Bacterial Pneumonia as Pandemic Flu Killer
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
A review of autopsies from the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic showed that most deaths resulted from secondary bacterial pneumonia.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
October 8, 2008
Covering:
Morens DM et al., J Infect Dis 2008 Oct 1; 198:962
McCullers JA., J Infect Dis 2008 Oct 1; 198:945
Persistence of Humoral Immunity — for 90 Years!
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Survivors of the 1918 influenza pandemic still have neutralizing antibodies to the 1918 H1N1 influenza strain.
Pseudomonas Colonization Worsens Prognosis in Ventilated Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A high burden of <$EMPH_O>Pseudomonas<$EMPH_C> in the respiratory tract, even without signs of pneumonia, significantly increases the risk for death.
By Thomas Glück, MD
October 1, 2008
Covering:
Zhuo H et al., Crit Care Med 2008 Sep; 36:2495
Lisboa T and Rello J., Crit Care Med 2008 Sep; 36:2675
Concurrent ART/TB Treatment Finally Proven to Be Beneficial
Giving ART while TB treatment was still ongoing dramatically improved survival among HIV/TB-coinfected patients in a large clinical trial in South Africa.
By ACC Editors
September 29, 2008
Long-Term Use of Synbiotics Is Safe
A large randomized trial confirms the safety of prenatal probiotic exposure and synbiotic exposure in healthy young infants.
Maternal Influenza Immunization Protects Infants
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Inactivated influenza vaccine reduced respiratory illness in the infants of women who were immunized during pregnancy.
Is Legionellosis Increasing in the U.S.?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An analysis of cases reported to the CDC demonstrates a marked increase in legionellosis incidence beginning in 2003.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
September 24, 2008
Covering:
Neil K and Berkelman R., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Sep 1; 47:591
Ng V et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Sep 1; 47:600
PPIs and CAP Risk
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Although short-term use of proton-pump inhibitors was associated with increased risk for community-acquired pneumonia, long-term use was not.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
September 24, 2008
Covering:
Sarkar M et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Sep 16; 149:391
Identifying Pneumonia Patients Who Are Unstable at Discharge
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A composite of four instability variables (temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation) at discharge was correlated with 30-day postdischarge mortality.
By Thomas Glück, MD
September 24, 2008
Covering:
Capelastegui A et al., Chest 2008 Sep; 134:595
Measuring Pleural Fluid pH: Technique Matters!
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Leaving air or lidocaine in the syringe or analyzing the sample
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
September 24, 2008
Covering:
Rahman NM et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 Sep 1; 178:483
Bronchoscopy for Diagnosing TB in Children
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Flexible bronchoscopy was valuable in diagnosing endobronchial TB in children and in discovering reasons for inadequate treatment response.
A Little Hand Hygiene Goes a Long Way
Meta-analysis results of community-based intervention studies indicate that use of <$EMPH_O>non<$EMPH_C>antibacterial soap and hand-hygiene education significantly reduce respiratory and GI illnesses.
Is Legionellosis on the Rise?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The reported incidence increased abruptly in 2002, although the explanation for the rise is unclear.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 9, 2008
Covering:
Neil K and Berkelman R., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Sep 1; 47:591
Ng V et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Sep 1; 47:600
A Nosocomial Gram-Negative Bacillus Imperils a Nurse
General Medicine Summary and Comment
A nurse with diabetes barely survived <$EMPH_O>Acinetobacter<$EMPH_C> pneumonia acquired from one of her patients.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 9, 2008
Covering:
Whitman TJ et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Aug 15; 47:439
SMART-COP: A Better Pneumonia Stratification Score?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
This new, simple-to-use score had high sensitivity for predicting need for intensive respiratory or vasopressor support among CAP patients.
Mortality in Human H5N1 Virus Infection
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Prompt treatment with oseltamivir might lower the mortality rate.
Shortening TB Isolation with NAA Testing
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
NAA testing of one sputum sample identified all 35 smear-positive patients and was more sensitive than smears in detecting TB in patients with positive cultures.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
August 13, 2008
Covering:
Campos M et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 Aug 1; 178:300
Not All Burkholderia Species Are Alike in CF
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
<$EMPH_O>B. gladioli<$EMPH_C> and nonepidemic <$EMPH_O>B. cenocepacia<$EMPH_C> strains were associated with increased posttransplantation mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis; <$EMPH_O>B. multivorans<$EMPH_C> was not.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
August 13, 2008
Covering:
Murray S et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 Aug 15; 178:363
Does Flu Vaccination Lower Risk for Pneumonia in Elders?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In contrast to results of previous studies, flu vaccine did not lower risk in this study.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
August 12, 2008
Covering:
Jackson ML et al., Lancet 2008 Aug 2; 372:398
Belongia EA and Shay DK., Lancet 2008 Aug 2; 372:352
Individualized Treatment of XDR-TB
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Aggressive multifaceted management was successful in 60% of individuals with extensively drug-resistant TB who received outpatient treatment at a referral clinic in Lima, Peru.
By Larry M. Baddour, MD
August 6, 2008
Covering:
Mitnick CD et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Aug 7; 359:563
Raviglione MC., N Engl J Med 2008 Aug 7; 359:636
Increasing Influenza Virus Resistance to Neuraminidase Inhibitors
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The prevalence of oseltamivir resistance in influenza A (H1N1) viruses was significantly increased during the early 2007–2008 influenza season.
By Lynn L. Estes, PharmD
August 6, 2008
Covering:
Sheu TG et al., Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2008 Jul 14
A New Drug Target in Mtb
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In <$EMPH_O>Mycobacterium tuberculosis,<$EMPH_C> a membrane protein is essential for resistance to killing by activated macrophages.
Molecular Diagnosis of Children’s Viral Respiratory Infections
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The findings from two studies demonstrate the superiority of nucleic acid probe–based methods in diagnosing viral infections.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
July 23, 2008
Covering:
Bonzel L et al., Pediatr Infect Dis J 2008 Jul; 27:589
Chiu CY et al., J Pediatr 2008 Jul; 153:76
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Such exposure to tuberculin boosts IFN-
By Thomas Glück, MD
July 9, 2008
Covering:
Choi JC et al., Chest 2008 Jun; 133:1415
BNP — A Marker for Critical Heart Disease in Children
General Medicine Summary and Comment
BNP levels were much higher in children with heart disease than in children with noncardiac causes of respiratory distress and other nonspecific symptoms, with no overlap.
