATIVE COCCOBACILLUS BELONGING TO THE GENUS RICKETTSIA. IT IS THE CAUSATIVE AGENT OF EPIDEMIC TYPHUS WHICH IS TRANSMITTED BY THE HUMAN BODY LOUSE. EPIDEMIC TYPHUS PRESENTS WITH A HIGH FEVER, MYALGIAS, HEADACHE, DRY COUGH, DELIRIUM AND A RASH THAT BEGINS ON THE TRUNK AND SPREADS PERIPHERALLY. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF EPIDEMIC TYPHUS AND EXPLAINS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.