Infectious Disease Alert – March 1, 2013
March 1, 2013
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Continuous Infusion of Beta-lactams for Sepsis Improves Outcomes
Despite notable advances in critical care medicine, mortality from severe sepsis remains unacceptably high. With current therapeutic strategies, nothing has proven more crucial than early and effective antibiotics. -
Antibiotics for Severe Acute Malnutrition
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted from December 2009 through January 2011 at 18 feeding sites in Malawi. This region of oral sub-Saharan Africa has a subsistence farming population with an estimated 11% of adults infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). -
Malaria Continues to Take Staggering Toll as Relief Efforts Plateau
It is estimated that there were approximately 219 million cases of malaria in the world in 2010 and 680,000 or these cases were fatal. The majority of deaths occur in children, most in Africa — with one dying every minute. Fourteen countries are estimated to account for 80% of deaths, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria accounting for 40% of total global malaria deaths. -
Burden of Human Metapneumovirus Infection in Young Children
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was only discovered about a decade ago and until this study the extent of the disease — particularly in the young — was not known. -
Doxycycline May Protect Against Clostridium Difficile Infection
Doernberg and colleagues sought to determine whether receipt of doxycycline was associated with protection from development of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in hospitalized patients being treated with ceftriaxone, a known high-risk antibiotic for CDI. -
Direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C show promise
Gane et al conducted a randomized open label trial of 40 patients with HCV genotype 2 or 3 infection which evaluated sofosbuvir 400 mg once daily plus ribavirin (RBV) for 12 weeks. -
Updates
Saint S, et al, Perceived strength of evidence supporting best practices to prevent health care-associated infection: results from a national survey of infection prevention personnel. Am J Infect Control 2013;(41):100-106. -
Pharmacology Watch: Aspirin Use and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
In this issue: Aspirin use and AMD risk; using NSAIDs and antihypertensive agents; and FDA actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement