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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
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
Special Notice
ID Learning Unit — Antibiotics with Excellent Oral Absorption
Dr. Paul Sax is attending on the general medical service, and has set a goal to teach the medical residents one ID-related thing a day. The first lesson from the "ID Learning Unit": What antibiotics can be given orally in place of their intravenous counterparts? Find out in his HIV and ID Observations blog, and check back here for more ID lessons.
Recent Infectious Diseases Articles
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
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Voriconazole plus Caspofungin for Refractory Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis
- May 8, 2013
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
In a retrospective study involving nine children with complicated coccidioidomycosis, eight improved with a change to combination voriconazole/caspofungin therapy.
- Reviewing:
- Levy ER et al. Clin Infect Dis 2013 Jun 1; 56:1573
SUMMARY AND COMMENT
Does Strain Type Predict Severity in C. difficile Infection?
- May 8, 2013
- Neil M. Ampel, MD
In a database with information on more than 2700 samples, Clostridium difficile clade type determined by multilocus sequence typing was significantly associated with 14-day mortality.
- Reviewing:
- Walker AS et al. Clin Infect Dis 2013 Jun 1; 56:1589
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.
