Diagnostics

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Challenges Investigating Foodborne E coli Outbreaks

By

Bradley van Paridon

A report on the largest multistate produce-linked Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli outbreak in the United States highlighted challenges in determining the route of contaminated lettuce and in providing rapid, actionable guidance during an outbreak.

Assessment of HAP and VAP Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention Guidelines

By

Bradley van Paridon

Data gathered from a meta-analysis of clinical practice guidelines published in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, show that well-designed randomized controlled trials are urgently needed.

Routine HPV Testing May Be Warranted for Sinonasal Cancers

Only one in four patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma is tested for human papillomavirus.

The Value of Clinical and Laboratory Data for Diagnosing Drain-Associated Ventriculitis

By

Amit Akirov, MD

Researchers assessed the diagnostic value of clinical factors as well as biochemical or microbiologic measures for diagnosis of drain-associated ventriculitis.

Updated Definitions for Invasive Fungal Disease

By

Infectious Disease Advisor Contributing Writer

The Infectious Diseases Group of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (EORTC/MSGERC) have updated consensus definitions of invasive fungal diseases.

Cautions for Presumptive Diagnoses, Notably in Patients With HIV

By

Sweta Gupta

Study authors highlighted that while diagnostic associations are helpful in suggesting diagnostic possibilities, they must be supported by clinical correlation of characteristic clinical features.

Reliance on Historic Breakpoints May Lead to False Antimicrobial Susceptibility Reports

By

Bradley van Paridon

Failure to adopt updated antimicrobial susceptibility testing breakpoints may lead to reports of false susceptibility for antimicrobials commonly used to treat Gram-negative infections and preclude recognition of CRE.

App Allows Clinicians to Report on New Uses of FDA-Approved Drugs for Difficult-to-Treat Infectious Diseases

By

Brian Park, PharmD

The FDA has launched CURE ID, an internet-based repository that allows clinicians to report their experiences using existing FDA-approved drugs for difficult-to-treat infections.

Diagnostic Test for Rapid MRSA Detection Receives Market Clearance

By

Brian Park, PharmD

The FDA has authorized marketing of a new diagnostic test, cobas vivoDx MRSA, to detect MRSA bacterial colonization.

Digital Sepsis Monitoring May Improve Inpatient Outcomes

A digital sepsis alert presents opportunity to improve care for patients who may have sepsis.

Toxin Enzyme Immunoassay Identifies Severe Clostridioides difficile Infections

By

Infectious Disease Advisor Contributing Writer

Toxin enzyme immunoassay more accurately identifies severe C difficile infections from strains more likely to cause recurrence, but otherwise had similar results for complications and mortality compared with the standard nucleic acid amplification test.

Evolutionary History of Hepatitis E Virus Coding Sequences

By

Virginia A. Schad, PharmD, RPh

It appears that the common ancestor of the modern hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains emerged approximately 6800 years ago in the period following the domestication of pigs, and natural selection has played a major role in the evolution of the codon usage of HEV open reading frames (ORFs), according to study results published in BMC…

Syringe Exchange Program Has Positive Effect on HIV Diagnoses

Estimated 10,592 HIV diagnoses averted in Philadelphia, 1,891 diagnoses in Baltimore over 10 years

Crowd Diagnosis of STDs Frequently Sought Online

Crowd diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is common online.

Maximum Diameter of Pyogenic Liver Abscess May Predict Prognosis

By

Bradley van Paridon

For patients with pyogenic liver abscess, large maximal diameter of the abscess at admission indicated prolonged hospitalization and poor prognosis.

FDA Clears Test for Detecting HIV Drug-Resistant Mutations

By

Steve Duffy

The test may help clinicians tailor HIV therapy for their patients.

Diagnosing Tick-Borne Encephalitis With Immunoassays

By

Zahra Masoud

Diagnosing tick-borne encephalitis with commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay may lack specificity and need confirmatory testing.

Modifications to Blood Draw Orders Reduce Culture Contamination

By

Bradley van Paridon

In a randomized clinical trial, the use of lithium-heparin tubes for diversion of blood prior to aspiration of culture led to a 60% decrease in blood culture contamination compared with aspiration after obtaining culture.

Early Infectious Diseases Consult May Lower Sepsis Mortality

Early infectious diseases consultation is associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality for patients receiving a severe sepsis and septic shock treatment bundle.

HIV Diagnosis Using Rapid Screening Test May Not Be Reliable in HIV Controllers

By

Sweta Gupta

Diagnosing HIV using rapid screening test may not be reliable in HIV-1 controllers, a rare group of individuals living with HIV who maintain HIV viremia at extremely low or even undetectable levels in the absence of antiretroviral treatment.