Steroid Therapy for ARDS, Revisited
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A moderate dose, started early and tapered over several weeks, provided benefit.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
April 24, 2007
Covering:
Meduri GU et al., Chest 2007 Apr; 131:954-63
Annane D., Chest 2007 Apr; 131:945-6
Does Nitric Oxide Help in Acute Lung Injury?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Once again, nitric oxide’s theoretical benefits did not translate into real ones.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
April 24, 2007
Covering:
Adhikari NKJ et al., BMJ 2007 Apr 14; 334:779
Ferguson ND., BMJ 2007 Apr 14; 334:757-8
Chest X-Rays Not Necessary in Bronchiolitis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
. . .especially for children who do not have respiratory distress or marked hypoxia.
By Robert A. Dershewitz, MD, MSc
April 24, 2007
Covering:
Schuh S et al., J Pediatr 2007 Apr; 150:429-33
Another Cause for Wheezing?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Human bocavirus was detected in 19% of wheezing children but was found alone in only 5%.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
April 18, 2007
Covering:
Allander T et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Apr 1; 44:904-10
Chronic Cough? Consider Pertussis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
At a Tennessee university, 27% of undergraduates with chronic cough had serologic evidence of recent pertussis.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
April 18, 2007
Covering:
Craig AS et al., Am J Med 2007 Apr; 120:364-8
Vitamins and CAP Risk
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In healthy young and middle-aged women, higher supplemental and dietary vitamin intake was not associated with lower risk for community-acquired pneumonia.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
April 18, 2007
Covering:
Neuman MI et al., Am J Med 2007 Apr; 120:330-6
Avian Influenza Viruses in Migratory Waterfowl
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Avian influenza viruses are widely distributed in birds; wild birds can be a sentinel population.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
April 18, 2007
Covering:
Wallensten A et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2007 Mar; 13:404-11
Gaidet N et al., Emerg Infect Dis 2007 Apr; 13:626-9
Partial Resistance of Influenza B to Neuraminidase Inhibitors
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Emergence of resistant strains and their transmissibility are both worrisome.
By Thomas L. Schwenk, MD
April 3, 2007
Covering:
Hatakeyama S et al., JAMA 2007 Apr 4; 297:1435-42
Moscona A and McKimm-Breschkin J., JAMA 2007 Apr 4; 297:1492-3
The 4-Hour Rule for Administering Antibiotics for CAP: Is It Possible?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
Meeting the 90% threshold for the 4-hour antibiotic standard may not be feasible.
By Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM
March 23, 2007
Covering:
Fee C and Weber EJ., Ann Emerg Med 2007 Jan 6
Bugs on a Plane
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Influenza and parainfluenza viruses were the most common respiratory pathogens in sick passengers.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 22, 2007
Covering:
Luna LK et al., J Infect Dis 2007 Mar 1; 195:675-9
Pavia AT., J Infect Dis 2007 Mar 1; 195:621-2
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among individuals exposed to active TB, skin-test reactions
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
March 21, 2007
Covering:
Arend SM et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Mar 15; 175:618-27
Staph’s Panton-Valentine Toxin Causes Lung Damage
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Panton-Valentine leukocidin might be a major virulence factor in pneumonia caused by community-acquired MRSA.
By Bradley E. Britigan, MD
March 14, 2007
Covering:
Labandeira-Rey M et al., Science 2007 Feb 23; 315:1130-3
Is PCP Prophylaxis Slipping by the Wayside?
Analysis of a large database suggests that clinicians are omitting this staple of HIV care.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 12, 2007
Covering:
Teshale EH et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Mar 15; 44:879-83
Can We Safely and Effectively Immunize Patients Receiving Anti-TNF Therapies?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Results in rheumatoid arthritis patients demonstrate some benefit from flu and pneumococcal vaccination in patients receiving biologic therapy.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
March 9, 2007
Covering:
Kaine JL et al., J Rheumatol 2007 Feb; 34:272-9
Rhinoviruses: Beyond the Common Cold
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Rhinoviruses play an under-recognized role in severe respiratory infections in young children.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
February 28, 2007
Covering:
Miller EK et al., J Infect Dis 2007 Mar 15; 195:773-81
Bacteremic Pneumonia — Better Outcomes with Macrolides Than with Fluoroquinolones
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In this retrospective study, macrolide/beta-lactam combinations were superior to tetracycline/fluoroquinolone combinations for treating bacteremic community-acquired pneumonia.
By Thomas Glück, MD
February 28, 2007
Covering:
Metersky ML et al., Chest 2007 Feb; 131:466-73
Important Clue About Human-to-Human Transmission of the 1918 Avian Flu Virus
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In animal models, creating specific mutations made the virus difficult or impossible to transmit; whether the same is true of the current avian flu virus remains to be determined.
By Anthony L. Komaroff, MD
February 27, 2007
Covering:
Tumpey TM et al., Science 2007 Feb 2; 315:655-9
Rapid Antibiotic-Susceptibility Determination in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Using results from an E-test with six antibiotic-impregnated strips applied directly to lower respiratory tract samples was associated with improved outcomes.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Bouza E et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Feb 1; 44:382-7
Flu Shots or Intranasal Flu Vaccine for Children?
The cold-adapted live attenuated intranasal vaccine is more effective than the intramuscular flu vaccine.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Belshe RB et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:685-96
Cox NJ and Bridges CB., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:729-31
CDC Reports Fatalities from Cold Medications
Inappropriate use of common cold medications can be fatal in infants.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Jan 12; 56:1-4
Attenuated vs. Inactivated Flu Vaccine in Children: Benefits and Adverse Effects
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
An investigational attenuated flu vaccine has superior efficacy to standard inactivated vaccine, but it comes with a significant risk for medically important wheezing.
By Neil R. Blacklow, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Belshe RB et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:685-96
Cox NJ and Bridges CB., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:729-31
Preventing TB in HIV-Infected Children
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Isoniazid prophylaxis in very young HIV-infected children markedly decreased TB incidence and mortality.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Zar HJ et al., BMJ 2007 Jan 20; 334:136-9
Rapid Influenza Diagnosis in Hospitalized Adults
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Rapid diagnosis was associated with reduced antibiotic use.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
February 7, 2007
Covering:
Falsey AR et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 22; 167
Aberrant Immune Response Key to 1918 Flu Virulence?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Infection of macaques with the 1918 virus led to dysregulation of the animals’ immune systems, resulting in enhanced lung injury and a blunted antiviral response.
By Bradley E. Britigan, MD
January 31, 2007
Covering:
Kobasa D et al., Nature 2007 Jan 18; 445:319-23
Flu Vaccine and Mortality in Community-Acquired Pneumonia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
An observational study adds to the evidence supporting vaccination.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
January 25, 2007
Covering:
Spaude KA et al., Arch Intern Med 2007 Jan 8; 167:53-9
