- With Mayo Clinic internist
James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
James Steckelberg, M.D.
Dr. James Steckelberg is a consultant in the Division of Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
A native of Fremont, Neb., Dr. Steckelberg was a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine as a resident in internal medicine and a fellow in infectious diseases, and is board certified in both. He is the former director of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Steckelberg belongs to numerous professional organizations. He is a founding member of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society and a fellow of the American College of Physicians and of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has served on many Mayo Clinic committees and is a member of the Department of Medicine Leadership Committee and of the executive committee of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He also served on the editorial boards of "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" and "Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy" and has been an editorial reviewer for more than a dozen publications.
Dr. Steckelberg's research interests include experimental models of infection, epidemiology of infection, and antimicrobial resistance and therapy of bacterial infections.
Symptoms (1)
- Trouble breathing: Could it be asthma?
Causes (1)
- Acute bronchitis: Is it contagious?
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Question
Acute bronchitis: Is it contagious?
Is acute bronchitis contagious?
Answer
from James M. Steckelberg, M.D.
Yes. Most cases of acute bronchitis are caused by viral infections. Influenza viruses are a common cause, but many other viruses also have been identified in people with acute bronchitis. These viruses spread from person to person through direct and indirect contact.
To reduce the risk of "catching" bronchitis:
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizers regularly
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Get an annual flu vaccination
People who have chronic bronchitis or asthma sometimes develop acute bronchitis. In these cases, the acute bronchitis is most likely a complication of their existing condition, and not caused by an infectious virus, so it's less likely to be contagious.
Next questionTrouble breathing: Could it be asthma?
- Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2013. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=$eid&isbn=978-1-4557-0295-4&uniqId=398813857-1936. Accessed May 7, 2013.
- File TM Jr. Acute bronchitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed May 7, 2013.
- Everyday preventive actions that can help fight germs, like flu. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/print-general.htm. Accessed May 8, 2013.
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