Tularemia: current diagnosis and treatment options

Tularemia is an infection caused by Francisella tularensis with a worldwide distribution and diverse clinical manifestations. Limitations in both culture and serologic testing have led to substantial research into new diagnostic techniques and their clinical application, with PCR testing as the best example. This review focuses on the utility of culture, PCR and serologic testing for tularemia. In addition, we also review the evidence to support different therapeutic options for tularemia, highlighting both the most effective supporting evidence for therapeutic recommendations as well as gaps in current knowledge. We conclude the article with suggestions regarding potential areas for future research.