Infectious Disease
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Food Tray Contamination With MRSA/VRE; Hospital Ice Machines Contaminated With Bacteria; Significance of Toxocara Serologies?
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What Do the Urinary Microbiota and Incontinence Have to Do With Each Other?
Increased diversity of the microbiota in women is associated with urgency urinary incontinence symptoms but not with stress urinary incontinence symptoms.
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Does Adding Rifampin to Standard Therapy Improve Outcomes in Patients With Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia?
The addition of rifampin to standard therapy failed to provide significant benefit to patients with bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus.
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New Agent for Treatment of Chagas Disease Disappoints in Clinical Trial
A randomized, controlled trial of E1224 (a ravuconazole prodrug) in different doses and durations was studied in adult patients with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease. Parasite clearance was observed in treated patients, but the response was transient in most patients.
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Mefloquine: Still Effective and Still Safe for Malaria Chemoprophylaxis
Mefloquine is known as an effective agent for malaria chemoprophylaxis. However, concerns about serious adverse effects have limited its use. Now, a careful review of data suggests that fatal outcomes related to mefloquine prophylaxis are very rare.
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MRSA Infections May Lead to Prolonged Impairment of Lymphatic Vessel Function
In the first study to investigate the potential interactions between bacterial infections and lymphatic function, researchers found that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus toxins killed muscle cells critical to the pumping of lymph fluid and led to prolonged lymphatic dysfunction months after the bacteria had been cleared.
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Prolonged vs. Short Duration Infusion of Beta-lactam Antibiotics: The Verdict Is In
When compared to shorter infusion duration, prolonged infusion of anti-pseudomonal β-lactam antibiotics was associated with reduced mortality.
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Antivaccine Attitudes: The Truth Is Out There
In a fascinating study of the roots of psychological attitudes, researchers report that people who are against vaccinations are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories.
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The High Cost of C. diff Infection and Relapse
Clostridium difficile claims a staggering toll in patient infections annually, and a new study estimates the cost of treatment is nearly $25,000 based on five days of hospitalization. Recurrent infections, not an uncommon phenomenon with C. diff, add an additional two days and another $10,500.
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Joint Commission Dings Hand Hygiene Lapses
Infection preventionists should be aware that as part of its ongoing enforcement of patient safety goals, The Joint Commission will be assessing hand hygiene compliance during 2018 accreditation surveys.