able and versatile hand-held computers that are increasingly being used in contemporary medical practice [1]. They have numerous applications that can enhance the effectiveness of the practices of primary care doctors as well as infectious disease physicians. PDAs can provide databases for information (such as textbooks and guidelines) and serve as organizers for personal and business planning. The wireless models can also immediately access the Internet for even more information, news, and interaction. The practice of infectious disease is a dynamic one in an environment where there are many demands, some related directly to patient care and some to the management of busy practices where many rules and regulations must be followed. Outbreaks of devastating illnesses, emerging infectious diseases such as SARS, the development of new drugs, and increasing resistance to antimicrobials require frequent updating of knowledge and intervention strategies. The global aspects of infectious diseases also make awareness of exotic infections an increasingly important issue. As the events surrounding September 11th suggest, increasing awareness of bioterrorism, particularly involving the use of infectious agents, requires increased monitoring and education of an anxious public. Many of these functions can be provided or complemented by PDAs in a single portable device that can be continually updated. PDAs are essentially scaled-down versions of your desktop personal computer that perform similar though more limited tasks. They use handwriting recognition software with a stylus or input of data via a screen or attachable keyboard to help navigate through their functions. The screen may be monochrome or color and displays the programs and documents contained on the PDA just like a desktop. Tapping on their icons on the screen accesses the programs or documents. Fixed buttons on the PDA allow quick access to functions such as the date book, address book, and notebook. Newer PDAs also have excellent graphics that allow the input of tables and graphs and the storage of highresolution images. PDAs are designed for convenience and ease of use, with intuitive programs that allow you to avoid reading the directions in most cases. At the moment the two most popular operating systems are the Palm OS (Palm, Inc., Milpitas, CA) and the Microsoft-based Pocket PC (updated version of Windows CE; Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA). The Microsoft-based systems have the appearance and organization systems that may be familiar to those who have used other Microsoft programs such as Windows and Word. Some of the advantages a PDA can bring to the infectious diseases specialist include the following.

Romal Bhan

Papers

PDAs for the infectious diseases physician