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A Potpourri of Global Viral Activity — It’s Always Something

Ross River virus, Sindbis virus, Kyasanur Forest disease, Lassa fever, avian influenza, MERS-CoV, and Seoul virus are among the viruses currently causing outbreaks.

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.

High-sensitivity Cardiac Troponin

In patients with new-onset chest pain without ECG evidence of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction, conversion to the use of a high-sensitivity troponin T assay with three-hour retesting in three hospitals was compared to maintaining the fourth-generation troponin T assay with six-hour retesting in three other hospitals. The use of high-sensitivity troponin T resulted in lower ED length of stay and costs, without increasing the use of coronary angiography or stress testing.

Hyperoxia in ICU Patients May Cause Harm

Patients randomized to maintain oxygen saturation between 94-98% experienced better outcomes than patients allowed to receive partial pressure of oxygen > 150 mmHg.

Hemoconcentration Associated with Lower Mortality in Acute Heart Failure

Among patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, hemoconcentration was associated with reduced 90-day mortality and may be a useful marker for guiding therapy.

Do Antipsychotics Help with Delirium?

In palliative care patients suffering from delirium, managing delirium precipitants and individualized supportive strategies alone work better than adding risperidone or haloperidol.

Vancomycin Combined with Piperacillin-Tazobactam Increases the Risk for Acute Kidney Injury

A retrospective cohort study found an increased risk of acute kidney injury for patients who received vancomycin in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam compared to those who received vancomycin plus cefepime (hazard ratio = 4.27; 95% confidence interval, 2.73-6.68).