Emerging infections

In the report "Emerging Infections: Microbial Threats to Health in the United States," published by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 1992, emerging infections are defined as new, remerging, or drug-resistant infections whose occurence in humans has increased within the past 2 decades, or whose incidence will likely increase in the near future. 

This report highlighted the many changing factors that exist in our current United States and global society and that have allowed infectious diseases, once thought to be under control, to return as the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of death in the world. These factors include societal changes, health care changes, such as the widespread use of antibiotics, the globalization of the food supply, changes in human behavior, such as international travel, the decay of the public health infrastructure, and many other factors. 

The complacency that has surrounded emerging infectious diseases must end. In addition to increased efforts in the United States, there needs to be an international cooperative effort to monitor, respond, research, and eradicate newly emerging as well as current infectious disease agents. This site will continue to provide physicians with current information and links to important issues in the world of emerging infectious diseases.