Browse Infectious Disease General Articles by Topic

Was the 1889-1891 Russian Flu Really Coronavirus?

The 1889-1891 Russian flu pandemic was noted to spread rapidly through Western Europe, Great Britain, and North America. Contemporary clinical reports described prominent gastrointestinal, rheumatologic, and neurologic abnormalities (including loss of taste and smell), and pathologic reports described prominent thrombosis. A molecular clock analysis suggests a beta coronavirus emerged in humans following cross-species transmission around this time.

Screening and Diagnosis of Chagas Disease in the United States

Chagas disease is an important public health problem in the United States. An expert panel has made a series of specific recommendations for screening for and diagnosis of Chagas disease in at-risk groups.

Malassezia restricta as a Cause of Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis

The authors of a retrospective study from France used DNA detection methods to assess the microbial etiologies of 16 cases of culture-negative infective endocarditis. They identified three cases of Malassezia restricta, a yeast considered a member of the human skin microbiota. Notably, serologic testing cross-reacted between M. restricta and Candida albicans.

The Health Effects of Magnesium: Part 1

Magnesium, an important dietary ingredient and supplement, has both long-standing and emerging clinical evidence for efficacy in treating a variety of health conditions. To do this mineral justice, we are covering this extensive information in two parts. Part 1 will focus on basic science and physiology, general dietary recommendations, supplemental forms, laboratory testing, and dosing. Part 2 will review some of the clinical trials and research on the connection between low magnesium intake and diseases, such as diabetes, as well as the data on the use of supplemental magnesium for treatment of these diseases.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Take Those Pins Out of Your Mouth!; How Many Sex Partners Is “Too Many”?; Rinse that GC Right Out of Your Mouth

Anti-Infective Update: No More Xigris®

Xigris® (drotrecogin alfa [activated]), a recombinant form of human activated protein C, received FDA approval in November 2001 for the reduction of mortality in adult patients with severe sepsis with a high risk of death.

Updates By Carol A. Kemper, MD, FACP

Congenital toxoplasmosis occurs exclusively in infants born to mothers who acquire primary infection during their pregnancy. Unfortunately, many of these infections occur without clinical signs or symptoms, and the mothers go untreated.

Abstract & Commentary: Lyme Meningitis in Children with Aseptic Meningitis

A descriptive study enrolled children 2-18 years of age presenting to a pediatric emergency department in Rhode Island during the months of April through December of 2006-2009. Children were enrolled who had pleocytosis, defined as white blood cell count of > 8/mm3 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), in the absence erythema migrans rash, cranial neuropathy, papilledema, a positive Gram stain, antibiotic use within 2 weeks, chronic

Pharmacology Watch: HPV Vaccine Now Recommended for Males

In this issue: New recommendations for HPV vaccine; guidelines for treatment of essential tremor; updates on smoking cessation drugs; and FDA actions.

Special Feature: What’s New in the HIV Treatment Guidelines?

A revision to the Jan. 10, 2011, Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in HIV-1-Infected Adults and Adolescents was published on Oct. 14, 2011.