Infectious Disease Alert – May 1, 2024

Inappropriate Diagnosis of Pneumonia Is Common in Hospitalized Patients

A cohort study that included 48 hospitals in Michigan found that 12% of patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia were diagnosed inappropriately. Older age, dementia, and presenting with acute change in mental status increased the risk for misdiagnosis.

Predicting Outcomes of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection can cause hearing loss and neurologic deficits, but most affected newborns escape without sequelae. New data suggest a good prognosis if the mother’s infection was after the first trimester and if the newborn has normal hearing, a normal platelet count, and a normal head ultrasound exam.

Meningococcal Disease Is on the Rise

The number of cases of infection with Neisseria meningitidis is increasing in the United States. The majority of presentations are with bacteremia; meningitis is infrequent.

Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir in High-Risk Vaccinated and Low-Risk Unvaccinated Participants: The EPIC-SR Trial

In this Phase II-III randomized controlled clinical trial (EPIC-SR), nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was not associated with a significant difference in time to alleviation of symptoms nor COVID-19-related hospitalization or death from any cause as compared with placebo in unvaccinated individuals without risk factors for severe disease or in vaccinated individuals with a least one risk factor for severe disease.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

The Burden of Clostridioides difficile Infection; The Globe May Be Warming, but People Are Cooler; Methotrexate for Chikungunya Arthritis