Infektexazerbation

English translation: infection-induced exacerbation

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Infektexazerbation
English translation:infection-induced exacerbation
Entered by: Lirka

02:04 Nov 1, 2020
German to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Medical (general)
German term or phrase: Infektexazerbation
This Q is directed at seasoned clinicians as clinical interpretation is required.

It is a discharge report for a US patient who suffered an "Infekt" while skiing in the Swiss Alps in January 2020.

He visited a local ER and the Swiss doc wrote this for the dg:

Infektexazerbation bei V.a. COPD

His O2 saturation on ambient air: 87%
Relevant history: Travelled from USA to Switzerland via London 7 days prior to presentation.
CRP high (13), WBC and other parameters normal.
Therapy in ER: oxygen, pt. responded very well

Just as an aside before I get to my question: Are you thinking what I am thinking??? Corona in EU already in January. Low saturation, 7-day incubation. Hmm...

Anyways, let's proceed to my linguistic Q.

Literally, it says "Infection exacerbation associated with suspected COPD".

That doesn't make sense to me, though. Although that is what the German says, I think (but need a clinician's confirmation) that it is not the infection that was exacerbated in a patient with COPD, but a suspected COPD exacerbated by infection or, rather, a flu-like illness. Am I right? How do you read it?

I am querying two issues in particular:
1. First, am I right about the above that it's not worsening of infection?

2. The term "Infekt" in German. As far as I know, it does not mean "infection" as it is used in English, but rather a flu-like illness, meaning that "Infekt" -- as it is somewhat colloquially termed -- indicates a viral etiology. Am I right?

My dg would read: Suspected COPD exacerbated by a flu-like illness

My concern is that it's not an overtranslation, though.

I think that the Swiss doc did no express it very accurately, but how do I deal with it? Do I improve on it, or just go with the literal translation risking that the US doc will think the translator was inept?

Thanks for reading this!!
Lirka
Austria
Local time: 17:18
infection-induced exacerbation
Explanation:
"infection-induced exacerbation in a patient with suspected COPD"

As the colleagues said, exacerbations may be triggered by bacterial as well as viral infections, and a specific translation is therefore not feasible.

Where I worked, German medicalese used to call a mild, unspecific, usually viral infection such as a common cold or a flu-like illness an "Infekt", whereas the term "Infektion" referred to more severe or specific infections. However, this distinction seems to have long gone. Today the word "Infekt" does not automatically infer a mild, unspecific disease.


Selected response from:

Anne Schulz
Germany
Local time: 17:18
Grading comment
Many thanks!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4Suspected COPD exacerbated by a flu-like illness
Renee Kulkarni MD
3 +1infection-induced exacerbation
Anne Schulz


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Suspected COPD exacerbated by a flu-like illness


Explanation:
Agree completely, Lirka :)
I think the literal translation would be wide off the mark.

And yes, I also have reason to believe Covid was in our midst in India as early as January this year :/



Renee Kulkarni MD
India
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 198
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
infection-induced exacerbation


Explanation:
"infection-induced exacerbation in a patient with suspected COPD"

As the colleagues said, exacerbations may be triggered by bacterial as well as viral infections, and a specific translation is therefore not feasible.

Where I worked, German medicalese used to call a mild, unspecific, usually viral infection such as a common cold or a flu-like illness an "Infekt", whereas the term "Infektion" referred to more severe or specific infections. However, this distinction seems to have long gone. Today the word "Infekt" does not automatically infer a mild, unspecific disease.




Anne Schulz
Germany
Local time: 17:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 1611
Grading comment
Many thanks!!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Anne, for checking in and providing the info I was looking for!!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Patricia Daehler
20 hrs
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