Antiflu Arsenal Might Be Weaker Than You Think
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A Cochrane Collaborative analysis found little evidence to support routine neuraminidase use in healthy adults.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
January 5, 2010
Covering:
Jefferson T et al., BMJ 2009 Dec 8; 339:b5106
Freemantle N and Calvert M., BMJ 2009 Dec 8; 339:b5248
Doshi P., BMJ 2009 Dec 8; 339:b5164
Godlee F and Clarke M., BMJ 2009 Dec 8; 339:b5351
Smith J., BMJ 2009 Dec 8; 339:b5364
Smith J., BMJ 2009 Dec 8; 339:b5374
Novel Influenza Strain Challenges Researchers and Clinicians
General Medicine Year in Review
Free
As the H1N1 pandemic marches on, a profusion of studies has enhanced our understanding of this novel virus.
Top Stories in Infectious Diseases for 2009
Infectious Diseases Letter to Readers
Free
A perspective on the most important research in the field from the past year
Antigen Detection in Acute Pulmonary Histoplasmosis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among 20 patients, antigenuria was found in 65%, and antigenemia was detected in 78% when the serum was heat treated.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
December 23, 2009
Covering:
Swartzentruber S et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Dec 15; 49:1878
Short-Course Rifapentine for Latent TB?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Three months after treatment completion, no relapses of pulmonary TB were seen among mice that received 8 weeks of the long-acting rifamycin rifapentine.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
December 23, 2009
Covering:
Zhang T et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Dec 1; 180:1151
2009 H1N1 Vaccines — Safe So Far
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Vaccination against novel influenza A (H1N1) virus does not appear to be riskier than vaccination against seasonal influenza.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
December 16, 2009
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009 Dec 11; 58:1351
Travel-Associated H1N1 Influenza in Singapore
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
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Airport thermal scanners detected only 12% of travel-associated flu cases; many travelers boarded flights despite symptoms.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
December 16, 2009
Covering:
Mukherjee P et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2010 Jan
How Virulent Is the 2009 Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) Virus?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
We might have better T cell responses against H1N1 than we thought.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
December 15, 2009
Covering:
Greenbaum JA et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Dec 1; 106:20365
Preexisting Immunity to 2009 H1N1 Influenza
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
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Although the majority of B-cell epitopes in the 2009 H1N1 virus are new, most of the T-cell epitopes are similar to those found in past H1N1 strains.
3% Hypertonic Saline for Bronchiolitis
Infants treated with hypertonic saline had outcomes similar to those treated with normal saline.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
November 25, 2009
Covering:
Grewal S et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2009 Nov; 163:1007
BRIEFLY NOTED
Myopathy-related risk for arterial disease, low ambient UV and prevalence of immune disease, questioning the link between isotretinoin and IBD, and a severe combined immunodeficiency variant
H1N1 in Adults Can Be Severe
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
In California, mortality was higher among hospitalized adults than among hospitalized children.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 19, 2009
Covering:
Louie JK et al., JAMA 2009 Nov 4; 302:1896
Assays for Invasive Fungal Disease
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
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Two new antigen-based tests show promise and could prove useful for immunocompromised patients.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 18, 2009
Covering:
Maertens J et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Dec 1; 49:1688
Koo S et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Dec 1; 49:1650
ECMO for Patients with 2009 H1N1 Influenza and ARDS
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
In a study from New Zealand and Australia, ECMO was used largely in young adults, most of whom had good outcomes.
By John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM
November 13, 2009
Covering:
Davies A et al for the Australia and New Zealand Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation., JAMA 2009 Nov 4; 302:1888
Prevention of Flu Transmission in Households
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Hand hygiene and face masks can help prevent the spread of influenza.
Background Events and Mass Vaccination
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Knowledge about background rates of disease events is needed to assess events temporally related to vaccination.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
November 10, 2009
Covering:
Black S et al., Lancet 2009 Oct 31
DeStefano F and Tokars J., Lancet 2009 Oct 31
Pneumococcal DNA Load in CAP
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The <$EMPH_O>Streptococcus pneumoniae<$EMPH_C> DNA load in blood may have both diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
By Larry M. Baddour, MD
November 10, 2009
Covering:
Peters RPH et al., J Clin Microbiol 2009 Oct; 47:3308
Long-Acting Bronchodilators With or Without Inhaled Steroids in COPD
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Risk for moderate COPD exacerbations, but not severe exacerbations, was lower with combined therapy.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
November 5, 2009
Covering:
Rodrigo GJ et al., Chest 2009 Oct; 136:1029
Peramivir for Treatment of 2009 H1N1 Influenza
Responding to a CDC request, the FDA authorized the emergency use of this investigational agent in critically ill patients.
New CDC Interim Guidance on HIV and H1N1
HIV-infected individuals are a high-priority group for prevention and treatment of 2009 H1N1 influenza.
Zanamivir (Relenza) Must Not Be Given by Nebulization
Ventilator obstruction was blamed for the death of a woman who received zanamivir inhalation powder that was solubilized and administered by mechanical ventilation.
Surgical Masks or N95 Respirators for the Flu?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In a randomized trial, surgical masks and N95 respirators provided healthcare workers with comparable protection against influenza.
Immune Response from Bronchoalveolar Lavage Mononuclear Cells Diagnoses Active TB
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
ELISpot performed on bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 79% in diagnosing active disease.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
October 21, 2009
Covering:
Jafari C et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009 Oct 1; 180:666
Inflammatory Proteins: The Body–Brain Connection
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Inflammatory response to vaccination affected participants' sense of well-being and activated specific cortical regions but did not worsen cognitive performance.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
October 19, 2009
Covering:
Harrison NA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Sep 1; 66:415
Harrison NA et al., Biol Psychiatry 2009 Sep 1; 66:407
H1N1 Rapid Tests: Poor Sensitivity
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Rapid tests for seasonal influenza generally have relatively low sensitivity; their sensitivity for detecting the 2009 H1N1 virus seems even worse.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
October 14, 2009
Covering:
Drexler JF et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Oct; 15:1662
