Infectious Disease Alert
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Combination Therapy With Daptomycin Plus Beta-Lactam Antibiotics in MSSA Bacteremia
In a retrospective cohort study of 350 patients, the combination of a beta-lactam antibiotic plus daptomycin was not superior to beta-lactam monotherapy in patients with bacteremia due to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Smarter Use of PICC Lines; Urine Cultures: A Gateway to Antibiotic Overuse; How Can Vancomycin Dosing Be Improved?
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2019 Community Acquired Pneumonia in Adults Guideline — Not Much New Under the Sun
The 2019 guideline differs from the 2007 version to only a limited extent.
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Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriuria: What Is the Significance?
In a retrospective study from Canada, researchers reported several risk factors for serious Staphylococcus aureus infections, including bacteremia and vertebral osteomyelitis, in patients with S. aureus bacteriuria.
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Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Sputum Gram Stains Are Helpful After All!
Researchers analyzed the diagnostic accuracy and yield of sputum Gram stain (SGS) in community-acquired pneumonia across 24 studies of 4,533 adult patients in a meta-analysis. SGS was specific for the diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae infection.
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Strep Testing — We Can Do Better
Testing for streptococcal pharyngitis in children younger than 3 years of age is rarely helpful and results in unnecessary costs. Quality improvement efforts can be effective in systematically reducing non-indicated testing.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States — Not a Happy Picture
Since achieving historic lows, the rates of many sexually transmitted infections has been increasing in the United States. The problem is highlighted by the continued emergence of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Think You Don’t Smell? One-Fifth of Adults Have a Food Allergy
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Acute Kidney Injury With Combination Antibiotics in the Critically Ill
In this retrospective study, a short course (24 to < 72 hours) of combination antibiotic therapy with piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin was not associated with an increased risk of acute kidney injury among critically ill patients when compared with other β-lactam and vancomycin combinations.
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Cigarette Smoke Increases the Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus
In an experimental study, investigators found cigarette smoke increases the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus strains through several mechanisms, including augmented biofilm formation, increased invasion ability, and persistence within bronchial alveolar cells.