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Infectious Diseases
Journal Watch condenses summaries of key research across specialties from more than 250 medical journals into concise yet comprehensive articles, incorporating clinical commentary from prominent physician-editors in the field.
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Featured Article
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
The Benefits of Contact Investigation for TBFree
- May 16, 2012
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
Active TB was diagnosed in 1% of contacts within 4 years after exposure; chemoprophylaxis of those with latent infection significantly reduced the risk for active disease.
- Reviewing:
- Anger HA et al. Clin Infect Dis 2012 May 1; 54:1287
Special Notice
Advisory Meeting on Tenofovir/FTC for PrEP, and a Proposed “Niche” for its Use
Do current recommendations for HIV-serodiscordant couples wishing to have children still make sense given the recent favorable data on pre-exposure prophylaxis? In his blog HIV and ID Observations, Dr. Paul Sax describes one scenario for using PrEP.
Recent Infectious Diseases Articles
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Chlorhexidine Reduces the Rate of CVC-Associated BSIs
- May 16, 2012
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
In a prospective, multicenter trial, daily body cleansing with 2% chlorhexidine was associated with a significant reduction in central venous catheter bloodstream infections.
- Reviewing:
- Montecalvo MA et al. Am J Med 2012 May; 125:505
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Postprocedural Fungal Endophthalmitis
- May 16, 2012
- Stephen G. Baum, MD
Serious eye infections in 33 patients have been traced to contamination of products used for invasive ophthalmic procedures, compounded by a single laboratory.
- Reviewing:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 May 4; 61:310
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Cleanyourhands!
- May 16, 2012
- Stephen G. Baum, MD
Increased procurement of soap and alcohol-based hand cleansers was associated with decreased rates of MRSA and C. difficile infections in England and Wales.
- Reviewing:
- Stone SP et al. BMJ 2012 May 3; 344:e3005
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Avian Influenza Transmission in MammalsFree
- May 9, 2012
- Richard T. Ellison III, MD
The first of two highly controversial studies of modified avian H5N1 influenza virus has now been published.
- Reviewing:
- Imai M et al. Nature 2012 May 2
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics in Livestock Is Common
- May 9, 2012
- Thomas Glück, MD
Antibiotics were given to calves mostly as group treatments and were frequently under- or overdosed.
- Reviewing:
- Pardon B et al. J Antimicrob Chemother 2012 Apr; 67:1027
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Does Vitamin D Supplementation Reduce the Rate of Infant Pneumonia?Free
- May 2, 2012
- Robert S. Baltimore, MD
In a vitamin D–deficient infant population, such supplementation did not reduce the incidence of pneumonia or change the age at which first episodes occurred.
- Reviewing:
- Manaseki-Holland S et al. Lancet 2012 Apr 14; 379:1419
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
A Recombinant Vaccine for Tuberculosis
- May 2, 2012
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
In a phase IIa trial, vaccination with MVA85A was well tolerated and induced T-cell responses in individuals with HIV infection, Mtb infection, or both.
- Reviewing:
- Scriba TJ et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012 Apr 1; 185:769
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Pseudomonas-Contaminated Ultrasound Transmission Gel
- May 2, 2012
- Stephen G. Baum, MD
An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory tract colonization and infection involving 16 cardiovascular surgery patients was traced to the use of contaminated ultrasound transmission gel.
- Reviewing:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012 Apr 20; 61:262
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Clostridium difficile Infection — Treat Orally, if Possible
- May 2, 2012
- Thomas Glück, MD
The risk for death was significantly higher with intravenous metronidazole than with oral metronidazole or oral vancomycin.
- Reviewing:
- Wenisch JM et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012 Apr; 56:1974
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Risk Factors for Clinical Failure in Cellulitis and Skin Abscess
- May 2, 2012
- Larry M. Baddour, MD
Hospitalized patients with obesity may experience clinical failure because of inadequate antibiotic dosing.
- Reviewing:
- Halilovic J et al. J Infect 2012 Mar 21
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Text Message Reminders Can Improve Pediatric Influenza Vaccination Rates
- May 9, 2012
- By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
The intervention had the greatest effect on vaccination rates in younger children in a low-income urban community.
- Reviewing:
- JAMA 2012 Apr 25; 307:1702
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
High Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Level Increases Risk for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
- May 4, 2012
- By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
- Gastroenterology
The finding was for patients with a low hepatitis B virus DNA level.
- Reviewing:
- Gastroenterology 2012 May; 142:1140
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Time to Broaden HCV Testing?
- May 8, 2012
- By Abigail Zuger, MD
- General Medicine
Improvements in treatment are changing the calculus of screening the general population for hepatitis C virus infection.
- Reviewing:
- Clin Infect Dis 2012 May 1; 54:1259
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Eradication of Staphylococcus aureus Colonization Is Effective in Only Half of Cases
- May 4, 2012
- By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
- Emergency Medicine
But a larger reduction in subsequent skin and soft-tissue infections was seen when the entire household was treated.
- Reviewing:
- Clin Infect Dis 2012 Mar 15; 54:743
Journal Watch Infectious Diseases summarizes important medical journal articles about a wide variety of infectious disease subjects including antibiotic resistance, hepatitis, HIV, influenza, malaria, pneumonia, sepsis, sexually transmitted diseases, and tuberculosis.
