General Infectious Diseases Archives - Infectious Disease Advisor

All the prior steps in the HIV care continuum are meant to culminate in viral suppression, which the CDC defines as a viral load <200 copies/mL.1 Viral suppression reduces the risk of HIV transmission by 96%. Considering less than 37% of PLWH in the United States (diagnosed and undiagnosed) receive ART, it is not surprising that 70% of PLWH have not achieved viral suppression.2 The NHAS calls for an 80% rate of viral suppression in all people in the United States with HIV by 2020. Although the NHAS goal appears ambitious, one study found that 90% of US patients who received an HIV diagnosis and were retained at each successive step of the continuum achieved viral suppression.1 Healthcare providers play a critical role in ensuring that a seropositive patient makes it through each step. Although viral suppression is the last step in the continuum, providers should not ignore quality-of-life issues that persist after viral suppression, which may cause some PLWH to regress on the continuum.1

Diagnostics

Disagreement on Diagnostic Use of Procalcitonin Levels

By

Zahra Masoud

January 24, 2020

There is no consensus among the clinical practice guidelines on the use of procalcitonin for diagnosing infections.

Pediatric Illnesses

Neural Tube Defect Prevalence 7.0 Per 10,000 Infants Exposed to HIV

January 15, 2020

The prevalence of neural tube defects is 7.0 per 10,000 live births in HIV-exposed pregnancies, which is similar to the prevalence in the general population.

Prevention

Untreated Oral Infection Not Tied to Stem Cell Transplant Outcomes

January 15, 2020

Untreated chronic oral infection is not associated with post-hematopoietic stem cell transplant outcomes.

Influenza

CDC Warns of Tough Flu Season Ahead

January 13, 2020

Flu cases and flu-related hospitalizations have risen sharply since October, with at least 6.4 million reported cases and 55,000 hospitalizations.

Practice Management

Haymarket Medical Education Receives Interprofessional Joint Accreditation for the Healthcare Team

January 9, 2020

Caroline O. Pardo, Ph.D., General Manager for Haymarket Medical Education, is pleased to announce that HME, based in Paramus, NJ, has been accredited as a provider of interprofessional continuing education by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and the American Nursing Credentialing Center.

Diagnostics

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

By

Amit Akirov, MD

January 6, 2020

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

Prevention

Psychological Safety at Linked to Hospital Infection Prevention

January 2, 2020

Hospitals reporting high levels of psychological safety in their work culture are more likely to have comprehensive infection prevention and control programs.

Early symptoms are nonspecific and include fever, chills, myalgias, and malaise. On average acute symptoms occur four to 10 days after exposure, but may occur in as few as 2 or as many as 21 days after exposure.

Prevention

Cat Scratch Disease Presenting as Fever of Unknown Origin, a Unique Syndrome

By

Bradley van Paridon

January 1, 2020

Fever of a short duration is a common finding in typical cat scratch disease, with a mean duration of 6 days, in contrast to cat scratch disease-associated FUO, which lasted a median of 4 weeks in this study.