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Infectious Diseases
Concise physician-authored perspectives on the most clinically relevant original research, guidelines, and new drug and vaccine approvals critical to the treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of infectious diseases.
Featured Article

SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Acetaminophen After Vaccination Reduces Antibody ResponseFree
- November 4, 2009
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
Prophylactic doses of acetaminophen given after vaccination reduce fever but blunt antibody response to multiple antigens.
- Reviewing:
- Prymula R et al. Lancet 2009 Oct 17; 374:1339
Recent Infectious Diseases Articles
DRUG WATCH
Peramivir for Treatment of 2009 H1N1 Influenza
- November 4, 2009
- Lynn Estes, PharmD
Responding to a CDC request, the FDA authorized the emergency use of this investigational agent in critically ill patients.
- Reviewing:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2009 Oct 24
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Hepatitis E Outbreak Among Cruise Ship Passengers
- November 4, 2009
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
Overall, 4% of passengers returning from a 3-month world cruise tested positive for recent HEV infection; one third of these individuals had symptomatic hepatitis.
- Reviewing:
- Said B et al. Emerg Infect Dis 2009 Nov; 15:1738
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections of the Cheek
- November 4, 2009
- Robert S. Baltimore, MD
Researchers describe a series of seven children with such infections. Recovery took many months, and clarithromycin did not seem to hasten resolution.
- Reviewing:
- Haimi-Cohen Y et al. J Pediatr 2009 Nov; 155:746
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Children with UTIsFree
- October 28, 2009
- Howard Bauchner, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Prophylaxis was associated with a modest but significant reduction in recurrent UTI.
- Reviewing:
- Craig JC et al. N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 29; 361:1748
DRUG WATCH
Zanamivir (Relenza) Must Not Be Given by NebulizationFree
- October 28, 2009
- Lynn L. Estes, PharmD
Ventilator obstruction was blamed for the death of a woman who received zanamivir inhalation powder that was solubilized and administered by mechanical ventilation.
- Reviewing:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2009 Oct 9
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Genetic Susceptibility to Fungal Infections
- October 28, 2009
- Thomas Glück, MD
Immunologic and genetic studies in patients with chronic Candida infections revealed the critical roles played by the β-glucan receptor dectin-1 pathway and interleukin-17 release.
- Reviewing:
- Ferwerda B et al. N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 29; 361:1760
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections: The Surge Continues
- October 28, 2009
- Larry M. Baddour, MD
The incidence of infection is increasing faster than the rate of implantation.
- Reviewing:
- Voigt A et al. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2009 Sep 30
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
HLA-DR Recovery and Risk for Secondary Infections in Sepsis
- October 28, 2009
- Thomas Glück, MD
Slow recovery of depressed HLA-DR was associated with increased risk for secondary infections.
- Reviewing:
- Lukaszewicz A-C et al. Crit Care Med 2009 Oct; 37:2746
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
A Glimmer of Hope for HIV VaccinesFree
- October 22, 2009
- Frances H. Priddy, MD, MPH, and Carlos del Rio, MD
- HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
A large trial has shown that a vaccine can protect against HIV acquisition. The task now is to figure out how to build on this initial success.
- Reviewing:
- Rerks-Ngarm S et al. N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 20
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Surgical Masks or N95 Respirators for the Flu?Free
- October 21, 2009
- Richard T. Ellison III, MD
In a randomized trial, surgical masks and N95 respirators provided healthcare workers with comparable protection against influenza.
- Reviewing:
- Loeb M et al. JAMA 2009 Oct 1
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Preventing Oral Mucositis in Cancer Treatment
- October 27, 2009
- By Barbara A. Murphy, MD
- Oncology and Hematology
Recombinant human intestinal trefoil factor produced encouraging results.
- Reviewing:
- J Clin Oncol 2009 Sep 10; 27:4333
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
H. pylori and Gastric Cancer
- October 30, 2009
- By David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)
- Gastroenterology
Eradication of H. pylori infection did not significantly reduce the incidence of gastric cancer.
- Reviewing:
- World J Gastroenterol 2009 Sep 14; 15:4290
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Chest X-Ray Abnormalities Associated with H1N1 Influenza Infection
- October 30, 2009
- By Daniel J. Pallin, MD, MPH
- Emergency Medicine
Patchy consolidation, often bilateral, was the most common finding.
- Reviewing:
- AJR Am J Roentgenol 2009 Oct 12
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Resistance Development with Tenofovir/FTC vs. AZT/3TCFree
- October 19, 2009
- By Jonathan Z. Li, MD, and Paul E. Sax, MD
- HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
In a comparative clinical trial, patients receiving tenofovir/FTC were less likely to develop resistance mutations during virologic failure than were those receiving AZT/3TC.
- Reviewing:
- J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Oct 1; 52:209
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.
