Rapid infectious killers.

Central to the practice of emergency medicine is the ability to identify patients in whom immediate intervention is needed to prevent long-term morbidity and mortality. This article has highlighted some of the characteristics of several infectious diseases that may become fatal quickly if not treated quickly and appropriately by physicians. Bacterial meningitis,necrotizing soft tissue infections, invasive gram-negative disease, pneumo-coccal pneumonia, and West Nile encephalitis all require prompt recognition and treatment by emergency care providers.