Neonatal HSV Infection from Circumcision-Related Orogenital Suction
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Jewish ritual circumcision with direct orogenital suction, practiced by some ultra-Orthodox mohelim, has occasionally led to systemic herpes simplex virus infection and death.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
June 20, 2012
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Jun 8; 61:405
Keep Washing Those Hands
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide can survive on fomites for weeks.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
June 14, 2012
Covering:
Repp KK and Keene WE., J Infect Dis 2012 Jun 1; 205:1639
Hall AJ., J Infect Dis 2012 Jun 1; 205:1622
Colonization of Household Contacts of Children with Staph Skin Infections
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among 609 household contacts of children with <$EMPH_O>Staphylococcus aureus<$EMPH_C> skin or soft-tissue infections, 53% were colonized with the pathogen.
Adding Zinc to Antibiotics Reduces Treatment Failures
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among infants with probable bacterial infection, adjunctive zinc decreased the need to change therapy, the need for intensive care, and the risk for death.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
June 13, 2012
Covering:
Bhatnagar S et al., Lancet 2012 Jun 2; 379:2072
Walker CLF and Black RE., Lancet 2012 Jun 2; 379:2031
Staph-ing the Skin with Bacteria
Dermatology Summary and Comment
The composition and diversity of the skin microbiome is clinically important.
By Kenneth Y. Tsai, MD, PhD
June 1, 2012
Covering:
Kong HH et al., Genome Res 2012 May; 22:850
Verhulst NO et al., PLoS ONE 2011 Dec; 6:e28991
Head-to-Head Head Trial
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Comparative evaluation of griseofulvin, terbinafine, and fluconazole treatment for tinea capitis revealed no clear winner, at least in India.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
June 1, 2012
Covering:
Grover C et al., Int J Dermatol 2012 Apr; 51:455
Management of Early-Onset Neonatal Sepsis
Infectious Diseases Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Suspected sepsis during the first 3 days of life is common; antibiotic use can be minimized by reducing treatment duration when the probability of sepsis is low.
Acute Genital Ulcers in Nonsexually Active Girls
Dermatology Summary and Comment
The most common cause of AGU in young, nonsexually active girls was idiopathic vulvar aphthosis.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
May 18, 2012
Covering:
Rosman IS et al., Pediatr Dermatol 2012 Mar/Apr; 29:147
Is Urine Odor Associated with UTI?
Parental report of malodorous urine was significantly associated with urinary tract infection in young febrile children.
Text Message Reminders Can Improve Pediatric Influenza Vaccination Rates
The intervention had the greatest effect on vaccination rates in younger children in a low-income urban community.
Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus Colonization Is Effective in Only Half of Cases
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
But a larger reduction in subsequent skin and soft-tissue infections was seen when the entire household was treated.
By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
May 4, 2012
Covering:
Fritz SA et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 15; 54:743
Miller LG., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 15; 54:752
Viral Etiology Affects Length of Stay in Children with Bronchiolitis
Compared with hospitalized children with RSV alone, those with RSV plus rhinovirus had significantly longer hospital stays.
No Evidence of Elevated Risk for Febrile Seizures in Children Ages 4 to 6 After Measles-Containing Vaccines
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine administered with and without varicella vaccine was not associated with elevated risk for fever or febrile seizure.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
May 2, 2012
Covering:
Klein NP et al., Pediatrics 2012 May; 129:809
Does Vitamin D Supplementation Reduce the Rate of Infant Pneumonia?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In a vitamin D–deficient infant population, such supplementation did not reduce the incidence of pneumonia or change the age at which first episodes occurred.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
May 2, 2012
Covering:
Manaseki-Holland S et al., Lancet 2012 Apr 14; 379:1419
Martineau AR., Lancet 2012 Apr 14; 379:1373
Global Measles Mortality, 2010
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Although a safe, efficacious vaccine has been available for almost 5 decades, measles still caused nearly 140,000 deaths in 2010.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
May 2, 2012
Covering:
Simons E et al., Lancet 2012 Apr 24
Orenstein WA and Hinman AR., Lancet 2012 Apr 24
Measles in the U.S.: 2011 Was a Bad Year
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Most cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals and were associated with importations from abroad.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
April 25, 2012
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Apr 20; 61:253
Can You Diagnose Strep Throat Without a Culture?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Compared with culture or rapid diagnostic tests, clinical criteria for diagnosing streptococcal pharyngitis are not sufficiently specific.
Treating Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Kids: How Guideline Implementation Affects Practice
Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics declined after implementation of guidelines for treating children hospitalized with uncomplicated CAP.
Follow-Up Sexual Abuse Examinations in Children Can Change Diagnosis or Treatment
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Follow-up exams added clinically significant information in 23% of cases.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
March 23, 2012
Covering:
Gavril AR et al., Pediatrics 2012 Feb; 129:282
Is Oral Antibiotic Therapy Enough for Children with Acute Pyelonephritis?
A randomized trial failed to prove the noninferiority of oral antibiotic monotherapy, relative to sequential intravenous and oral therapy, but evidence supporting oral treatment alone as an option is accumulating.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
March 21, 2012
Covering:
Bocquet N et al., Pediatrics 2012 Feb; 129:e269
Influenza Immunization During Pregnancy Can Positively Affect Fetal Growth
When influenza virus was circulating in the community, maternal immunization not only reduced influenza illness in both mothers and infants but also was associated with an increase in birth weight.
Staph in the Family
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Decolonizing household contacts reduces everyone's chances of infection.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 20, 2012
Covering:
Fritz SA et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 15; 54:743
Incidence of Bacteremia in Infants Aged 1 Week to 3 Months
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Incidence of bacteremia in previously healthy full-term infants was 2.2%, and <$EMPH_O>Escherichia coli<$EMPH_C> was the most common pathogen.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
March 16, 2012
Covering:
Greenhow TL et al., Pediatrics 2012 Mar; 129:e590
Low Risk for Febrile Seizure After DTaP-IPV-Hib Vaccination
In a population-based study from Denmark, risk for epilepsy was not increased, but a small increased risk for febrile seizures was observed on the day of the first and second vaccine doses.
Macrolide Resistance of Group A Streptococcus
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Acute rheumatic fever developed in two children treated for streptococcal pharyngitis with azithromycin.
