Medscape Infectious Diseases Headlines

FDA Expert Panel Declines to Endorse New Influenza Vaccine

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:46:09 EST

An advisory committee said more efficacy and safety data are needed before it can back FluBlock, which is made using a new technology.

H1N1 Flu Wave Peaking in US?

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:39:54 EST

New cases of the H1N1 flu have declined, but deaths and hospitalizations are still rising.

ACOG Issues Revised Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:08:08 EST

Revised American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines now recommend first cervical cancer screening at age 21 years and less frequent rescreening.

Sen Grassley Questions Top Medical Schools About Ghostwriting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:48:39 EST

As part of his mission to see more financial transparency in medicine, Sen Grassley has asked eight top US medical schools about their policies on ghostwriting.

Pneumococcal Vaccine Responses Do Not Depend on Age

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:35:50 EST

In older adults, antibody responses to pneumococcal vaccines do not differ with age, say researchers from the UK in the November 1st Clinical Infectious Diseases. The results also indicate that second doses of the vaccine do not improve the response.

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) 58th Annual Meeting

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:56:30 EST

Read clinically focused news coverage of key developments from the meeting.

House Passes Medicare SGR Fix

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:22 EST

The House passed a bill that would rewrite the controversial sustainable growth rate formula and eliminate a 21.2% Medicare pay cut for physicians scheduled for 2010.

No Adverse Events Reported So Far With H1N1 Influenza Vaccine

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:58:39 EST

US officials are keeping a close watch for adverse events from H1N1 influenza vaccinations; nothing has been reported yet, but it's early, and the data are insufficient to assess the safety just yet.

H1N1 Vaccine as Safe as Seasonal Vaccine, WHO Says

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:52:39 EST

The WHO emphasizes that the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine appears to be as safe as the seasonal influenza vaccine, with few reports of adverse events.

Antimicrobial-Resistant Infections Exact Staggering Costs

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:57:26 EST

In one year at one urban teaching hospital, antibiotic-resistant infections in just 188 patients cost the hospital and society somewhere between In one year at one urban teaching hospital, antibiotic-resistant infections in just 188 patients cost the hospital and society somewhere between $13 and $18 million, researchers say.3 and In one year at one urban teaching hospital, antibiotic-resistan...

FDA Panel Recommends Prevnar 13 Vaccine for Approval

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:18:48 EST

An advisory committee voted 10 to 1 (with 1 abstention) to approve Pfizer's request for licensure of Prevnar 13 to immunize infants and children against invasive pneumococcal disease.

Tesamorelin Reduces Visceral Fat by up to 18% in HIV-Infected Men

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:32:34 EST

The growth hormone precursor tesamorelin significantly reduces body fat and triglycerides and significantly increases insulin-like growth factor levels in HIV-positive men.

New Senate Healthcare Reform Bill Features Public Option With Opt-Out

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:03:45 EST

The Senate bill would cost $849 billion through 2019, but it would ultimately shave $127 billion off the federal deficit while reducing the number of uninsured by 31 million people.

A Case of Indurated Skin Rash in a Transplant Patient

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:54:59 EST

A 32-year-old white woman presented to the transplant clinic with complaint of bilateral progressive erythematous rash of her thighs.

Inflammatory Peripheral Neuropathies Prevalent in Poultry and Swine Farmers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:59 EST

Symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome resulting from infection with Campylobacter jejuni, a common pathogen of poultry and swine, are prevalent in farm workers with high exposure to these animals.

Lopinavir/Ritonavir Monotherapy Is Noninferior to Standard ART in Confirmatory Study

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:34:15 EST

Monotherapy with the ritonavir-boosted lopinavir shows noninferiority to standard antiretroviral therapy (ART) with 1 protease inhibitor and 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Asymptomatic Chlamydia More Prevalent in HIV-Negative Than HIV-Positive Men

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:56:59 EST

A German study shows that the prevalence of asymptomatic chlamydia and/or gonorrhea is 21% in HIV-negative men who have sex with men and 14.9% in their HIV-positive counterparts.

Younger HIV-Positive Patients Less Likely to Quit Smoking Than Older Counterparts

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:01:02 EST

Only older age was significantly associated, although marginally so, with successful completion of a smoking cessation program.

European AIDS Clinical Society Issues New Guidelines for Management of HIV

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:57:26 EST

HIV treatment guidelines call for clinicians to begin treatment of HIV-positive patients when the CD4 cell count is as high as 350 to 500 cells/mL; the initial recommended treatment is with darunavir.

FDA Approves Nonnarcotic Pain Patch for Postherpatic Neuralgia

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:57:02 EST

Each 1-hour application of capsaicin 8% dermal patch provides up to 3 months of localized pain relief.