Journal Watch Infectious Diseases

When Is an IGRA Conversion False Positive? In Western countries, IGRAs have largely replaced the classic tuberculin skin test for diagnosing latent tuberculosis, but interpreting results can be challenging.
Journal Article, October 12, 2012
Short-Course Treatment for Acute Pyelonephritis? Is a shortened, 7-day treatment regimen for pyelonephritis as effective as the longer 14-day regimen?
Journal Article, August 23, 2012
Increased Risk for Retinal Detachment With Fluoroquinolones A retrospective pharmacoepidemiologic study suggests that risk of retinal detachment is increased in fluoroquinolone users--but the study sample is too low to draw firm conclusions.
Journal Article, May 30, 2012
Oral HPV Infection Is Common This study reported that oral HPV infection--which is associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma--is present in nearly 7 percent of the adult U.S. population.
Journal Article, April 04, 2012
Gloves Are No Substitute for Proper Hand Hygiene WHO guidelines recommend that hands be cleaned both before putting on gloves and after removing them--but these guidelines are frequently ignored by healthcare workers.
Journal Article, January 30, 2012
HPV Vaccine Beneficial in Men Who Have Sex With Men A quadrivalent HPV vaccine significantly reduced the rate of anal neoplasia in this high-risk population. But vaccinating this special group at an early age poses unique problems.
Journal Article, November 29, 2011
ESBL-Producing Bacteria -- From Chicken This alarming study suggests that extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli can be transmitted from poultry to humans through the food chain.
Journal Article, September 28, 2011
MRSA With a Novel mecA Homologue A newly identified strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus evades detection by the standard genetic assays.
Journal Article, August 03, 2011
Viral Shedding With Asymptomatic HSV-2 Infection How great is the risk for transmission from asymptomatic HSV-2 infection?
Journal Article, May 31, 2011
Cell-Culture-Derived Influenza Vaccine: Safe and Efficacious New approaches to influenza vaccine production are needed in order to meet high demand. Is a cell-culture-derived vaccine as safe and effective as egg-based?
Journal Article, March 30, 2011
Treatment of Influenza With Intravenous Peramivir The selective neuraminidase inhibitor peramivir, a novel intravenous treatment option for influenza, is being investigated. Is it effective?
Journal Article, February 01, 2011
Clostridium difficile Toxins, Redux Although Clostridium difficile is known to produce two distinct toxins, the role of these toxins in inducing disease has been unclear. Which is the culprit?
Journal Article, December 07, 2010
Is Generic Vancomycin Inferior to Branded Vancomycin? Generic vancomycin preparations were compared with the brand product in an infection model. The results may give cause for concern.
Journal Article, September 29, 2010
Infection Control in Ambulatory Surgical Centers A survey of randomly selected ambulatory surgical centers in the U.S. identified lapses in infection-control practices in a large percentage.
Journal Article, August 04, 2010
Shifting Pneumococcal Serotypes Do serotype shifts since the introduction of PCV7 pneumococcal vaccine necessitate changes in its makeup?
Journal Article, June 16, 2010
A Global Snapshot of Infection in ICUs A single-day point-prevalence study conducted in ICUs worldwide found that more than half of patients had an active infection, with a worrisome shift toward infections due to gram-negative pathogens.
Journal Article, January 29, 2010
IL-2 and HIV: Two Definitive Studies Published Interleukin-2 raises CD4 cell counts in HIV-infected patients, but does it improve clinical outcomes?
Journal Article, November 24, 2009
TB Screening of US Bound Immigrants and Refugees For immigrants and refugees bound for the US, the combined approach of overseas TB screening and "after U.S. arrival" follow-up testing is critical to keeping TB in check in the US.
Journal Article, November 18, 2009
Metoclopramide During Early Pregnancy: How Safe? Is metoclopramide a safe antiemetic during early pregnancy when other drugs fail to curb nausea and vomiting? This large retrospective study from Israel provides some answers.
Journal Article, November 11, 2009
Peginterferon Regimens for Treating HCV Infection: Alfa-2a vs Alfa-2b For hepatitis C virus infection, ribavirin plus peginterferon alfa-2a or alfa-2b? Is one better than the other? This article may provide some guidance.
Journal Article, October 26, 2009

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