Infectious Disease Alert – August 1, 2007

August 1, 2007

• Ampicillin + Ceftriaxone for Treatment of Endocarditis Due to Enterococcus faecalis

  Gavalda and colleagues reported their experience with treating 43 patients with E. faecalis endocarditis using a combination of intravenous ampicillin 2 g every 4 hours and ceftriaxone 2 g every 12 hours for 6 weeks.

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• Lyme Disease

  Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the U.S., with approximately 20,000 new cases reported each year. Most cases occur in northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and north central states (see Map), with peak incidences among those ages 5 to 14 years and 45 to 54 years.

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• CDC Update On Prevention/ Control of Influenza

  In anticipation of the 2007-2008 influenza season, The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have updated their 2006 recommendations concerning the prevention and control of influenza.

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• Retapamulin (ALTABAX ), A New Topical Antimicrobial

  The FDA recently approved retapamulin (ALTABAX ) for topical treatment of impetigo due to Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in adults and in children 9 months of age or greater.

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• New Mechanism of Bacterial Resistance to Aminoglycosides

  While use of aminoglycosides to treat gram negative rods has fallen over the last 30 years due to the availability of broad-spectrum beta lactam antibiotics, aminoglycoside antibiotics remain useful for the treatment of some life-threatening infections.

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• An Update on the QT-Prolonging Potential of Anti-Infective Agents

  In the past decade, prolongation of the QT interval associated with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or torsades de pointes (TdP), has accounted for the majority of withdrawals or restriction of the use of prescription drugs from the U.S. market.

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• Updates By Carol A. Kemper, MD, FACP

  Nearly one year following an in-depth report in the Wall Street Journal, and a brief synopsis in IDA (see June 2006, C. Kemper), this author, who was involved in the FDA review of telithromycin, provides a closer look at the events leading up to and following the FDA approval of telithromycin in the United States.

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• Pharmacology Watch: SSRIs Associated With Low Rate of Birth Defects, Studies Show

  Estrogen for Younger Postmenopausal Women; Warfarin Better for Atrial Fibrillation Patients; FDA Actions

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• Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement

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