Infectious Disease
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30% of Outpatient Antibiotics Unnecessary
We often hear of inappropriate antibiotic use, including the wrong drug for the bug, the wrong duration of therapy, and the failure to scale down from a broad spectrum drug once the etiology of an infection is determined. But what if you took almost a third of your drug formulary and hurled it out the window, where it will do nothing except help kill off susceptible bacteria in the environment and select out resistant strains?
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Dolan Takes Helm as APIC Meets in Charlotte
As APIC assembles thousands of infection preventionists in Charlotte, NC June 11-13 for its annual conference, an IP with 20 years experience in the rapidly changing field will deliver the 2016 presidential address.
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Breakthrough Against the C. diff Infections Curse?
A Canadian study produces stunning results on what is arguably the greatest infection threat to patient safety.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
“A New Wave of World-wide Gastroenteritis?”; Who Wants a Stoma if You Don’t Need One?; A Side of Hep E with Your Pork Roast?
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Healthcare Workers and Tuberculosis Prevention
Healthcare workers in high-burden countries in particular remain at high risk of tuberculosis.
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Does Finding the Portal of Entry of Bacteria in Infective Endocarditis Matter?
A comprehensive, systematic search for the portal of bacterial entry in infective endocarditis is frequently successful and affords an opportunity to prevent recurrent episodes.
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Oral Rehydration for Children with Mild Gastroenteritis
In a randomized study of children 6 to 60 months of age with acute gastroenteritis accompanied by mild vomiting and/or diarrhea with mild or no dehydration, initial oral rehydration with half-strength apple juice/preferred fluids resulted in fewer treatment failures than with electrolyte maintenance solution. In high-income countries, dilute apple juice/preferred fluids may be an acceptable alternative to commercial electrolyte maintenance solutions for childhood mild gastroenteritis with minimal dehydration.
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The Seasonality of Childhood Respiratory Infections
Human metapneumovirus infection is increasingly recognized in children. Epidemiologic review suggests that it becomes common each winter after the onset of the respiratory syncytial virus “season” and then continues to cause frequent illness until the spring.
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HLH Gene Mutations and Fatal Influenza
Sixteen patients with fatal influenza who underwent autopsy were studied. Thirteen patients (81%) had histopathologic evidence of hemophagocytosis. Five patients (36%) carried one of three heterozygous LYST or PRF1 mutations associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and macrophage activation syndrome.
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Think Twice About That Fluoroquinolone Prescription
The FDA warns that serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for certain patients.