Browse Infectious Disease Articles by Topic

Nutrition Therapy for Hypertension Using the Nitric Oxide Pathway

Daily one-time ingestion of inorganic nitrate from beet juice consistently lowered blood pressure in hypertensive patients by an amount comparable to single-drug therapy.

Intensification of Oral Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes

ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: It may not be relevant to primary care physicians. Here's why.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Coccidioidomycosis: Is the “Zone” Growing?

Cocci as a Cause of Marine Mammal Mortality

Initial and Much Too Subtle Ebola Virus Infection

Arboviral Infections in the United States — Not Just West Nile

West Nile virus accounted for 95% of arbovirus infections in 2013 reported to CDC, with the majority causing neuroinvasive disease.

Treatment of Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Brief Narrative Summary of the New IDSA Recommendations

A new IDSA guideline has recommendations providing best expert advice on management of native vertebral osteomyelitis.

Clostridium difficile Infection — Back to the Future

This study provides strong evidence that the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (as opposed to colonization) should be made on the basis of evidence of toxin production, not the mere presence of the organism as detected by glutamate dehydrogenase testing or the presence of toxin genes.

Intestinal Fibrosis and Immune Reconstitution in Patients with HIV Infection

Duodenal biopsies in patients naïve to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) underwent tissue staining and were examined. Intestinal myofibroblast activation was correlated with intestinal fibrotic changes and poor immune reconstitution following cART.

Chagas — Multifaceted Approach Needed

Prolonged recurrent exposure to Trypanosoma cruzi leads to an increased risk of inflammatory cardiomyopathy, but to decreased congenital transmission of T. cruzi. As housing and vector control improve, concurrent attention to early treatment is needed in order to reduce both cardiomyopathy and congenital infection.

Procalcitonin and Differentiating Bacterial from Viral Meningitis

ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: A meta-analysis found an elevated serum procalcitonin to be an accurate test. Details inside.

CDC issues core elements for antibiotic stewardship in nursing homes

It’s no exaggeration to say that antibiotic stewardship programs in nursing homes will literally save lives.