Internal Medicine Alert – October 15, 2023

October 15, 2023

• More Reports of Severe Group A Streptococcal Infection

  Around the world, rates of severe illness caused by group A Streptococcus are rising. Possible explanations for the increase include immunity-altering, post-pandemic changes in exposure to respiratory pathogens and the emergence of new pathogenic M strains of Streptococcus.

  Read more

• Steroids and Pneumonia — So Meta?

  In a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, hydrocortisone lowered mortality rates among patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia.

  Read more

• Using Doxycycline as Postexposure Prophylaxis to Prevent Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections

  In an open-label, randomized study involving men who have sex with men and transgender women, using doxycycline within 72 hours of condomless sex was associated with a two-thirds reduction in the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections vs. those who received standard care.

  Read more

• COVID-19 Vaccine, 2023-2024 Formula (Comirnaty, Spikevax)

  The newest vaccines target XBB.1.5, which is no longer the dominant circulating variant, but they offer protection against XBB.1.16 and more distant variants (e.g., EG.5.1, FL.1.1.1, and BA.2.86).

  Read more

• Is the Irregularity a Problem?

  Interpreting ECGs without the benefit of any history always is challenging. Such is the case with the figure in this article, which manifests significant irregularity.

  Read more