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.
Nebulized Hypertonic Saline Shortens Hospital Stay in Infants with Bronchiolitis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Length of stay was 1 day shorter in patients who received hypertonic saline than in those who received normal saline.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
October 4, 2007
Covering:
Kuzik BA et al., J Pediatr 2007 Sep; 151:266
Calogero C and Sly PD., J Pediatr 2007 Sep; 151:235
Long-Term Effectiveness of Flu Vaccine in Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
A 10-year multicenter study shows that influenza vaccination reduces rates of hospitalization and death in elderly persons.
By Neil R. Blacklow, MD
October 3, 2007
Covering:
Nichol KL et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 4; 357:1373
Treanor JD., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 4; 357:1439
CSF PCR Testing for Enterovirus Reduces Length of Stay for Infants
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Infants with positive PCR results had 1.5-day shorter length of stay.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
September 27, 2007
Covering:
King RL et al., Pediatrics 2007 Sep; 120:489
Outbreaks of Pseudopertussis: Lessons from a Costly Public Health Intervention
Not all whooping cough is pertussis.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
September 26, 2007
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Aug 24; 56:837
All That Whoops Isn’t Pertussis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Initial diagnoses of pertussis in three respiratory illness outbreaks ultimately could not be confirmed.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
September 26, 2007
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Aug 24; 56:837
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among U.S. Navy recruits born in countries with high TB prevalence and among individuals with culture-confirmed TB, TSTs were more likely than IGRAs to be positive.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
September 26, 2007
Covering:
Mazurek GH et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Oct 1; 45:826
Mazurek GH et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Oct 1; 45:837
Transient Antibiotic Resistance After a Single Course of Amoxicillin
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Resistant strains emerged surprisingly quickly after initiation of therapy.
By Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP
September 21, 2007
Covering:
Chung A et al., BMJ 2007 Sep 1; 335:429
Del Mar C., BMJ 2007 Sep 1; 335:407
Overuse of Antibiotics for URI — Still a Problem
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
New studies look at an educational intervention to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and the influence of perceived patient expectations on antibiotic prescribing.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
September 13, 2007
Covering:
Metlay JP et al., Ann Emerg Med 2007 Sep; 50:221-30
Ong S et al., Ann Emerg Med 2007 Sep; 50:213-20
Little Reason to Encourage Zinc Use for the Common Cold
Few high-quality trials and little evidence of treatment benefit
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
September 12, 2007
Covering:
Caruso TJ et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Sep 1; 45:569-74
Idraparinux for Venous Thromboembolic Disorders?
Cardiology Summary and Comment
Two separate studies demonstrated no advantage over standard treatment, and a benefit for secondary prevention was offset by increased bleeding risk.
By Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM
September 12, 2007
Covering:
The van Gogh Investigators., N Engl J Med 2007 Sep 13; 357:1094-104
The van Gogh Investigators., N Engl J Med 2007 Sep 13; 357:1105-12
Adjuvanted Vaccine Spares H5N1 Antigen
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Adjuvantation of an H5N1 vaccine resulted in good immune response and some cross-protection at low antigen doses.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
September 5, 2007
Covering:
Leroux-Roels I et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 18; 370:580-9
Sambhara S and Poland GA., Lancet 2007 Aug 18; 370:544-5
Is Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn Really Transient?
Infants with TTN might be more likely to wheeze later in childhood.
