Infectious Disease
RSSArticles
-
Better Diagnostics Equals Fewer Unnecessary Antibiotic Prescriptions
Researchers credit diagnostic stewardship as the top reason for an impressive reduction in needless antibiotic prescriptions.
-
The Dental Procedure-Infective Endocarditis Link Controversy Continues
Infective endocarditis was more common with dental surgery or tooth extractions in the preceding four weeks in high-risk patients. Researchers abrogated this risk with antibiotic prophylaxis before the procedure.
-
Antibiotic Resistance: We Were Doing Great and then COVID Happened
After improvement, antimicrobial resistance in the United States significantly increased.
-
Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine (Booster Dose)
The FDA has amended the emergency use authorizations of two leading COVID-19 vaccines. Now, these new bivalent formulations can be used as a single booster dose (after primary or booster vaccination).
-
Frontline Providers Must Consider Dual Threats of AFM Resurgence, Polio Return
The CDC is advising frontline providers of a potential surge in cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare, polio-like complication of certain enteroviruses. Concurrently, there are concerns about the re-emergence of poliomyelitis.
-
How Did Paralytic Polio Re-Emerge in the U.S.?
Most outbreaks globally are attributed to vaccine-derived polio, or type 2. Cases of the type 2 form of polio stem from the large-scale, global use of the oral polio vaccine, a solution that contains a live (but weakened) virus.
-
Kindergarten Vaccine Rates: Post-COVID
The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption in healthcare delivery for everyone. Schools continue to struggle to meet the Healthy People 2030 Nationwide target of ≥ 95% coverage for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccination in kindergarteners, and COVID-19 did not help. Remarkably, the nationwide vaccine rate for children entering kindergarten in the 2020-2021 school year was decreased by only 1% for all vaccines compared with the previous year.
-
Rehospitalization Common in Herpes Encephalitis
Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is the most common cause of infectious encephalitis in the United States, accounting for around 30% of all causes of infectious encephalitis in the United States. With the advent of antiviral therapy and improved diagnostic measures, mortality and morbidity have improved over the past few decades, but patients remain at risk for long-term neurologic sequelae and even relapse.
-
U.S. Endemic Fungal Infection Surveillance
In the United States in 2019, 29,061 cases of coccidioidomycosis were reported, as were 1,124 cases of histoplasmosis and 240 of blastomycosis.
-
CDC Warning: Enterovirus-D68 Re-Emerging and Once Again Raising the Specter of Acute Flaccid Myelitis in Children
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is receiving increasing reports of pediatric infections with enterovirus-D68, which previously has been associated with the development of acute flaccid myelitis.