Infectious Disease Alert – February 1, 2005
February 1, 2005
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Spinal Epidural Abscess — Is Drainage Required?
In this small, retrospective analysis, surgical drainage of epidural abscesses was not associated with improved outcomes, even in patients who presented with neurological deficits. -
PCR and the Diagnosis of Occult Bacterial Infection in Hip Prostheses
Previous studies have suggested that aseptic loosing of joint prostheses may be caused by infection with non culturable bacteria. This study found that PCR testing of operative specimens for bacterial 16s RNA did not identify the presence of bacteria if adequate microbiologic processing of specimens was performed and was negative. -
Congenital HHV6 and HHV7 Infections
HHV6 DNA was detected in 57 of 5638 (1%) cord blood samples, while HHV7 DNA was detected in none of 2129 cord blood samples. Congenital HHV6 infections were clinically and virologically distinct from postnatal HHV6 infections. -
Lymphogranuloma venereum Outbreak in Gay Men
Health-care providers should be vigilant for LGV, especially among MSM exposed to persons from Europe, and be prepared to diagnose the disease and provide appropriate treatment to patients and their exposed sex partners. -
Hamster-Bite Fever?
A Colorado family purchased 6 hamsters from a pet store, all of whom died within a week from a diarrheal illness. One, however, managed to bite a 3-year-old child on the index finger before dying. One week later, the child developed fever and painful left axillary lymphadenopathy, as well as sloughing of skin at the site of the bite. -
Rat-Bite Fever
A 52-year-old female pet store employee presented to a Florida Emergency room with a 2-day history of a febrile illness. She was hypotensive and, despite receiving antibiotic therapy in an ICU setting, died within 12 hours of admission. -
Probiotics For Preventing Infectious Diarrhea in Infants
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of infants fed a formula supplemented with probiotics showed a mild reduction in the days and episodes of fever, and the days and episodes of diarrhea, with no effect on respiratory tract illnesses. -
Ribavirin For Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome. . . It’s Back to the Drawing Board
Although a definitive answer could not be reached because of small sample size, no evidence of benefit from the treatment of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome with ribavirin was detected. -
Announcement
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Updates by Carol A. Kemper
Rev. Deresienski Stops Communion!; Environmental Mimics of Chemical Warfare; Malaria in Airline Crew Members; Paradoxical Effect of High-Dose Caspofungin. -
Pharmacology Watch: Statins and the Incidence of Rhabdomyolysis
A Crackdown on Importation of Drugs; FDA Actions. -
Clinical Briefs in Primary Care supplement