Pasteurella Infections — Not Only from Animal Bites
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Sick pets may transmit upper respiratory infection.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 20, 2012
Covering:
Myers EM et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 15; 54:e55
Influenza Vaccine Immunogenicity: Pregnancy and Postpartum
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Response to influenza vaccine appeared no worse in the third trimester than in other stages of pregnancy or postpartum.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
March 15, 2012
Covering:
Sperling RS et al., Obstet Gynecol 2012 Mar; 119:631
CT Angiography Potentially Useful for Diagnosing Invasive Mold Disease
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography performed in 36 immunocompromised patients identified 10 of 12 individuals with proven or probable invasive mold disease.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
March 14, 2012
Covering:
Stanzani M et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 1; 54:610
Herbrecht R and Roedlich M-N., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 1; 54:617
Macrolide Resistance of Group A Streptococcus
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Acute rheumatic fever developed in two children treated for streptococcal pharyngitis with azithromycin.
Linezolid Bests Vancomycin for MRSA Pneumonia
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Linezolid leads to more clinical cures but similar overall mortality and has a much higher price tag.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 13, 2012
Covering:
Wunderink RG et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 1; 54:621
Torres A., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 1; 54:630
Colistin Regains a Clinical Role
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Free
A meta-analysis supports its use for ventilator-associated pneumonia.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 8, 2012
Covering:
Florescu DF et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 1; 54:670
Falagas ME and Rafailidis PI., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 1; 54:681
Human H5N1 Infection: Refining the Estimates
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Mild human infection with the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus appears to be relatively common, making mortality rates lower than originally feared.
Home Oxygen Protocol Is Safe for Hypoxic Infants with Bronchiolitis
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Only 6% of infants aged 3 to 18 months who were given home oxygen therapy subsequently required admission.
Cost-Effectiveness of Adult Pneumococcal Vaccines
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Mathematical modeling indicates that the new adult pneumococcal conjugate vaccine could be more cost-effective than the current pneumococcal polysaccharide product.
School's Out: Limiting the Spread of H1N1 Influenza
General Medicine Summary and Comment
In 2009, school closure in Alberta, Canada, was associated with reduced incidence of influenza.
Correlating Xpert MTB/RIF Results with Sputum Smear Status
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a study involving 130 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, an Xpert MTB/RIF cycle time >31.8 indicated an 80% likelihood of smear negativity.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
February 22, 2012
Covering:
Theron G et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Feb 1; 54:384
Fennelly KP., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Feb 1; 54:389
Obesity Worsens the Flu in Mice and Men
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Further, in obese mice, preventive measures often fail.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 7, 2012
Covering:
Kim Y-H et al., J Infect Dis 2012 Jan 15; 205:244
O'Brien KB et al., J Infect Dis 2012 Jan 15; 205:252
Beck MA., J Infect Dis 2012 Jan 15; 205:172
Should Efavirenz Be Dosed Higher When Coadministered with Rifampin?
The FDA recommends a dosage increase in patients weighing
Influenza in Neurologically Compromised Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An outbreak of influenza in patients with incapacitating neurological conditions caused severe infection, despite immunization.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
January 25, 2012
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Jan 6; 60:1729
PPIs and CAP, Revisited
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a retrospective, nested case-control study, the risk for community-acquired pneumonia was 29% higher with current use of a proton-pump inhibitor than with past use.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
January 18, 2012
Covering:
Hermos JA et al., Clin Infect Dis 2012 Jan 1; 54:33
Rhinoviruses Cause Severe Disease in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Among premature infants in Buenos Aires, rhinoviruses were the most common cause of all acute respiratory infections, of bronchiolitis, and of hospitalization for such illnesses.
H1N1 Influenza Vaccination During Pregnancy Is Protective and Safe
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
One dose of the 2009 pandemic H1N1 vaccine given during the second or third trimester induced seroprotection in the women and their newborns.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
January 4, 2012
Covering:
Tsatsaris V et al., Ann Intern Med 2011 Dec 6; 155:733
Clarity on When to Start ART in Active TB
For HIV/TB-coinfected patients with advanced immunosuppression, the survival benefit of starting ART within the first 2 weeks after initiation of TB therapy outweighs the risks for IRIS and other adverse events.
Recommendations for Use of Short-Course Isoniazid-Rifapentine for Latent TB
Infectious Diseases Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
This two-drug regimen, administered weekly for just 12 weeks, is efficacious in preventing active disease in patients with latent <$EMPH_O>Mycobacterium tuberculosis<$EMPH_C> infection.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
December 21, 2011
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 Dec 9; 60:1650
Posaconazole or Voriconazole Potentially Useful for Refractory Coccidioidomycosis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Fourteen of 21 patients on voriconazole and 12 of 16 on posaconazole improved when these drugs were used as salvage therapy.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
December 21, 2011
Covering:
Kim MM et al., Clin Infect Dis 2011 Dec 1; 53:1060
Effective Short-Course Treatment for Latent Tuberculosis
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Three months of isoniazid plus rifapentine worked as well as 9 months of isoniazid.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
December 20, 2011
Covering:
Sterling TR et al., N Engl J Med 2011 Dec 8; 365:2155
Big TB Prevention Study Important, Highly Relevant — Even Here
Dr. Paul Sax offers both a personal and professional take on the study, in his blog HIV and ID Observations .
Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Active Tuberculosis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Seasonal declines in mean vitamin D levels were followed by seasonal increases in TB notifications.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
November 30, 2011
Covering:
Martineau AR et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Nov 22; 108:19013
Realegeno S and Modlin RL., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011 Nov 22; 108:18861
New Flu Virus Can Spread Among Humans
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A recombinant swine-origin influenza A (H3N2) virus was responsible for mild respiratory illness in three children who had contact with each another but had no swine exposure.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
November 30, 2011
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011 Nov 23; 60:1
Global Influenza Dynamics: Even More Complicated Than We Thought
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The global persistence of influenza A appears to relate to new variants emerging in multiple localities worldwide.
