This course is intended primarily for practicing general surgical pathologists and residents in training with an interest in infectious disease pathology.

Many pathologists receive very little morphologic infectious disease training in their residency programs, nor are they experienced in correlating the morphologic diagnosis of infectious diseases with helpful molecular and microbiological tests. For these reasons, many pathologists are uncomfortable with the diagnosis of infectious diseases, even though most general surgical pathologists regularly encounter infectious diseases affecting various organ systems in their practices.

This course provides a practical, algorithmic approach to the morphologic diagnosis of commonly encountered infectious diseases, as well as an update on helpful molecular and microbiological tests that can be used in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. The course will also cover clinical correlates, implications for therapy, and reporting issues. Infectious of various organ systems that may be encountered in general surgical pathology practice will be addressed using case illustrations, and will include the diagnosis of fungal infections; bacterial granulomatous infections; parasites; viral infections; and bacterial enterocolitides. We will also discuss the use of immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques in the diagnosis of infectious diseases in surgical pathology practice.

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to: 1) Practice a practical algorithmic approach to the diagnosis of infectious diseases that can be utilized in specimens from multiple organ systems; 2) Explain the use of molecular and microbiological techniques for the diagnosis of infectious diseases, which can complement the morphologic diagnosis of infections; 3) Describe the use of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of infectious diseases; and 4) Determine clinical correlations, epidemiologic issues, and therapeutic implications of infectious disease diagnoses.

Representative virtual slides will be uploaded on the USCAP website for review by pre-registrants before the course. Course registrants will receive a complete syllabus, as well as web access to PowerPoint material along with the text portion of the syllabus after the meeting.

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