Respiratory Infections
The latest information on antibiotics, bronchitis, influenza, pneumonia, and more, drawn from across our primary care and specialty care areas. Sign up now for monthly e-mail alerts on new content.
NEWS IN CONTEXT
New CDC Interim Guidance on HIV and H1N1Free
- November 2, 2009
- Carlos del Rio, MD
- HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
HIV-infected individuals are a high-priority group for prevention and treatment of 2009 H1N1 influenza.
- Reviewing:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009 Oct 21
DRUG WATCH
Zanamivir (Relenza) Must Not Be Given by NebulizationFree
- October 28, 2009
- Lynn L. Estes, PharmD
- Infectious Diseases
Ventilator obstruction was blamed for the death of a woman who received zanamivir inhalation powder that was solubilized and administered by mechanical ventilation.
- Reviewing:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2009 Oct 9
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Surgical Masks or N95 Respirators for the Flu?Free
- October 21, 2009
- Richard T. Ellison III, MD
- Infectious Diseases
In a randomized trial, surgical masks and N95 respirators provided healthcare workers with comparable protection against influenza.
- Reviewing:
- Loeb M et al. JAMA 2009 Oct 1
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Immune Response from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Mononuclear Cells Diagnoses Active TB
- October 21, 2009
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
- Infectious Diseases
ELISpot performed on bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 79% in diagnosing active disease.
- Reviewing:
- Jafari C et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Oct 1; 180:666
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Inflammatory Proteins: The Body–Brain Connection
- October 19, 2009
- Steven Dubovsky, MD
- Psychiatry
Inflammatory response to vaccination affected participants' sense of well-being and activated specific cortical regions but did not worsen cognitive performance.
- Reviewing:
- Harrison NA et al. Biol Psychiatry 2009 Sep 1; 66:415
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
H1N1 Rapid Tests: Poor SensitivityFree
- October 14, 2009
- Stephen G. Baum, MD
- Infectious Diseases
Rapid tests for seasonal influenza generally have relatively low sensitivity; their sensitivity for detecting the 2009 H1N1 virus seems even worse.
- Reviewing:
- Drexler JF et al. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Oct; 15:1662
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
2009 H1N1 Influenza in a Tour Group in ChinaFree
- October 14, 2009
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
- Infectious Diseases
Influenza developed in 30% of tour members who had talked with an H1N1-infected woman in the group but in none who had not.
- Reviewing:
- Han K et al. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Oct; 15:1578
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
New Approach to Treating Tuberculosis
- October 13, 2009
- Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
- General Medicine
Targeting nonreplicative bacteria might avert long courses of therapy for TB patients.
- Reviewing:
- Lin G et al. Nature 2009 Oct 1; 461:621
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Is Your Shower Like the Shower in the Bates Motel?
- October 9, 2009
- Jan V. Hirschmann, MD
- Dermatology
Researchers analyzed the microbial population living inside showerheads.
- Reviewing:
- Feazel LM et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Sep 22; 106:16393
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Antibiotic Guideline Compliance and Outcomes for CAP
- October 9, 2009
- J. Stephen Bohan, MD, MS, FACP, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine
Two large studies support guideline-based care.
- Reviewing:
- McCabe C et al. Arch Intern Med 2009 Sep 14; 169:1525
