Browse Infectious Disease Alert Articles by Topic

Yellow Fever Redux

Yellow fever currently is epidemic in Brazil, and there is concern of further spread.

Antibiotic Use in Children — a Cross-national Analysis

Up to 7.5-fold differences in antibiotic use in children were seen across six developed countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. The highest rate of antibiotic use was in Korea, and the lowest was in Norway.

Clindamycin Improves Outcomes in Necrotizing Fasciitis Due to Group A Streptococcus

Using a murine model of necrotizing fasciitis, investigators determined that clindamycin inhibits key virulence factors of Group A Streptococcus, and should be given as soon as possible and at high doses to reach levels above MIC in affected tissues.

Vitamin D to Prevent Acute Respiratory Infections?

Vitamin D supplementation is associated with a decreased risk of respiratory infections, especially in those who had low circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Ebola Preparedness in Hospitals; Meningococcal Vaccine Recommended for HIV+ Persons

Adult Immunizations — 2017 Changes

Significant changes in recommendations for adult immunization for 2017 have been made or influenza, meningococcal infection, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B.

Listeria Monocytogenes: Maternal-fetal Infection, Bacteremia, and Meningoencephalitis

Infection with Listeria monocytogenes in pregnancy is associated with frequent fetal loss. In others, bacteremia and central nervous system infections are associated with significant mortality.

Antibiotic Treatment in Community-acquired Pneumonia

In patients with newly diagnosed community-acquired pneumonia, basing the duration of antibiotic treatment on clinical stability criteria led to a significant reduction in duration of antibiotic treatment without an increased risk of adverse outcomes.

Does Tonsillectomy Decrease Throat Infections?

For children with recurrent throat infections, tonsillectomy leads to fewer throat infections and less school absence during the first post-operative year (as compared to similar children who did not undergo tonsillectomy). However, beneficial effects of surgery do not persist over time.

Inflammation in HIV Also Is Mediated by CD8+ T-cells and Platelets

CX3CR1+ CD8+ T-cells home to vascular endothelium and are enriched in ART-treated patients with HIV. These cells may play an important role in CVD risk in HIV-infected patients.