Infectious Disease Alert – February 1, 2009
February 1, 2009
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Universal Voluntary HIV Testing with Antiretroviral Therapy as a Strategy to Eliminate HIV Transmission
Mathematical models (a case reproduction number/stochastic model and a long-term epidemic dynamics/deterministic transmission model) were used to explore the effect of testing for all people 15 or older for HIV and initiating ARV therapy immediately after diagnosis. -
The Emergence of Pneumococcus Type 19A as the Major Cause of Mastoiditis in Children
Since 1993, clinical isolates of s. pneumoniae from normally sterile sites, including middle ear cultures, have been prospectively obtained from the Texas Children's Hospital clinical microbiology laboratory, and stored frozen. -
Kingella kingae Infections in Children
A retrospective study at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Israel of all children with a positive blood or synovial fluid culture for K. kingae during 1996-2006 revealed 62 children with invasive K. kingae infections. Of these, 42 (68%) had positive blood culture results and 20 (32%) had positive synovial fluid cultures. There were no cases of osteomyelitis documented. -
Increased Incubation Time Increases the Yield of Culture in Prosthetic Joint Infection
Accurate microbiologic diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is problematic. Infecting organisms reside in a biofilm, and standard culture techniques appear to have sub-optimal sensitivity. -
Outbreak of Acute Schistosomiasis: Brief Exposure and Severe Morbidity
Schistosomiasis is the most important trematode infection worldwide, transmitted to humans through skin contact with infested freshwater. -
The Newest Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus: MRSP
Companion animals have been carrying a secret around for years. Maybe that is why my sister's golden retriever is always smiling. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci are not exclusively Staphylococcus aureus. -
Decontamination in the ICU
In a study designed to evaluate potential methods for improving survival by prevention of infection in ICU patients, de Smet et al used cluster randomization involving 13 centers in the Netherlands, with assignment to one of three treatment arms: selective decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract (SDD), selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD), or standard of care (SOC). -
Updates by Carol A. Kemper, MD, FACP
Concerns have been raised that immigrants, especially those who are undocumented, afraid of deportation or who have limited financial resources, may be reluctant to present for care, thus compounding the risk for contagious diseases. -
Pharmacology Watch: How Best to Control Hypertension?
In this issue: Drug combinations for hypertension; tenecteplase for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; CAM most commonly used for back, neck, and arthritis pain; FDA Actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement