Infectious Disease Topics
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Steroids Increase the Risk for Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
A case-control study observed an increased risk for developing community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia with the use of systemic glucocorticoids. A distinct dose-response relationship was found.
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Antibiotics, Breastfeeding, and the Intestinal Microbiota
Breastfeeding is associated with less frequent bacterial infections and with less subsequent obesity. Using antibiotics reduces or removes these favorable effects of breastfeeding, perhaps via alterations in the intestinal microbiota.
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Guideline Update: Adults with Hospital-acquired and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia
The most notable new recommendation of the updated hospital-acquired pneumonia/ventilator-associated pneumonia guideline may be its endorsement of limiting the duration of antibiotic therapy to seven days in most cases.
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Varicella Zoster Virus and Granulomatous Arteritis
Varicella zoster virus antigen was identified in 11 of 11 aortas with pathologically verified granulomatous arteritis and in only five of 18 control aortas from surgical or autopsy specimens.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
C. diff. Risk in Veteran’s Long-term Care; Survival in Acute Liver Failure
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Too Much of a Good Thing
In the United States in 2010 and 2011, an estimated 30% of outpatient oral antibiotic prescriptions may have been inappropriate, a finding that supports the need for establishing a goal for outpatient antibiotic stewardship.
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Diagnosis and Management of Acute Infectious Diarrhea in 2016
The American College of Gastroenterology has developed a guideline dealing with the management of immunocompetent adults with acute infectious diarrhea, other than that due to Clostridium difficile infection.
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Diagnosis and Management of Invasive Aspergillosis in 2016
This updated guideline takes into account newer diagnostic methods and therapeutic agents and their use in the treatment of aspergillosis.
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Newly Recognized Rickettsial Infection in Eastern Central China
Fifty-six of 733 patients in China who were evaluated for suspected Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) were shown by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to be infected with Candidatus Rickettsia tarasevichiae (CRT). Fever, myalgia, cough, gastrointestinal symptoms, and hemorrhagic manifestations were common. Rash was rarely seen, and eschar was observed in 16% of cases. Thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and abnormal LFTs were commonly observed. Co-infection with SFTS virus was seen 66% of patients, and eight patients died.
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Screening for Clostridium difficile Carriers at Hospital Admission Reduces Subsequent C. difficile Infections
Patients admitted to a single hospital were screened for C. difficile carriage and those found to be positive were placed in contact isolation. This led to a significant decrease in hospital-acquired C. difficile infections.