Trends and Predictors of PCP-Related Mortality
Despite advances in treatment, 4-week PCP-related mortality rates remained steady during a 21-year period in London.
By Judith Feinberg, MD
February 15, 2008
Covering:
Walzer PD et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Feb 15; 46:625
A Potential Blood Marker for PCP
Plasma S-adenosylmethionine levels seem to be a reliable marker for diagnosing PCP in HIV-infected patients.
By Judith Feinberg, MD
February 15, 2008
Covering:
Skelly MJ et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Feb 1; 46:467
A Sublingual Flu Vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Both formalin-inactivated and live influenza virus, administered sublingually, appeared protective in a mouse model.
Cough and Cold Medicines for Kids: How Big a Problem?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The CDC estimated that nearly 7100 children aged <12 years visit emergency departments annually because of taking cold medications.
Outpatient Management of Severe Pneumonia in Developing Countries: A New Option
Outpatient treatment with high-dose oral amoxicillin might reduce hospitalization in resource-limited countries.
Diagnosing Invasive Aspergillosis in ICU Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among 110 patients at risk, elevated BAL-fluid galactomannan levels had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 87% in diagnosing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
January 16, 2008
Covering:
Meersseman W et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 Jan 1; 177:27
Preventing Active TB in the Foreign-Born?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Sixty-two percent of cases of active TB among foreign-born San Francisco residents were not preventable by current TB-screening guidelines.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
January 16, 2008
Covering:
Walter ND et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Jan 1; 46:103
Legionnaires’ Disease from a Novel Source
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An outbreak of 56 cases in Norway was associated with the vapor from an industrial air scrubber; some case patients lived >10 km from the source.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
January 16, 2008
Covering:
Nygård K et al., Clin Infect Dis 2008 Jan 1; 46:61
Acute Sinusitis Treatment — Antibiotics No, Steroids Maybe
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Investigators in England found no benefit for antibiotics, but possibly a limited role for nasal steroids, in patients with acute sinusitis.
Honey for Cough
General Medicine Summary and Comment
It works, but it was associated with hyperactivity and insomnia.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
January 3, 2008
Covering:
Paul IM et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007 Dec; 161:1140
Do Antivirals Help Life-Threatening Influenza?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Oseltamivir appeared to reduce influenza mortality in hospitalized patients.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
January 2, 2008
Covering:
McGeer A et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Dec 15; 45:1568
Canada Geese Susceptible to H5N1 Virus
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
H5N1 causes severe morbidity with pronounced neurologic signs in juvenile geese; previous infection with low-pathogenic H5 viruses partially protects against disease.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
December 26, 2007
Covering:
Pasick J et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2007 Dec; 13:1821
Tuberculosis: Environment vs. Heredity
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A reanalysis of Prophit survey data revealed that the TB concordance rate in twin pairs is determined more by intensity of exposure than by zygosity.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
December 19, 2007
Covering:
van der Eijk EA et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Dec 15; 176:1281
Antibiotics Are Rarely Indicated for Respiratory Tract Infections
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
But elderly patients at risk for pneumonia might benefit.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
December 14, 2007
Covering:
Petersen I et al., BMJ 2007 Nov 10; 335:982
Coenen S and Goossens H., BMJ 2007 Nov 10; 335:946
Are Systemic Steroids Harmful in Severe CAP?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A retrospective study showed that adjunctive corticosteroids given to relieve bronchial obstruction did not negatively affect outcomes in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia.
By Thomas Glück, MD
December 12, 2007
Covering:
Garcia-Vidal C et al., Eur Respir J 2007 Nov; 30:951
Introduction of H5N1 to the Americas by Migratory Waterfowl Unlikely
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Analysis of the American and Eurasian influenza virus superfamilies revealed very little gene exchange despite overlap of migratory waterfowl pathways.
By Thomas Glück, MD
December 12, 2007
Covering:
Krauss S et al., PLoS Pathog 2007 Nov; 3:e167
The Effects of HIV Infection on TB
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Genotypic clusters of TB including
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 21, 2007
Covering:
DeRiemer K et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Nov 1; 176:936
The Quantiferon TB Test in Immunocompromised Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The Quantiferon TB-2G was more accurate than the standard tuberculin skin test for diagnosing active TB in immunocompromised patients.
By Thomas Glück, MD
November 21, 2007
Covering:
Kobashi Y et al., Eur Respir J 2007 Nov; 30:945
Cortisol Level and CAP
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In patients with CAP, total and free serum cortisol levels at initial evaluation were correlated with both PSI score and mortality.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 14, 2007
Covering:
Christ-Crain M et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Nov 1; 176:913
Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Cancer Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
PCP is associated with steroid therapy and diffuse pulmonary involvement; compared with bacterial pneumonia, it has later onset, longer symptom duration, and lower oxygen saturation.
By Thomas Glück, MD
November 14, 2007
Covering:
Bollée G et al., Chest 2007 Oct; 132:1305
Hypertonic Saline for Bronchiolitis
Nebulized hypertonic saline reduced hospital length of stay in young children with bronchiolitis.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
November 7, 2007
Covering:
Kuzik BA et al., J Pediatr 2007 Sep; 151:266
Calogero C and Sly PD., J Pediatr 2007 Sep; 151:235
Antibiotics Not Indicated for URI — Once Again
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A mammoth study among outpatients with URIs shows that antibiotics are not needed to prevent complications.
When Should X-Rays for Pneumonia Be Repeated?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Routine films within the month serve little purpose.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
October 23, 2007
Covering:
Bruns AHW et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Oct 15; 45:983
Extrapulmonary and Fetal Infection with H5N1 Influenza Virus
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
H5N1 viral sequences and antigens were found at autopsy in multiple tissues from two adults and a fetus.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
October 17, 2007
Covering:
Gu J et al., Lancet 2007 Sep 29; 370:1137
Ng WF and To KF., Lancet 2007 Sep 29; 370:1106
Why Are Antibiotics Prescribed for Uncomplicated Upper Respiratory Infection?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Emergency physicians are five times more likely to prescribe antibiotics when they think patients expect them, but patients are equally satisfied whether they receive antibiotics or not.
