Infectious Disease Alert – August 1, 2018
August 1, 2018
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A Negative Nares Screen for MRSA Helps Exclude MRSA Pneumonia
A meta-analysis determined that nares screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has a high specificity and negative predictive value for MRSA pneumonia. MRSA nasal screening can be a useful tool for antimicrobial stewardship personnel to de-escalate empiric anti-MRSA therapy.
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Using Multilocus Sequence Typing for Surveillance and Discovery of Borrelia Species
Broad polymerase chain reaction screening followed by multilocus sequence typing is a useful method to understand the geographic distribution of Borrelia species causing human disease. Candidatus B. johnsonii (carried by bat ticks) was not known previously to infect humans. Its identification in a human patient suggests it may cause a relapsing fever syndrome.
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The Viral World Keeps on Going — Some Recent Activity
Ebola makes a comeback, but meets a vaccine. Lassa fever and Rift Valley fever also make their mark, while Keystone virus infects a teenager in Florida.
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Encephalitis, Fever, and Doxycycline
Scrub typhus is a significant cause of acute encephalitis in north India and other parts of Asia and Africa. Doxycycline is a safe and effective treatment option.
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Re-evaluating Steroid Therapy in Septic Shock
Two recent trials have provided more data regarding steroid therapy for septic shock.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Worse Than Snake Oil; Contract Tracing Using WHO Network; Preparing Your Hospital for Candida auris