Infectious Diseases: Archives

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Effect of PCV-7 on Nasopharyngeal Carriage

• July 22, 2009
• Robert S. Baltimore, MD

Administered on reduced-dose schedules, the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine effectively decreased nasopharyngeal carriage of vaccine serotypes in children.

• Reviewing:
• van Gils EJM et al., JAMA 2009 Jul 8; 302:159

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Vi Typhoid Vaccine TrialFree

• July 22, 2009
• Larry M. Baddour, MD

The vaccine was protective both among individuals (including preschool children) who received it and among their unvaccinated neighbors.

• Reviewing:
• Sur D et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 23; 361:335 Levine MM., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 23; 361:403

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Stepwise Efavirenz Decreases NeurotoxicityFree

• July 15, 2009
• Stephen G. Baum, MD

Neuropsychiatric side effects during the initial weeks of efavirenz therapy can be reduced by building up to the full dose gradually.

• Reviewing:
• Gutiérrez-Valencia A et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jul 7

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Treatment of Chikungunya: Of Mice and Mice

• July 15, 2009
• Larry M. Baddour, MD

Immunoglobulins purified from the plasma of humans in the convalescent phase of infection were effective in preventing and treating chikungunya in mice.

• Reviewing:
• Couderc T et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Jul 2 Michault A and Staikowsky F., J Infect Dis 2009 Jul 2

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Spore Formation by Mycobacteria

• July 15, 2009
• Richard T. Ellison III, MD

Sporulation could explain the ability of these pathogens to lie dormant for years before causing active disease.

• Reviewing:
• Ghosh J et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009 Jun 30; 106:10781

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Combination Therapy for African Sleeping Sickness

• July 15, 2009
• Mary E. Wilson, MD

Eflornithine plus nifurtimox was as efficacious against second-stage Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection as eflornithine monotherapy and was better tolerated.

• Reviewing:
• Priotto G et al., Lancet 2009 Jul 4; 374:56 Opigo J and Woodrow C., Lancet 2009 Jul 4; 374:7

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Causes of Febrile Illness in Amazonia, Ecuador

• July 15, 2009
• Mary E. Wilson, MD

Analysis of clinical specimens from patients with acute febrile illnesses identified pathogens not previously recorded in this area.

• Reviewing:
• Manock SR et al., Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009 Jul; 81:146

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Pathogenicity of the Swine-Origin 2009 A (H1N1) Influenza Virus

• July 15, 2009
• Richard T. Ellison III, MD

In animal models, this virus caused more morbidity than seasonal H1N1 viruses but was not as readily transmissible.

• Reviewing:
• Maines TR et al., Science 2009 Jul 2

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

Improved Handwashing Behavior Difficult to Sustain

• July 15, 2009
• Mary E. Wilson, MD

Two years after an intervention to promote handwashing ended, rates of diarrhea were similar between control and intervention groups.

• Reviewing:
• Luby SP et al., Am J Trop Med Hyg 2009 Jul; 81:140

SUMMARY AND COMMENT

A Monoclonal Antibody for Preventing and Treating Inhalational AnthraxFree

• July 8, 2009
• Larry M. Baddour, MD

A human monoclonal antibody, raxibacumab, was effective in the treatment and prevention of inhalational anthrax in two animal models.

• Reviewing:
• Migone T-S et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 9; 361:135 Nabel GJ., N Engl J Med 2009 Jul 9; 361:191