New Bronchiolitis Guidelines
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
Evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
January 10, 2007
Covering:
American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis., Pediatrics 2006 Oct; 118:1774-93
Early Switch to Oral Antibiotics in CAP
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Outcomes in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia were not adversely affected by an early switch from IV to oral antibiotics.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
January 10, 2007
Covering:
Oosterheert JJ et al., BMJ 2006 Dec 9; 333:1193-5
Mills GD and Laing R., BMJ 2006 Dec 9; 333:1181-2
Poor Countries Expected to Bear Brunt of Influenza Pandemic
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Of the 62 million excess deaths projected to occur in an influenza pandemic, 96% would be in the developing world.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
January 10, 2007
Covering:
Murray CJL et al., Lancet 2006 Dec 23/30; 368:2211-8
Ferguson N., Lancet 2006 Dec 23/30; 368:2187-8
Childcare Illness Rates: Who’s at Risk?
In childcare facilities, the youngest children and newcomers were at increased risk for respiratory infections.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
January 3, 2007
Covering:
Kamper-Jorgensen M et al., Pediatrics 2006 Oct; 118:1439-46
VAP Outcome Not Affected by Diagnostic Techniques
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Outcomes were comparable whether ventilator-associated pneumonia was diagnosed with nonquantitative endotracheal cultures or with quantitative bronchoalveolar-lavage cultures.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
December 20, 2006
Covering:
The Canadian Critical Care Trials Group., N Engl J Med 2006 Dec 21; 355:2619-30
Kollef MH., N Engl J Med 2006 Dec 21; 355:2691-3
A New Rule for Predicting Severe CAP
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Researchers propose a rule, based on eight clinical criteria, for identifying patients at risk for developing severe community-acquired pneumonia within 24 hours of hospital admission.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
December 20, 2006
Covering:
España PP et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 Dec 1; 174:1249-56
Infections Increase the Risk for MS Relapses
Neurology Summary and Comment
Free
In this important study, immunologic and MRI data support the hypothesis that acute infections can trigger MS exacerbations.
By Hillel Panitch, MD
December 19, 2006
Covering:
Correale J et al., Neurology 2006 Aug 22; 67:652-9
A Report Card for the Worrisome 2004–2005 Flu Vaccine
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Even in a year of antigenic drift, both forms of influenza vaccine performed reasonably well.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
December 13, 2006
Covering:
Ohmit SE et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Dec 14; 355:2513-22
King JC et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Dec 14; 355:2523-32
Fukuda K and Kieny MP., N Engl J Med 2006 Dec 14; 355:2586-7
Yet Another Harmful Effect of Smoking
Smokers have an increased risk for infection with <$EMPH_O>M. pneumoniae.<$EMPH_C>
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
December 13, 2006
Covering:
Klement E et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Nov 15; 43:1239-45
Appropriate Treatment of Bacteremic Nosocomial Pneumonia — Back to Surveillance Cultures?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Tracheal surveillance cultures provided significant benefit in detecting the pathogens responsible for bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia.
By Thomas Glück, MD
December 13, 2006
Covering:
Depuydt P et al., Intensive Care Med 2006 Nov; 32:1773-81
New Vaccines and Updates
Rotavirus vaccine, human papillomavirus vaccine, and varicella vaccine
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
December 6, 2006
Covering:
Parashar UD et al., MMWR Recomm Rep 2006 Aug 11; 55:1-13
What’s New with the Flu?
Updated recommendations for influenza vaccines need ongoing evaluation.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
December 6, 2006
Covering:
Hambidge SJ et al., JAMA 2006 Oct 25; 296:1990-7
Fleming DM et al., Pediatr Infect Dis J 2006 Oct; 25:860-9
Updates on H5N1
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Two new studies document the characteristics of human H5N1 influenza in Turkey and of three clusters in Indonesia.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
December 6, 2006
Covering:
Oner AF et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 23; 355:2179-85
Kandun IN et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 23; 355:2186-94
Flu Vaccine and GBS: Two Studies, No Answer
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Two observational studies published in a single paper yielded conflicting information about the association between Guillain-Barré syndrome and influenza vaccination.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
November 29, 2006
Covering:
Juurlink DN et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Nov 13; 166:2217-21
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Effective in Various Dose Schedules
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Even "underdosing" offers substantial protection.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
November 28, 2006
Covering:
Whitney CG et al., Lancet 2006 Oct 28; 368:1495-502
Avian Flu: Deadly, and Difficult to Diagnose
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
. . . but still causing only scattered cases of human disease.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 22, 2006
Covering:
Oner AF et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 23; 355:2179-85
Kandun IN et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 23; 355:2186-94
Webster RG and Govorkova EA., N Engl J Med 2006 Nov 23; 355:2174-7
Active Pulmonary TB Diagnosed by ELISPOT of BAL Fluid
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
ELISPOT for interferon-
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 15, 2006
Covering:
Jafari C et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 Nov 1; 174:1048-54
23-Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine Lowers Bacteremia Risk
General Medicine Summary and Comment
. . .but offers little protection against nonbacteremic pneumonia.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 7, 2006
Covering:
Musher DM et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Oct 15; 43:1004-8
A Sneeze May Launch a Thousand Staph
General Medicine Summary and Comment
With a histamine challenge, <$EMPH_O>S. aureus<$EMPH_C> carriers spewed organisms into their surroundings.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 7, 2006
Covering:
Bischoff WE et al., J Infect Dis 2006 Oct 15; 194:1119-26
Extensively Drug-Resistant TB: Bad News
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
XDR-TB progresses rapidly, spreads nosocomially, causes high mortality, and is more prevalent than previously recognized.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
November 8, 2006
Covering:
Gandhi NR et al., Lancet 2006 Nov 4; 368:1575-80
Van Rie A and Enarson D., Lancet 2006 Nov 4; 368:1554-6
A Vaccine Effective Against the 1918 Flu Virus
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An experimental DNA vaccine protected mice against the reconstructed 1918 H1N1 influenza virus.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
November 8, 2006
Covering:
Kong WP et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2006 Oct 24; 103:15987-91
Celiac Disease and TB Risk
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Using data from Swedish national registers, researchers showed a strong association between celiac disease and TB, but the mechanism remains unclear.
By Thomas Glück, MD
November 8, 2006
Covering:
Ludvigsson JF et al., Thorax 2006 Oct 17
Safety of Inactivated Flu Vaccine in Children
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Investigators examining the safety of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine found no increased risk for any serious condition in children 6 to 23 months old.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
November 1, 2006
Covering:
Hambidge SJ et al., JAMA 2006 Oct 25; 296:1990-7
Vancomycin Levels and Mortality in MRSA Pneumonia
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Higher vancomycin levels or AUC values did not affect outcomes in patients with MRSA pneumonia.
By Thomas Glück, MD
November 1, 2006
Covering:
Jeffres MN et al., Chest 2006 Oct; 130:947-55
Is Influenza Vaccination Safe in Young Children?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A large population-based study of 6- to 23-month-old children found that it is.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
October 26, 2006
Covering:
Hambidge SJ et al., JAMA 2006 Oct 25; 296:1990-7
