Browse Infectious Disease Articles by Topic

Risk of Infective Endocarditis Revisited

In a comparison of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) and either bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) or mitral valve prolapse (MVP) vs. other IE patients at high or low-to-moderate risk of IE, BAV and MVP patients were more likely to exhibit viridans group streptococci infections of suspected odontogenic origin and cardiac complications at similar rates to high-risk patients.

Effect of Diet on Hippocampal Volume in a Population at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

MRI of the brain in community-dwelling people (average age, 60 years) revealed that a long-term, high-quality diet was associated with larger hippocampal volumes after an average interval of 11 years.

Baloxavir Marboxil Tablets (Xofluza)

For the first time in nearly 20 years, the FDA has approved a new antiviral drug for the treatment of influenza.

Does CPAP Improve the Sex Lives of People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

Among men using CPAP, prior noncontrolled case series have suggested an improvement in sexual function, albeit primarily among subjects who reported prior sexual difficulties. Although hormonal effects have been implicated in obstructive sleep apnea, no one has confirmed that low testosterone is a consequence of sleep-disordered breathing or that testosterone can rise with the use of CPAP. However, factors that clearly can improve with CPAP, such as weight gain and poor sleep quality, have shown a definite relationship to testosterone levels.

LDL Cholesterol: How Low Do We Go?

A meta-analysis of 29 cholesterol-lowering outcome studies with baseline average low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels ≤ 70 mg/dL showed consistent major adverse cardiovascular event risk reductions down to average LDL levels of 21 mg/dL without any increase in adverse events.

Primary Headaches: Look, Listen, and Diagnose Rather Than Image

The diagnosis of primary headache disorders by a computerized and clinical paradigm can predict a baseline prevalence of intracranial abnormalities on brain imaging. Some historical “red flags” in children with headaches, including morning headaches and occipital pain, are not associated with increased intracranial abnormalities.

Prophylactic Antibiotics for Acute Aspiration

Researchers compared outcomes in patients with aspiration pneumonitis who received prophylactic antibiotics during the first two days after macroaspiration to patients who received only supportive care during this time. Among 200 patients meeting the acute aspiration pneumonitis case definition, antimicrobial prophylaxis was not associated with improvement in mortality.

Infections Associated With Travel to the United States

Infectious illness is common in travelers from other countries visiting the United States. Skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal illness are most likely, but specific geographic illnesses such as Lyme disease also occur.

Presenteeism: Working Sick Appears to Be Endemic

Healthcare facilities should have specific criteria clarifying when infected healthcare workers should stay home, as gray areas and disincentives currently result in exposures to patients and colleagues, the CDC reports.

CDC Drafts Infection Control Guidelines for HCWs

The CDC has issued draft guidelines for preventing infections in healthcare workers, urging collaboration between infection preventionists and employee health professionals. The guidelines, which are open for comment through Dec. 14, recommend that occupational health services engage administration and other departments in infection prevention activities.