My Mother Was Right About VapoRub!
In a single-night study, vapor rub improved cough and congestion symptoms in children.
Improving Late-Season Influenza Vaccination Rates
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Mail and telephone reminders improved vaccination rates among patients who were not vaccinated early in the influenza season.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 24, 2010
Covering:
Minor DS et al., Am J Med 2010 Nov; 123:1031
Pneumocystis Prophylaxis with Immunosuppressive Agents?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
PCP prophylaxis should not be administered routinely to patients taking immunosuppressive medications.
By Jan V. Hirschmann, MD
November 12, 2010
Covering:
Lehman JS and Kalaaji AN., J Am Acad Dermatol 2010 Nov; 63:815
Cost-Effectiveness of Outpatient Treatment Regimens for Pediatric Bronchiolitis
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
The data do not support routine use of nebulized epinephrine plus oral corticosteroids for outpatient treatment of infants with bronchiolitis.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
November 12, 2010
Covering:
Sumner A et al., Pediatrics 2010 Oct; 126:623
The Effect of Antiretroviral Therapy on TB in Africa
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Mathematical modeling suggests that frequent HIV testing and prompt treatment could significantly reduce tuberculosis incidence.
Probiotics and Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a blinded, randomized study involving 138 mechanically ventilated patients, <$EMPH_O>Lactobacillus<$EMPH_C> administered to the oropharynx and gastrointestinal tract significantly reduced VAP incidence.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 10, 2010
Covering:
Morrow LE et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010 Oct 15; 182:1058
Relevance of HSV in Pulmonary Specimens from Critically Ill Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In patients with suspected viral pneumonia, herpes simplex virus was a marker for severe disease, not a cause of it.
By Thomas Glück, MD
November 3, 2010
Covering:
Scheithauer S et al., Infection 2010 Oct; 38:401
Intermittent Subglottic Suction to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a randomized, nonblinded study, intermittent subglottic suction reduced the incidence of microbiologically confirmed VAP by 42%.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
October 27, 2010
Covering:
Lacherade J-C et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010 Oct 1; 182:910
Atypical Mycobacterial Infections Might Be on the Rise
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Pulmonary infections are now more common than pulmonary tuberculosis.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
October 21, 2010
Covering:
Winthrop KL et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010 Oct 1; 182:977
Prevots DR et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010 Oct 1; 182:970
Exclusive Breast-Feeding Protects Infants Against Common Infections
Exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months reduced the frequency and severity of common infections during the first year of life.
Protecting Young Infants by Maternal Influenza Vaccination
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The risk for influenza was 41% lower in infants of vaccinated mothers than in infants of unvaccinated mothers.
Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Without Bronchodilators in Children with Bronchiolitis
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
This study does not prove that nebulized hypertonic saline is safe.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
October 15, 2010
Covering:
Ralston S et al., Pediatrics 2010 Sep; 126:e520
Oseltamivir Helps in 2009 H1N1 Influenza
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Progression to pneumonia and shedding of virus were diminished with oseltamivir treatment.
2009 H1N1 Influenza in HIV-Positive Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Outcomes seem to be no worse among HIV-positive patients (at least those with well-controlled disease who were admitted to the hospital) than among other patients.
Pneumococcal Urinary Antigen Screening in Hospitalized Patients with Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Such screening could optimize antibiotic therapy.
H5N1 Influenza A Infection of Pigs in Indonesia
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In areas with H5N1 influenza outbreaks in poultry, the virus was isolated from healthy-appearing pigs.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
October 6, 2010
Covering:
Nidom CA et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2010 Oct; 16:1515
Promote Influenza Prevention: Pregnant Women Should Get Flu Shots
Women's Health Practice Watch
Free
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that all women who are pregnant during flu season receive inactivated influenza vaccinations.
New Approach Promises Much Better Influenza Vaccine
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A DNA/protein immunization protocol might yield a pan-influenza vaccine.
Prednisone for Tuberculosis-Associated Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
A short course of prednisone reduced the need for hospitalization or therapeutic procedures.
By Carlos del Rio, MD
September 27, 2010
Covering:
Meintjes G et al., AIDS 2010 Sep 24; 24:2381
Nebulized Hypertonic Saline for Infants with Bronchiolitis?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In combination with nebulized epinephrine, 5% hypertonic saline slightly outperformed normal saline for treatment of bronchiolitis, but the difference is not clinically meaningful.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
September 24, 2010
Covering:
Al-Ansari K et al., J Pediatr 2010 Oct; 157:630
Explaining the Increase in Pneumococcal Serotype 19A
Heptavalent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine is associated with increased carriage of pneumococcal serotype 19A strains.
Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In an observational study, a gatifloxacin-containing regimen for at least 9 months had the highest cure rate.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
September 22, 2010
Covering:
Van Deun A et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2010 Sep 1; 182:684
New Coronavirus Is Associated with Croup
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Human coronavirus NL63 was second to parainfluenza virus 1 as a cause of viral croup.
How Bad Was the 2009 H1N1 Epidemic?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In one state, it looked much like usual flu, except that it struck a younger age group.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 21, 2010
Covering:
Belongia EA et al., JAMA 2010 Sep 8; 304:1091
Diagnosing Active Tuberculosis in HIV-Infected Patients
Symptom-based screening algorithms are insufficient in high-prevalence, resource-limited settings.
By Mauro Schechter, MD, PhD
September 20, 2010
Covering:
Bassett IV et al., Clin Infect Dis 2010 Oct 1; 51:823
Meintjes G and Wilkinson RJ., Clin Infect Dis 2010 Oct 1; 51:830
