Infectious Disease Alert – August 1, 2016
August 1, 2016
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Skin Infections in Student Athletes
Among high school and college athletes, skin infections are most common in wrestlers and football players. Bacterial infections predominate. Up to 22% of wrestlers are colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sometime during the season.
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Evaluation of Amoxicillin Allergy in Children
The majority of children in this study were nonallergic. Provocative challenges should be conducted in an appropriate medical setting.
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Screening for Clostridium difficile Carriers at Hospital Admission Reduces Subsequent C. difficile Infections
Patients admitted to a single hospital were screened for C. difficile carriage and those found to be positive were placed in contact isolation. This led to a significant decrease in hospital-acquired C. difficile infections.
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Newly Recognized Rickettsial Infection in Eastern Central China
Fifty-six of 733 patients in China who were evaluated for suspected Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) were shown by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to be infected with Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae (CRT). Fever, myalgia, cough, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hemorrhagic manifestations were common. Rash was rarely seen, and eschar was observed in 16% of cases. Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and abnormal LFTs were commonly observed. Co-infection with SFTS virus was seen 66% of patients, and eight patients died.
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Diagnosis and Management of Invasive Aspergillosis in 2016
This updated guideline takes into account newer diagnostic methods and therapeutic agents and their use in the treatment of aspergillosis.
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Diagnosis and Management of Acute Infectious Diarrhea in 2016
The American College of Gastroenterology has developed a guideline dealing with the management of immunocompetent adults with acute infectious diarrhea, other than that due to Clostridium difficile infection.
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Too Much of a Good Thing
In the United States in 2010 and 2011, an estimated 30% of outpatient oral antibiotic prescriptions may have been inappropriate, a finding that supports the need for establishing a goal for outpatient antibiotic stewardship.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
C. diff. Risk in Veteran’s Long-term Care; Survival in Acute Liver Failure