Infectious Disease Topics
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Encephalitis from Chikungunya Virus: An Increasingly Recognized Syndrome
A retrospective cohort study of a major chikungunya virus outbreak found a significant incidence of central nervous system disease, with patients < 1 year of age and > 65 years of age at most risk for chikungunya virus-associated encephalitis.
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Differences Between Older and Younger Adults with Viral Respiratory Infections
A prospective study of acute respiratory illness was conducted between 2009 and 2013. Coronavirus and rhinovirus/enterovirus were the most common viral pathogens. Among patients older than age 60 with chronic lung and heart disease (vs healthy adults 18-40 years old), dyspnea, more prolonged illness, and treatment with prednisone and antibiotics were more commonly seen. Myalgia was more common in younger patients.
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Azithromycin to Prevent Asthma Exacerbations?
Azithromycin helped prevent progression from upper airway infection to wheezing in a select group of preschool-age children. Further studies are needed before considering widespread use of azithromycin for young children with “colds.”
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Hospital-acquired Infections and Other Hospital-acquired Conditions — How Are We Doing?
There was a large decrease in the number of total hospital-acquired conditions from 2010-2014, but with no improvement from 2013-2014. While there were decreases in hospital-acquired infections, much further improvement is needed.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Borrelia Miyamotoi in My Backyard! Who Knew?
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation — Patients Need No Convincing
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Malaria in Pregnancy — Good News, Bad News, and Opportunity
With waning natural immunity against malaria, women face increased adverse consequences of malaria infection during pregnancy. As malaria is being conquered, good clinical care of vulnerable individuals is still essential.
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Ceftazidime-avibactam — Formulary Considerations
Ceftazidime-avibactam is a new beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination approved for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections in combination with metronidazole, and complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis in patients with limited alternative treatment options.
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ID Grand Rounds — Stanford University
A 69-year-old male with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant with a space-occupying lesion of the central nervous system.
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Tissue Invasion by Malignantly Transformed Cells from Hymenolepis nana in a Human Host
The first reported case of human disease caused by parasite-derived cancer cells was discovered in a 41-year-old man with HIV infection; lung, adrenal, and liver nodules; and lymphadenopathy.
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Outcomes of Acute Encephalitis in Children
ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: MRI is useful not only in assisting with identifying the etiology of encephalitis, but also provides prognostic information.