Last Updated:, 23 August 2008, 00:02 GMT Common Causes of Infectious Diseases by organ.

Central Nervous System Infections

Bacterial meningitis

Neonates(less than 1 month old)

• Streptococcus agalactiae (Group b streptococcus)
• Escherichia col

Children and adults

Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Neisseria meningitidis

Elderly (>60 yrs old)

Streptococcus pneumoniae
• Viral (aseptic) meningitis and encephalitis (90% of cases in patients under 30 years old)
  • Enteroviruses (70%; late summer and early fall)
  • Arboviral meningoencephalitis (summer via tick or mosquito; West Nile virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus, Western Equine Encephalitis virus, St. Louis Encephalitis virus, California group Encephalitis viruses, Powassan Encephalitis virus)- are the most common cause of episodic encephalitis in the US.
  • Mumps (late winter and early spring)
  • Herpes simplex virus (sporadic)
  • HIV (sporadic)
  • Rabies virus (rare)

  Granulomatous Meningitis (Chronic meningitis)

  Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Cryptococcus neoformans

  Spinal cord

  • Clostridium tetanus*
  • Polio virus

  Skin (Integument) Infections

  There are a huge number of infectious diseases of this the largest organ of the human anatomy. Therefore, only the more common bacterial, viral and fungal microbes are mentioned here.

  Common Bacterial Infections.

  • Staphylococcus aureus - impetigo, bullous impetigo, scalded skin syndrome, folliculitis, furuncles, carbuncles, cellulitis, myositis and toxic shock syndrome.
  • Streptococcus pyogenes - impetigo, scarlet fever, erysipelas, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. 
  • Propionibacterium acne - acne

  Common Viral Infections.

  • Herpes Simplex 1 and 2 viruses- oral and genital herpes
  • Papilloma viruses – warts, genital warts, cervical dysplasia and cervical carcinoma
  • Common childhood rashes (exanthems) are caused by
    • Coxsackie viruses and Echoviruses (enteroviral rashes),
    • Erythrovirus B19 (formerly Parvovirus B19; Erythema Infectiosum)
    • Human Herpes virus 6B (Exanthem subitum or Roseola)
    • Human Herpes Virus-7 (Exanthem subitum or Roseola)
    • Varicella-Zoster virus (Chickenpox)
    • Measles virus (Rubeola)
    • Rubella virus (Rubella).

  Common Fungal Infections.

  Malassezia furfur- Tinea versicolor
  • The dermatophytes (Microsporum,Trichophyton and Epidermophyton) - Tinea pedis, Tinea corporis, Tinea capitis, Tinea manus and Tinea cruris.
  • Candida albicans - intertrigo, perlèche, folliculitis, paronchyia and onychomycosis.

  Ear Infections
  Otitis Media

  Streptococcus pneumoniae
  • Moraxella catarrhalis
  • Haemophilus influenzae (nontypable)

  Otitis externa

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa*
  • Staphylococcus aureus