General Infectious Disease

Latest News

ACR 2021: What Rheumatologists Need to Know About Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Illnesses

By

Inga Back, MPH

At an ACR Convergence 2021 session, John Aucott, MD, and Sheila Arvikar, MD, discussed the various aspects of Lyme arthritis, including incidence, prevalence, symptoms, and treatments, and other tick-borne illnesses, to inform rheumatologists in practice.

Gut Microbiome May Hold Clues to Psychiatric Disorders

By

Heather R. Johnson

Investigators conducted a meta-analysis to assess perturbations in gut microbiota among patients with psychiatric disorders.

Almost One-Third of Mumps Cases in US Occur in Children and Teens

Median of 87 percent of the pediatric patients each year had previously received one or more MMR vaccine dose.

Efficacy of Short-Course Antibiotics for Bloodstream Infections in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Febrile Neutropenia

By

Jessica Nye, PhD

Researchers conducted a study to compare the effects of short- vs long-course antibiotics for the treatment of bloodstream infections in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.

Cabozantinib Shows Promise for Renal Cell Carcinoma With Brain Metastases

By

Amit Akirov, MD

The researchers sought to assess the safety and efficacy of cabozantinib to treat brain metastases in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Intermetatarsal Bursitis ID’d in Clinically Suspect Arthralgia

IMB for 23 percent with CSA; patients with IMB also have increased likelihood of subclinical synovitis, tenosynovitis.

FDA Approves Livtencity for Posttransplant Cytomegalovirus

Livtencity is indicated for posttransplant CMV that does not respond to available antiviral treatments

Masking Does Not Decrease Endophthalmitis After Intravitreal Injection

By

Jessica Nye, PhD

The COVID-19 pandemic-era protocol did not reduce the odds of an infection following globe-penetrating injections, a study shows.

Vials With Smallpox Labels Found at Vaccine Lab in Pennsylvania

Vials were found by a laboratory worker while cleaning out a freezer in a facility that conducts vaccine research.

Impact of Cost Sharing on Presentation in Acute Appendicitis or Diverticulitis

By

Jennifer Champagne, PharmD, RPh, BCPS

Investigators assessed the association between cost sharing and likelihood of uncomplicated presentation and surgical management of acute appendicitis or diverticulitis.

Atopic Dermatitis Linked to Shorter Stature in Early Childhood

Associations of atopic dermatitis with height and BMI decreased by age 14 and 5.5 years, respectively.

Consecutive Quadruple Therapies for Difficult-to-Treat Helicobacter pylori Infection

By

Virginia A. Schad, PharmD, RPh

Investigators assessed the safety and efficacy of two 1-week quadruple therapies given consecutively in patients with difficult-to-treat Helicobacter pylori infections.

Air Pollution Exposure Linked to Pneumonia in Children

Exposure to PM_2.5 above 10.75 µg/m³ associated with residence in area with high risk for community-acquired pneumonia in children.

Estimated Coverage With Measles Vaccine Down in 2020

Annual number of estimated measles deaths decreased 94 percent during 2000 to 2020, representing 31.7 million deaths averted.

Influenza Infection Linked to Long-Term Increased Risk for Parkinson Disease

By

Amit Akirov, MD

Researchers sought to examine whether prior influenza or other infections are associated with Parkinson disease more than 10 years after infection.

Certain Serious Infections Down for Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis

Hospital discharges for psoriatic arthritis patients with sepsis, skin and soft tissue infections, and UTIs down from 2012 to 2017 in the U.S.

Cervical Cancer, CIN3 in Young Women Plummeted After HPV Vaccination

Fewer than expected cervical cancers, CIN3 cases seen among vaccinated cohorts after introduction of HPV immunization program in England.

Soft Contact Lens Case Water Contamination Common

By

Mary Stroka

Researchers asked patients to self-report hygiene for lenses, hands, storage cases, among other measurements.

CDC Expands Recall of Aromatherapy Sprays Tied to Rare Illness

Agency has also issued a health alert for doctors and other health care providers to watch for patients with symptoms of melioidosis

Safety, Efficacy of Levamisole in Individuals With Loiasis Infection

By

Jessica Nye, PhD

Researchers conducted a study to assess the safety and efficacy of levamisole in individuals with loiasis parasitic infection.