Browse Infectious Disease Articles by Topic

Microbiology of Hidradenitis Suppurativa: New Evidence That Anaerobes Predominate

Using metagenomic techniques, investigators determined that two Gram-negative anaerobes, Prevotella and Porphyromonas, predominate in hidradenitis suppurativa lesions. Two others, Fusobacterium and Parvimonas, correlate with disease severity.

CDC Update of Notifiable Infectious Diseases

CDC has updated the available information regarding reportable infectious diseases in the United States.

CDC Updating Measles Guidelines for HCWs

The CDC is preparing to review its guideline for measles and healthcare workers, as the once-eradicated childhood infection spreads in ongoing outbreaks in the U.S. and Europe.

High-risk Patients, High-risk Infections

If there is a worst-case scenario in infection control, it likely involves a life-threatening infection spreading in a vulnerable patient population. They don’t get much more vulnerable than babies in a neonatal ICU, or adults undergoing bone marrow transplant. With their frail immune systems compromised, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) pose a serious threat warranting an immediate infection control response.

Twin Peaks: A Persistent Norovirus Outbreak

A nasty, easily transmitted bug
that has ruined many a cruise vacation, norovirus can cause chaotic, labor-intensive outbreaks in hospitals. In that regard, an infection preventionists recently described a norovirus outbreak that kept reigniting in different locations in a situation somewhat akin to fighting a forest fire in high wind.

Resistance to Change? Try Motivational Interviewing

How do you get someone to change behavior when simply telling them to do so is met with resistance — the “righting reaction” as APIC closing plenary speaker Sanjay Saint, MD, terms it. One approach is called “motivational interviewing,” which first demonstrated efficacy in the addiction field, said Saint, director of the University of Michigan Patient Safety Enhancement Program.

Novel Approaches to Change Behavior and Protect Patients

Much of infection control work — a frustrating portion to many IPs — is trying to change human behavior. One need look no further than the historic struggle with hand hygiene and the various carrots and sticks that have been dangled and cracked in the name of compliance for decades.

Clinical Briefs

In this section: blood pressure readings for high-risk hypertension patients; Omega-3 fatty acids and diabetic retinopathy; and long-term diabetes control.

Betrixaban Capsules (Bevyxxa)

Betrixaban is indicated for the prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients hospitalized for an acute medical illness who are at risk for thromboembolic complications because of moderate or severe restricted mobility and other risk factors for VTE.

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation and Cognitive Decline

As the first large randomized, placebo-controlled trial studying the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention with a nutraceutical compound (polyunsaturated fatty acid), the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial is a landmark study.