Abstract
Leptospira species are long, thin, motile spirochetes that are responsible for causing a biphasic illness known as leptospirosis. The first phase of disease is characterized by an acute, nonspecific febrile illness that can be followed by a second phase of immune-mediated complications. Moderate and severe infection from Leptospira species bacteria cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The infection is especially prevalent among young men who reside in resource-poor tropical countries. Given the variable presentations of the disease, its high burden in countries with limited resources, and complexities associated with securing a definitive diagnosis, leptospirosis is vastly underreported. Management of the infection includes treatment with antibiotics along with varying degrees of supportive care to address a wide range of associated complications.
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Lichtenstein, D., Domachowske, J. (2019). Leptospirosis. In: Domachowske, J. (eds) Introduction to Clinical Infectious Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91080-2_37
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91080-2_37
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