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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
Penicillin-Susceptible S. aureus Bacteremia — Treat with Penicillin, if Possible!Free
- May 22, 2013
- Thomas Glück, MD
In patients with penicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, risk for 30-day mortality was 2.5-fold higher with cefuroxime treatment than with penicillin treatment.
- Reviewing:
- Nissen JL et al. J Antimicrob Chemother 2013 Apr 18
Recent Infectious Diseases Articles
FEATURE
ID Learning Unit — Antibiotics with Excellent Oral AbsorptionFree
- May 20, 2013
- HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
In his blog HIV and ID Observations, Dr. Paul Sax makes the case for oral antibiotics.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Reducing Empirical Antifungal Therapy with a Biomarker-Based Diagnostic StrategyFree
- May 15, 2013
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
In a randomized study of high-risk patients, weekly or semiweekly polymerase chain reaction and galactomannan testing reduced the use of empirical antifungal therapy without affecting mortality.
- Reviewing:
- Morrissey CO et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2013 Apr 30
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
The Burden and Etiology of Childhood Diarrhea in Asia and Africa
- May 15, 2013
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
Targeting five pathogens — rotavirus, Cryptosporidium, Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenic), and Shigella — could substantially reduce the burden of childhood diarrhea in developing countries.
- Reviewing:
- Kotloff KL et al. Lancet 2013 May 14
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Severe Illness from a Novel Avian Influenza Virus in China
- May 15, 2013
- Stephen G. Baum, MD
A novel reassortant H7N9 virus is causing an outbreak of severe respiratory illness in China, with possible limited human-to-human spread.
- Reviewing:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013 May 10; 62:366
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Avian Influenza A (H7N9): Origin and Diversity
- May 15, 2013
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
The H7N9 virus might have evolved from four origins; the multiple reassortant events may have involved wild birds and poultry.
- Reviewing:
- Liu D et al. Lancet 2013 May 1
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Surveillance Tool to Monitor Vaccine Confidence
- May 15, 2013
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
Real-time monitoring of media for vaccine content can identify negative reports and offers potential for early, targeted interventions.
- Reviewing:
- Larson HJ et al. Lancet Infect Dis 2013 May 13
FEATURE
FDA: Fecal Transplants Need Investigational New Drug ApplicationFree
- May 13, 2013
- HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
In his blog HIV and ID Observations, Dr. Paul Sax weighs in on a recent FDA decision regarding fecal microbiota transplantation.
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Can Copper Lower Infection Rates?Free
- May 8, 2013
- Richard T. Ellison III, MD
Copper-alloy surfaces in an ICU setting did not retain microbial bioburden and were associated with decreased risk for hospital-acquired infections.
- Reviewing:
- Schmidt MG et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2013 May; 34:530
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Endorses Routine HIV Screening
- May 8, 2013
- Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
This recommendation comes just in time to mandate insurance coverage of HIV testing under the Affordable Care Act.
- Reviewing:
- Moyer VA et al. Ann Intern Med 2013 Apr 30
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Avian Influenza A (H7N9) Virus in Humans and Poultry
- May 8, 2013
- Mary E. Wilson, MD
Isolates from a chicken and from a human with H7N9 virus infection after poultry exposure were nearly identical, suggesting poultry-to-person transmission.
- Reviewing:
- Chen Y et al. Lancet 2013 Apr 25
Editor's Picks from across Journal Watch
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Helicobacter pylori Infection Recurrence Varies by a Country's Socioeconomic Status
- May 3, 2013
- By David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)
- Gastroenterology
Areas with low socioeconomic development are more likely to have high recurrence rates of H. pylori infection.
- Reviewing:
- Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013 May; 37:963
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Fragile X Syndrome: Rx Minocycline?
- May 1, 2013
- By Martin T. Stein, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
This widely available medication was associated with modest behavioral improvements in children with FXS.
- Reviewing:
- J Dev Behav Pediatr 2013 Apr; 34:147
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Another Look at the "Ampicillin Rash"
- May 1, 2013
- By Deborah Lehman, MD
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
This study found a lower incidence of antibiotic-associated rash in children with Epstein-Barr virus acute infectious mononucleosis than previously reported.
- Reviewing:
- Pediatrics 2013 May 1; 131:e1424
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Survival Improvement with ART — Not Only for the Developed WorldFree
- May 6, 2013
- By Helmut Albrecht, MD
- HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
ART was associated with improved survival in a large South African study, but retention in care and sustainability remain challenges to long-term success.
- Reviewing:
- PLoS Med 2013 Apr; 10:e1001418
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.
