Infectious diseases during wartime

Purpose of review The infectious disease challenges of war include pathogens endemic to the geographic area of operations as well as wound infections with common environmental microorganisms. This review papers, unpublished data and personal communications from 2004-2005 pertaining to infectious diseases during war with a focus on the current 'operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recent findings To date, there have been several-hundred cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis and five cases of visceral leishmaniasis among,US military personnel serving in southwest Asia.. There have been reports of malaria in soldiers serving-in Afghanistan and an outbreak of acute eosinophilic pneumonia among soldiers serving in or-near Iraq. Diarrheal illness it a well-known threat to, military operations and remain's problematic for combatants throughout the theater of operations. Infectious complications. caused, by multiply drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii have been particularly challenging for healthcare providers managing the wounded evacuated from Iraq. We are now facing outbreaks of nosocomial, infection with this pathogen in military treatment facilities in Europe and the USA. Summary Historically, infectious diseases have had significant impact on the conduct of military operations,. and the conflict in southwest Asia is no exception. Physicians caring for returning military personnel should-be aware of the diseases particularly cutaneous prevalent in this campaign leishmaniasis and infections with multiply drug-resistant A. baumannii.