Infectious Disease Alert – March 1, 2009
March 1, 2009
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Rapid Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Nucleic acid tests (NAA) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) have had FDA approval for more than a decade, but their use has been limited, at least in part because of a frequent lack of availability in local laboratories. -
Corticosteroids for Virus-Induced Childhood Wheezing
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in England among 687 children 10-60 months of age with acute virus-associated wheezing compared a five-day course of oral prednisolone (10 m once a day for children 10-24 months of age and 20 mg once a day for older children) with placebo. -
Maintaining Patients on a Failing Antiretroviral Regimen Reduces the Risk of AIDS-defining Events
For this study, 12,765 patients from the large French Hospital Database for HIV with CD4+ lymphocyte counts < 200 cells/uL who received cART during 2000-2005 were selected. -
Raltegravir Treatment for Antiretroviral-resistant HIV Infection
The Merck integrase inhibitor, raltegravir, was studied in two identical trials in different geographic locations to evaluate its safety and efficacy vs placebo in combination with optimized background therapy in patients infected with 3-drug class-resistant (3DCR) HIV-1. -
Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) Resistance in Seasonal Influenza A (H1N1) Viruses
Influenza activity has been relatively low thus far in the 2008-2009 season in the United States. However, of the influenza viruses isolated and tested to date, there is significant resistance among the influenza A (H1N1) viruses to the antiviral oseltamivir. -
Meeting Update: Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) 2008
At the 57th annual meeting of the Aamerican Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans, held from December 7-11, 2008, the CDC presented malaria and travel vaccine updates. Dr. Paul Arguin from the Domestic Malaria Unit presented "Malaria Update: Surveillance, Prevention, Treatment." -
Updates by Carol A. Kemper, MD, FACP
Preliminary data from this year's flu season indicates that another mismatch may be occurring between this year's vaccine and the predominant circulating strains of influenza A and influenza B viruses. -
Pharmacology Watch: Warning Regarding Topical Anesthetics
In this issue: FDA warning on topical anesthetics; antipsychotics increase sudden cardiac death; the step up vs step down debate; treating pain, fatigue, mood, and sleep in fibromyalgia; FDA Actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement