Infectious Disease Alert – May 1, 2024
May 1, 2024
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Inappropriate Diagnosis of Pneumonia Is Common in Hospitalized Patients
A cohort study that included 48 hospitals in Michigan found that 12% of patients treated for community-acquired pneumonia were diagnosed inappropriately. Older age, dementia, and presenting with acute change in mental status increased the risk for misdiagnosis.
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Predicting Outcomes of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection can cause hearing loss and neurologic deficits, but most affected newborns escape without sequelae. New data suggest a good prognosis if the mother’s infection was after the first trimester and if the newborn has normal hearing, a normal platelet count, and a normal head ultrasound exam.
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Meningococcal Disease Is on the Rise
The number of cases of infection with Neisseria meningitidis is increasing in the United States. The majority of presentations are with bacteremia; meningitis is infrequent.
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Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir in High-Risk Vaccinated and Low-Risk Unvaccinated Participants: The EPIC-SR Trial
In this Phase II-III randomized controlled clinical trial (EPIC-SR), nirmatrelvir-ritonavir was not associated with a significant difference in time to alleviation of symptoms nor COVID-19-related hospitalization or death from any cause as compared with placebo in unvaccinated individuals without risk factors for severe disease or in vaccinated individuals with a least one risk factor for severe disease.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
The Burden of Clostridioides difficile Infection; The Globe May Be Warming, but People Are Cooler; Methotrexate for Chikungunya Arthritis