Infectious Disease Guide (ID Tab)
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OS Tested: Palm
OS Available: Palm, Pocket PC
Tested on: Tungsten T|5
Written by: David Stockwell, MD
Review Written: March 12th, 2006
Features: The infectious disease guide for Epocrates is updated like the rest of the program with AutoUpdate. It is found under the "ID" tab. Searching begins by choosing how to view your choices:
Choosing System offers 13 different categories. From here it allows the user to drill down to the specific site of infection. Once found Empiric Therapy, Specific Therapy, Other Info assist in treatment plans. In the therapy sections there are links back to Rx for the specific drug monograph. Within Other Info there are notes on risk factors, helpful history and diagnosis hints as well as references.
Choosing Bug offers the extensive list of offending microbes. Listed along-side each bug is its class (bacteria, virus, parasite, etc). Tapping on a bug gives a lists of common infections caused by this organism. Tapping on one of the infections on the list will take you to the information on that infection-with the same areas of information (Empiric Therapy, Specific Therapy, Other Info).
Choosing Drug gives an extensive list of antimicrobials. Listed along-side the drugs is its class (e.g. Azithromycin- Macrolides) Tapping on the drug class shows a small window with confusing listings of typical antimicrobial coverage for that class-see below. Tapping on the listed drug gives a list of common infections seemingly appropriate for the drug.
Usability/Navigation:
Unlike the rest of the platform, this section is simple to navigate but very difficult to understand. It was the first add-on after the original drug reference. It has not evolved much at all since its original introduction and it needs it the most. This is the weakest link in the Epocrates line. It seems like they should just form a partnership with the Sanford Guide.
For example, tapping on the drug class next to the drug listing shows a small window with confusing listings of typical antimicrobial coverage for that class. For example Meropenem and its class listing of "BL" assumedly for beta-lactams, lists "All Anaerobic Coverage; All Anti-Bacterials; All Pseudomonas Coverage; Beta-Lactams, Carbapenems; Other Anaerobe Coverage; Other Pseudomonas Coverage."
Huh? If this is meant to be a listing of coverage then Meropenem does not cover ALL anaerobes (e.g. C. diff), nor ALL bacterial (e.g. MRSA), it is a beta-lactam (so is ampicillin and that is pretty different coverage) and a carbapenem (about the only thing understandable from this window) and forget about the"Others." This window should show typical coverage of the drug not be a window of different categories Epocrates placed the drug.
Viewing this section by drug only gives two types of information, the not-so-helpful window listed just above and the other forces the user to drill down to the list of infections where the drug may be recommended. It would be nice to have more.
Viewing this section by Bug offers similar things. First a not-so-helpful window similar to the drug class window above, that lists whether the bug is a bacterium, virus, parasite, fungi or other (most of the time this is pretty obvious and not helpful information). Second the list of infections typically associated with the microbe. These lists are rather short and seem to miss major infection possibilities.
Pros:
- Drug treatment windows are linked back to Rx
- Its basic information is empiric coverage for suspected infections and specific treatment for documented infection
Cons:
- Incredibly far behind the rest of Epocrates work
- Very frustrating section lacking in information when compared to competitors
Bottom line: This section needs a major overhaul
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