Infectious Disease
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Beta-blocker Dose More Important Than Heart Rate in Systolic Heart Failure
In chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, titrating beta-blocker doses may confer a greater benefit than reducing heart rate.
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Using Procalcitonin to Differentiate Bacterial from Viral Meningitis
A meta-analysis based on nine studies found an elevated serum procalcitonin to be an accurate test for differentiating bacterial from viral meningitis in adults.
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Risk of New Onset Diabetes When Blood Pressure Becomes Elevated Over the Usual Measurement
An increase of 20 mmHg in systolic blood pressure was associated with a 58% higher risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus, whereas an increase of 10 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure was associated with a 52% higher risk of developing new-onset diabetes mellitus.
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Physicians work when ill, even with confirmed flu
Driven by a traditional work culture that underscores their responsibility to patients and commitment to coworkers, physicians will show up for work symptomatic and sick, even if they have laboratory-confirmed influenza, researchers reported recently in San Diego at the 2015 IDWeek conference.1
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More than half of IPs given no additional resources
More than a year out from the emergence of Ebola, many infection preventionists report they received no additional resources to deal with the crisis, still lack adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, and remain uncertain about how frequently healthcare workers need to be trained to ensure they are donning and doffing personal protective equipmentcorrectly.
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Lack of PPE training leads to frequent contamination
A major factor in contamination problems when removing personal protective equipment appears to be the fundamental issue of PPE training — or lack thereof.
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CDC, FDA warn of surgical infections caused by heater-cooler units
An increase in nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in post-surgical patients has been linked to contaminated water emitted from heater-cooler devices used in surgery. Infection preventionists and their clinical colleagues should immediately review cleaning and disinfection procedures for the devices and ensure only sterile water is used in them, public health agencies advise. -
How Much Is Too Much?
While healthcare workers often contaminate themselves doffing personal protective equipment, there’s interest in scaling back contact precautions.
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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.