Infectious Disease Topics
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COVID-19 Vaccination Is Life-Saving
This study confirms the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing severe outcomes between the end of 2020 and October 2021 (i.e., pre-omicron). Age, immunosuppression, and chronic disease were independent risk factors. In contrast to previous studies largely involving unvaccinated individuals, male sex and race/ethnicity were not.
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Treatment of Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria with Intravenous Artesunate
A prospective nationwide study in France found intravenous artesunate use was rapidly adopted by clinicians and was safe and highly effective in the treatment of severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum.
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Malassezia restricta as a Cause of Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis
The authors of a retrospective study from France used DNA detection methods to assess the microbial etiologies of 16 cases of culture-negative infective endocarditis. They identified three cases of Malassezia restricta, a yeast considered a member of the human skin microbiota. Notably, serologic testing cross-reacted between M. restricta and Candida albicans.
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Mumps in Vaccinated Children
Recent mumps outbreaks in the United States have involved vaccinated individuals without international travel. The genotype of the mumps virus circulating in North America and Europe is different than that of the virus used to manufacture the attenuated vaccine used in the United States.
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Fluvoxamine Reduces the Risk for Hospitalization from COVID-19
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial found fluvoxamine (100 mg twice a day for 10 days) reduced the risk for hospitalization among high-risk outpatients diagnosed with COVID-19.
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Melioidosis in the United States
Four cases of melioidosis in four states occurred and at least one was traced to a contaminated commercial aromatherapy product.
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Pediatric Pneumonia — Diagnostic and Therapeutic Stewardship
A randomized, multicentered trial in the United Kingdom and Ireland showed children receiving amoxicillin for community-acquired pneumonia perform similarly well with lower dose (35-50 mg/kg/day vs. 75-90 mg/kg/day) and shorter duration (three vs. seven days) treatments.
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Surviving Sepsis 2021 Update
Some of the important changes include clearer differentiation of sepsis vs. septic shock and, for numerous recommendations, changing the strength and quality of evidence to support many.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Pyrethroids losing activity against mosquitoes; Resistance erodes standard treatment for pneumonia; and homelessness and COVID-19.
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SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Testing in a Nursing Home Outbreak
Rapid antigen testing was accurate in detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigen when compared to polymerase chain reaction.