Adjuvanted Vaccine Spares H5N1 Antigen
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Adjuvantation of an H5N1 vaccine resulted in good immune response and some cross-protection at low antigen doses.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
September 5, 2007
Covering:
Leroux-Roels I et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 18; 370:580-9
Sambhara S and Poland GA., Lancet 2007 Aug 18; 370:544-5
Is Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn Really Transient?
Infants with TTN might be more likely to wheeze later in childhood.
Reducing Length of Stay for CAP Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The combination of standardized order sets and intensive clinical case management reduced length of hospital stay for patients admitted with community-acquired pneumonia.
Allergic Rhinitis Can Drag Test Scores Down
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Symptomatic allergic rhinitis can adversely affect test scores, and sedating antihistamines may compound the learning impairment.
How to Survive a Flu Pandemic — Lessons from 1918–1919
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Implementing public health interventions lowered mortality rates in U.S. cities during the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic.
Posaconazole for Coccidioidomycosis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Seventeen of 20 patients with pulmonary or nonmeningeal disseminated coccidioidomycosis responded to posaconazole at 400 mg daily; no severe adverse events were noted.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
August 15, 2007
Covering:
Catanzaro A et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Sep 1; 45:562-8
Steroids for Infants with Bronchiolitis? Maybe Not
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
No difference was seen between dexamethasone and placebo in an evaluation of 600 infants with bronchiolitis who were brought to the emergency department.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
August 1, 2007
Covering:
Corneli HM et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jul 26; 357:331-9
Hall CB., N Engl J Med 2007 Jul 26; 357:402-4
The Mysteries of Pertussis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The primary source is most likely a household contact.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
July 26, 2007
Covering:
Wendelboe AM et al., Pediatr Infect Dis J 2007 Apr; 26:293-9
A Controlled Clinical Trial of Steroids for Bronchiolitis
One dose of oral dexamethasone was no different from placebo.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
July 25, 2007
Covering:
Corneli HM et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jul 26; 357:331-9
Factors Associated with Invasive Pneumococcal Infection in Adults
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a large, observational study, mortality and disease severity were associated with older age, immunosuppression, and underlying chronic disease but not with pneumococcal serotype.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
July 25, 2007
Covering:
Alanee SRJ et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jul 1; 45:46-51
Garau J and Calbo E., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jul 1; 45:52-4
Pneumonia After Healthcare Exposure
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Compared to patients with CAP, those with healthcare-associated pneumonia are more likely to receive inappropriate antibiotic therapy and more likely to die within 30 days.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
July 18, 2007
Covering:
Carratalà J et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jul 9; 167:1393-9
Do Inhaled Corticosteroids Increase Pneumonia Risk in COPD?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A population-based study showed a 70% increase in pneumonia hospitalizations among patients with COPD who were using inhaled corticosteroids.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
July 18, 2007
Covering:
Ernst P et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Jul 15; 176:162-6
Recent PPI Use and CAP
Gastroenterology Summary and Comment
In a large case-control study, recent PPI use was associated with higher risk for community-acquired pneumonia, but this isn’t a definitive analysis.
By David A. Johnson, MD
July 6, 2007
Covering:
Gulmez SE et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 May 14; 167:950-5
Pneumonia and Heart Disease Go Together
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
New research confirms the old association.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
July 5, 2007
Covering:
Musher DM et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jul 15; 45:158-65
A Pseudomonas Vaccine for CF Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A bivalent flagella vaccine decreased the incidence of <$EMPH_O>P. aeruginosa<$EMPH_C> infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
July 3, 2007
Covering:
Döring G et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Jun 26; 104:11020-5
Febrile Respiratory Symptoms in HIV: Think Flu
Influenza was, by far, the most common specific diagnosis among HIV-infected outpatients who presented with fever and respiratory symptoms; overall disease severity was mild.
By Paul E. Sax, MD
July 2, 2007
Covering:
Klein MB et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jul 15; 45:234-40
The 4-Hour Rule for CAP Antibiotic Administration Backfires
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In one study, it was the patients <$EMPH_O>without<$EMPH_C> pneumonia who got (unnecessary) antibiotics more quickly.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
June 28, 2007
Covering:
Kanwar M et al., Chest 2007 Jun; 131:1865-9
Efficacy of Human Monoclonal Antibodies Against H5N1 Influenza
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Monoclonal antibodies generated from B cells of patients who had survived H5N1 influenza were efficacious in preventing and treating H5N1 infection in a mouse model.
By Thomas Glück, MD
June 27, 2007
Covering:
Simmons CP et al., PLoS Med 2007 May 29; 4:e178
Simple Intervention Improves TB Detection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Verbal instruction on how to obtain a good sputum sample led to increased smear positivity among patients — particularly women — with suspected TB.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
June 27, 2007
Covering:
Khan MS et al., Lancet 2007 Jun 9; 369:1955-60
Alisjahbana B and van Crevel R., Lancet 2007 Jun 9; 369:1908-9
Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Nonneutropenic Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Voriconazole treatment led to clinical and radiologic improvement in 67% and 71% of patients, respectively, and to disease control in 58%.
By Thomas Glück, MD
June 27, 2007
Covering:
Camuset J et al., Chest 2007 May; 131:1435-41
Outcomes of TB Treatment in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Relapse rates were significantly higher in TB patients with HIV infection than in those without such infection.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
June 20, 2007
Covering:
Nahid P et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Jun 1; 175:1199-206
Two Is Better Than One for CAP with Shock
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Combination antibiotic therapy appears to offer survival advantage in treating community-acquired pneumonia with shock.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
June 6, 2007
Covering:
Rodríguez A et al., Crit Care Med 2007 Jun; 35:1493-8
Blot S and Depuydt P., Crit Care Med 2007 Jun; 35:1617-8
HSV Bronchopneumonitis in Patients on Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
HSV bronchopneumonitis was associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation and with longer ICU stay; acyclovir treatment did not alter outcomes.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
June 6, 2007
Covering:
Luyt CE et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 May 1; 175:935-42
Sputum Induction Performs Well for TB Diagnosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
It compares well with both gastric lavage and bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
June 5, 2007
Covering:
Brown M et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jun 1; 44:1415-20
PPIs and Risk for Community-Acquired Pneumonia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Current PPI use — especially recently initiated use — was associated with higher risk.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
May 31, 2007
Covering:
Gulmez SE et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 May 14; 167:950-5
