Infectious Disease News Current Issue

The following articles appeared in the print edition of Infectious Disease News.

Table of Contents

• Health officials keep close watch over MERS as potential pandemic
• Prevention, treatment of herpes zoster pose 
challenges for patients with cancer Lisa K. Lohr, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP
• Inhaled corticosteroids increased risk for recurrent pneumonia in older adults
• ‘Sunshine Act’ data collection begins now: Important questions for physicians to consider
• 2009 H1N1 associated with severe disease 
in 2010-2011 flu season
• CD4 counts at entry to HIV care unchanged since '92
• CDC awards more than $75 million to state, local health departments
• Coffee, chocolate reduced liver enzymes in HIV/HCV patients
• Cyclospora outbreak affects more than 600 patients
• Routine PCR testing identified higher burden of legionnaires’ disease
• Three-drug ART regimen recommended for 
health care personnel exposed to HIV
• Vitamin D insufficiency, deficiency common 
in children with HIV
• HPV vaccine coverage rates equal call to action for providers Joseph A. Bocchini Jr., MD
• MERS and the Hajj: Uncertain of the outcome Donald Kaye, MD, MACP
• FDA approves additional quadrivalent influenza vaccine
• FDA approves dolutegravir to treat HIV-1 infection
• FDA requires label updates for fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs
• HSV-2 coinfection did not accelerate CD4 count decline
• Mathematical model seeks to answer anthrax questions
• West Nile virus continues to evolve
• Advanced fibrosis raised risk for decompensation in HIV/HCV coinfection
• MRSA screening for older patients at hospital admission recommended
• Absolute lymphocyte count predictive of HCV recurrence post-liver transplant
• Antibiotic class changes should be considered to reduce resistance
• Antiretroviral therapy has not extended survival of patients with HIV-associated lymphoma
• Automated, hospital-based program increased influenza vaccination rates
• Bacterial pneumonia more common in patients with fatal H7N9
• Besifovir noninferior to entecavir for chronic HBV in phase 2b trial
• Besifovir noninferior to entecavir for chronic HBV in phase 2b trial
• Blood cultures ineffective for management of uncomplicated SSTIs
• CD4 noninferior to viral load monitoring in HIV
• Commonly prescribed antibiotics increased retreatment need for GAS pharyngitis
• Discrepancy found between HCV surveillance systems
• Early time-limited ART showed better outcomes than deferred therapy
• HCV viremic, aviremic individuals at risk for CKD
• HCW attitudes predicted influenza vaccine uptake
• Hepascore predictive of mortality, morbidity in chronic HCV
• Higher measles mortality found in malnourished Somali refugees
• IL28B, HCV genotypes, sex linked to spontaneous acute HCV clearance
• Incidence of AIDS-defining illness decreased with higher CD4 counts
• Intervention improved S. aureus bacteremia-related mortality
• Kaposi’s sarcoma, lymphoma highest during first year of ART
• LVADI management depends on pathogen, infection type
• MRSA, VRE and C. difficile prevalence rates identified in Canadian hospitals
• New findings suggest Ebola virus morphs from one shape to another
• Non-adherence, not resistance, major factor in NRTI failure
• Pharmacies may offer option for rapid HIV testing
• Probiotic regimen not protective against antibiotic-associated diarrhea in older patients
• Rapid diagnostics, antimicrobial stewardship intervention improved time to effective therapy
• Similar immunogenicity found for different HPV vaccine schedules
• Statins linked to better response to C. difficile therapy
• Three-drug ART regimen recommended for HCP exposed to HIV
• VRE increase at one hospital may affect all hospitals in region
• TMP-SMX, clindamycin effective treatment of uncomplicated SSTIs
• Moving forward with HPV vaccination Leah Steinke, PharmD
• Brucellosis: Endemic and re-emerging zoonosis Arnon Shimshony, DVM