Sore Throat: Closing In on Rational and Efficient Management
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
The best approach combines a scoring system and a rapid strep-antigen test.
By J. Stephen Bohan, MS, MD, FACP, FACEP
May 9, 2006
Covering:
Humair J-P et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Mar 27; 166:640-4
"Trojan Chicken" Simulates Avian Flu Exposure at County Fair
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Exposure to a chicken that was dusted with a pathogen surrogate led to contaminated hands.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
May 9, 2006
Covering:
Olson SR and Gray GC., Emerg Infect Dis 2006 May; 12:795-9
Does 23PPV Really Work?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Previous immunization with the 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine was associated with a 50% reduction in mortality in adults with community-acquired pneumonia.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
May 5, 2006
Covering:
Fisman DN et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Apr 15; 42:1093-101
Skin Testing May Not Detect Recent TB Infection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In an outbreak of TB, tuberculin skin testing detected transmission in 3% of cases; an in vitro blood test, in 21%.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
May 5, 2006
Covering:
Anderson ST et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 May 1; 173:1038-42
Factors Contributing to CAP Treatment Failure
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In Switzerland, nonresponse to empirical antibiotic therapy for community-acquired pneumonia is due mainly to patient- or drug-related factors, not resistant pathogens.
By Thomas Glück, MD
May 5, 2006
Covering:
Genné D et al., Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2006 Mar; 25:159-66
An Inactivated H5N1 Influenza Vaccine — Good News, Bad News
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Given at high doses, a first-generation avian influenza vaccine provides protective immunity in about 55% of recipients.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester
April 28, 2006
Covering:
Treanor JJ et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1343-51
Shu Y et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1421-2
Poland GA., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1411-3
Does Influenza Vaccine Still Stymie HIV ELISA Tests?
Cross-reacting antibodies might be an increasing problem in the era of rapid ELISA testing.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
April 26, 2006
Covering:
Erickson CP et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1422-3
Emergency Physicians Overprescribe Antibiotics for Viral Respiratory Infections
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Half of antibiotic prescriptions were for viral upper respiratory tract infections or acute bronchitis.
By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
April 25, 2006
Covering:
Gonzales R et al., Acad Emerg Med 2006 Mar; 13:288-94
Karras D., Acad Emerg Med 2006 Mar; 13:331-3
High Adamantane Resistance in Influenza A Isolates
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
In the current 2005–2006 flu season, neuraminidase inhibitors should be used instead of adamantanes.
By John A. Marx, MD, FAAEM, FACEP
April 25, 2006
Covering:
Bright RA et al., JAMA 2006 Feb 22; 295:891-4
Weinstock DM and Zuccotti G., JAMA 2006 Feb 22; 295:934-6
Mumps Is Back
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
A high vaccination rate did not prevent a large outbreak of mumps in Iowa.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
April 21, 2006
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006 Apr 7; 55:366-8
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006 Apr 14; 55:401-2
An Inactivated H5N1 Influenza Vaccine — Good News, Bad News
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Given at high doses, a first-generation avian influenza vaccine appears to provide protective immunity in about 55% of recipients.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
April 21, 2006
Covering:
Treanor JJ et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1343-51
Shu Y et al., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1421-2
Poland GA., N Engl J Med 2006 Mar 30; 354:1411-3
Avian and Human Influenza Transmission — A Sticky Issue
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Lower rates of human-to-human transmission of avian than of human influenza viruses may be due to a different distribution of preferred sialic acid viral receptors along the human airway.
By Bradley E. Britigan, MD
April 21, 2006
Covering:
Shinya K et al., Nature 2006 Mar 23; 440:435-6
Rifapentine/Isoniazid for Latent TB
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Weekly rifapentine with isoniazid for 12 weeks was equivalent to rifampin/pyrazinamide for preventing active TB among household contacts.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
April 21, 2006
Covering:
Schechter M et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 Apr 15; 173:922-6
Treating Acute Pharyngitis in Adults
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A rapid streptococcal antigen test enabled researchers to maximize appropriate antibiotic use cost-effectively.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
April 11, 2006
Covering:
Humair J-P et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Mar 27; 166:640-4
Recognizing Influenza in Hospitalized Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Only about half of hospitalized patients diagnosed with influenza met CDC criteria for "influenza-like illness."
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
April 7, 2006
Covering:
Babcock HM et al., Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006 Mar; 27:266-70
Human Metapneumovirus and Pneumococcal Coinfection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Pneumococcal coinfection may play a role in severe cases of human metapneumovirus infection.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
April 7, 2006
Covering:
Madhi SA et al., J Infect Dis 2006 May 1; 193:e1-8
Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant TB Rising
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is becoming increasingly common, according to a CDC/WHO survey of 25 TB laboratories on six continents. Seven percent of TB isolates were . . .
March 29, 2006
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006 Mar 24; 55:301-5
Humidity and Viral Croup: No Value in Any Form
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
The commonly accepted treatment for croup was found to have no benefit.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
March 24, 2006
Covering:
Scolnik D et al., JAMA 2006 Mar 15; 295:1274-80
Don’t Rely on Amantadine and Rimantadine This Flu Season
High rates of drug resistance among influenza A viruses render the adamantanes useless this year in the U.S.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
March 24, 2006
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006 Jan 20; 55:44-6
Antimicrobial Agents for Pertussis Treatment and Postexposure Prophylaxis
Infectious Diseases Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
After many years of decline, pertussis incidence is on the rise again despite high childhood vaccination compliance.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
March 24, 2006
Covering:
Tiwari T et al., MMWR Recomm Rep 2005 Dec 9; 54:1-16
Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Workers
Infectious Diseases Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
These guidelines reiterate the reasons for immunizing healthcare personnel and provide tactics for achieving high vaccination rates.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
March 10, 2006
Covering:
Pearson ML et al., MMWR Recomm Rep 2006 Feb 24; 55:1-16
Influenza A Resistance to Adamantane
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Because influenza strains in the U.S. exhibit high rates of resistance to amantadine and rimantadine, these drugs should not be prescribed for flu this season.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
March 3, 2006
Covering:
Bright RA et al., JAMA 2006 Feb 22; 295:891-4
Preparing for Flu Outbreaks: Antiviral Drugs Alone Will Not Suffice
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Researchers conclude that the benefits of antivirals are limited in seasonal influenza outbreaks and that neuraminidase inhibitors might even increase attack rates in a pandemic.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
February 28, 2006
Covering:
Jefferson T et al., Lancet 2006 Jan 28; 367:303-13
Vaccine Against Human H5N1 Virus Efficacious in Mice
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A recombinant adenovirus-vector–based vaccine with the H5 gene protected mice against lethal H5N1 challenge.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
February 24, 2006
Covering:
Hoelscher MA et al., Lancet 2006 Feb 11; 367:475-81
Rifamycin Resistance in Patients with HIV and TB
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Twice-weekly rifabutin was associated with development of rifamycin resistance in patients with low CD4-cell counts.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
February 24, 2006
Covering:
Burman W et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2006 Feb 1; 173:350-6
