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The following is a list of online articles and charts appearing in Infectious Disease News. Hyperlinks for the online articles and charts are provided below. The charts are
stored in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) files, and require the Adobe Acrobat Reader
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| BREAKING NEWS AND COMMENTARY | |
|---|---|
| FDA approves first member of new class of antibiotics for RTIs | June 2001: Telithromycin has been approved for CAP, ABECB and acute bacterial sinusitis in patients 18 and older. |
| FDA committee takes controversial step to protect blood supply | July 2001: Donor deferrals may reduce the risk of vCJD transmission, but may also create a dangerous blood shortage. |
| FDA panel does not recommend approval of FluMist | August 2001: An FDA advisory committee wants more analysis of data before recommending licensure. |
| FDA panel recommends approval of tenofovir for certain HIV patients | October 2001: FDA advisory panel split on the use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in treatment-naive patients. |
| Feds unveil smallpox plan to health departments | December 2001 |
| Flu vaccine shortages still likely, but there will be more than last year | September 2001: The CDC said to expect delays again this year, so vaccinate high-risk individuals first. |
| Flu vaccine supply will be pushed back | October 2001: Expect more delays, but no change in total number; high-risk patients should be prioritized for vaccination. |
| ID community looks askance at AHRQ patient safety report | October 2001: Infectious disease specialists feel an evidence-based study of patient safety practices overlooked key issues. |
Interferon
 -2b prevents chronic HCV infection |
November 2001 |
| Mad cow marker in urine | August 2001: Proteins found in urine of humans and animals infected with prion diseases may be a precursor to a diagnostic test. |
| New drug may play prominent role in treatment of HBV infection | December 2001: Data suggest that adefovir may help those with chronic disease; drug decreased HBV viral loads. |
| Number of confirmed anthrax cases keeps rising | November 2001 |
| Potentially deadly organ failure may be associated with yellow fever vaccine | August 2001: Yellow fever vaccine may cause multiple system organ failure, but no causal relationship could be determined. |
| Resistance to linezolid appears to be developing | August 2001: First reported case of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an 85-year-old dialysis patient. |
| Syphilis rates reach all-time low in 2000; drop of 89% seen | December 2001: Increased focus on STD prevention, waning of crack epidemic and other factors fuel decline. |
| Tuberculosis cases continue to drop; hit all-time low | August 2001: A total of 16,377 TB cases were reported in the 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2000, an all-time low. |
| U.N. secretary calls for worldwide mobilization against AIDS epidemic | May 2001: Mobilization came soon after companies abandoned effort to prevent importation of inexpensive AIDS drugs. |
| Vermont man becomes first case of Hantavirus in the Northeast | September 2001: First case of Hantavirus in the Northeast reported exposure to mouse droppings and urine. |
| What's Your Diagnosis? | |
| CARDIOVASCULAR INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Rheumatic manifestations seen with infective endocarditis | June 2001: One study found the incidence to be 41.8% in patients without a history of drug use. |
| EMERGING DISEASES | |
|---|---|
| Bioterrorism threat seems very real in light of terrorist attacks | October 2001: It is not too hard to conceive of the wrong people obtaining a biological agent, said one expert. |
| Can America keep out BSE and vCJD? | August 2001: U.S. is taking steps to protect the nation’s blood, vaccine and food supplies from spongiform diseases. |
| Common LTBI treatment linked to severe liver injury in several patients | September 2001: The CDC and American Thoracic Society revised the treatment guidelines for LTBI. |
| Enterovirus 71 is beginning to emerge globally | January 2001: A severe epidemic in Taiwan showed how deadly the virus can be to children. |
| Malaria chemoprophylaxis 2001 | April 2001: The risk of acquiring malaria differs by region, and the need to use chemoprophylaxis to prevent malaria is influenced by expected rate of occurrence of the infection. |
| New Haemophilus influenzae pathogen may be emerging | November 2001: Non-b serotypes of Haemophilus influenzae may be replacing Hib as a serious pathogen. |
| One dead, two others hospitalized with anthrax in Florida | October 2001: The FBI said natural infection is highly unlikely and is conducting a criminal investigation, but a link to the Sept. 11 attacks is uncertain. |
| Powassan virus linked with encephalitis | November 2001: The cases are the first in the United States since 1994, according to the CDC. |
| Spiroplasma bacteria found in brains infected with CJD, scrapie | September 2001: New evidence points to a possible association between Spiroplasma bacteria and the etiology of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. |
| Ugandan Ebola outbreak brought under control | December 2001: More than 220 deaths occurred during this “smoldering” outbreak. |
| U.S. agencies taking precautions to protect against mad cow disease | March 2001: The disease continues to affect European countries, but no cases have been reported in the United States. |
| U.S. must work with Mexico to control tuberculosis along border | March 2001: Data on rates of drug resistance among the border populations are needed, among other actions. |
| U.S. takes steps to protect against BSE and nvCJD | December 2001: U.S. officials banned the importation of many bovine products from Europe and restricted blood donations. |
| West Nile begins to spread down East Coast | August 2001: The first human infection in 2001 was identified in a 73-year-old man from Madison County, Florida. |
| GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Diarrhea guidelines cover patient evaluation, rehydration and testing | March 2001: Opinions differ between clinicians and public health officials over whether to order fecal testing. |
| FDA approves caspofungin acetate to treat invasive aspergillosis | February 2001: The drug is indicated particularly for patients who do not respond to or who are intolerant of other therapy. |
| FDA approves Peg-Intron for treating hepatitis C | February 2001: Peginterferon
 -2b is the first pegylated interferon approved for marketing in the
United States. |
| First E. coli transmission from direct contact with animals reported in U.S. | July 2001: School and family visits to farms and direct contact with farm animals named as causes of the outbreaks. |
| Gene sequence of E. coli O157:H7 shows microbe picks up new DNA | February 2001: E. coli O157:H7 possesses at least 1,000 genes more than a harmless laboratory strain; this may explain why it is more virulent and difficult to treat. |
| HepB vaccination among IDUs decreasing reported HBV cases | July 2001 |
| New combination vaccine approved; protects against two hepatitis viruses | June 2001: Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, many at-risk adults receive neither HepA nor HepB. |
| New E. coli linked to urinary tract infections, resistance | October 2001: A previously unrecognized clonal group of E. coli may be to blame for an increase in urinary tract infections and drug resistance. |
| Sjogren’s syndrome is an extrahepatic manifestation of HCV | June 2001: Therefore, HCV infection can be considered as an exclusion criterion for the diagnosis of primary SS. |
| ‘Solid proof’ shown against relationship between HepB vaccine, multiple sclerosis | June 2001 |
| HIV/AIDS & STDS | |
|---|---|
| ART-cyclophosphamide regimen does not diminish HIV DNA | April 2001 |
| CNS plays a role in development of resistance in HIV patients | June 2001: Resistance mutations can be exchanged between the CNS and other areas of the body. |
| Cutaneous effects of HIV may be attributable to newer antiretrovirals | July 2001: While NRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs have advantages for AIDS patients, they can lead to skin abnormalities. |
| HCV does not adversely affect HIV progression | March 2001: Researchers did not find an independent association between hepatitis C co-infection and CD4 count decreases below 200 copies/ml. |
| Hepatitis G may improve survival rates in HIV-positive people | December 2001: Researchers found a significantly lower mortality rate among patients coinfected with HIV and GBV-C. |
| FDA approves tenofovir DF for HIV treatment | November 2001 |
| FDA approves valganciclovir therapy for treating cytomegalovirus retinitis | April 2001: Valganciclovir is an oral version of the popular IV drug ganciclovir. |
| FDA warns about combining d4T, ddI in pregnancy | February 2001: Combining these two anti-HIV drugs with other antiretroviral agents may lead to fatal lactic acidosis. |
| HIV causing TB cases to double in Africa | June 2001: Already, TB cases are increasing 10% per year in Africa because of HIV co-infection. |
| HIV drug resistance: Plan to fail or fail to plan? | August 2001: Resistance and cross-resistance to certain protease inhibitor drugs may warrant planning for the future. |
| HSV-2 prevalence nearly 50% in STD clinics | May 2001: Women and blacks had particularly high rates. HSV-1 infection was inversely related. |
| Low-dose thalidomide not useful for treating ulcers in HIV patients | May 2001: Many patients cannot tolerate the higher dose regimen of thalidomide, so a lower dose would be better. |
| Managing patients co-infected with HCV, HIV | July 2001: These patients have a higher frequency of progression to cirrhosis and end stage liver disease. |
| Nevirapine therapy after occupational HIV exposure shown to cause toxicity | January 2001: The CDC reported two cases of life-threatening hepatoxicity and 22 other cases of adverse events in health care workers taking nevirapine after exposure. |
| Preventing HIV/AIDS is just as critical now as ever before | September 2001: 2001 National HIV Prevention Conference highlights challenges and solutions in controlling U.S. epidemic. |
| Revised guidelines for prevention of OIs in people with HIV available soon | October 2001: Emphasis will be on discontinuing chemoprophylaxis in patients whose CD4 counts have increased in response to HAART. |
| Seropositivity of one CMV strain does not protect women from all strains | July 2001: This means that their newborns may not be protected against congenital cytomegalovirus. |
| Some HIV vaccines in phase-3 trials | December 2001: A much needed vaccine to control the epidemic moves closer to reality. |
| Syphilis cases halved since 1997 | August 2001: The CDC initiative to eliminate syphilis has cut case-rates in half since 1997. |
| UNAIDS hopes joint effort will boost HIV care, treatment | August 2001: Efforts to improve access to care for people living with HIV/AIDS are gaining new momentum. |
| Viral reservoirs persist despite efficacy of HAART | March 2001: Resistant mutations that arise from non-suppressive treatment can be deposited in a latent reservoir and possibly persist there for life. |
| When is OI prophylaxis appropriate in HIV-positive patients? | September 2001: Discontinuing prophylaxis in patients with good virologic response has benefits, but could be risky. |
| INFECTIONS IN THE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENT | |
|---|---|
| A safer empirical antifungal treatment exists for cancer patients | November 2001: Itraconazole has similar efficacy as amphotericin B, but significantly less nephrotoxicity. |
| Cathelicidin peptides are new approach for CF | November 2001: A recent study examined 5 cathelicidin peptides and their uses in multidrug-resistant pathogens like P. aeruginosa. |
| Cross-transmission: a source of VRE? | November 2001: Liver transplant patients appear to be at an increased risk for acquiring vancomycin-resistant enterococci. |
| Double immune globulin course reduces infections | November 2001: Patients with compromised immune systems need sufficient levels of immune globulin to stave off infections. |
| INFECTIONS OF THE SKIN | |
|---|---|
| Some medications associated with cutaneous reactions | April 2001: No tests are available to confirm whether skin findings are caused by a medication. |
| NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Origin of superbug may lead to new combating strategies | September 2001: Understanding what makes these microbes different will help researchers learn how to kill them. |
| IOM: Tuberculosis remains threat to health care workers in some areas | May 2001: Most at risk are health care workers in hospitals, prisons and other institutions. |
| Prophylaxis after HIV exposure still advised | September 2001 |
| RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Augmentation therapy may reduce lung infections in AAT patients | February 2001: Once-weekly intravenous infusions of a1-proteinase inhibitor maintain circulating levels of AAT, and help protect lung tissue. |
| Ceftriaxone remains active against resistant S. pneumoniae in elderly | November 2001: Among all elderly patients, S. pneumoniae resistance to penicillin and erythromycin is significant, regardless of demographic factors. |
| Intravenous moxifloxacin safe, well-tolerated for treatment of CAP | April 2001: The safety profile is similar to oral moxifloxacin and to other IV antibiotics. |
| Knowing antibiotic pharmacokinetics, dynamics can improve prescribing | February 2001: Physicians will be better able to prescribe the correct medication for bacterial rhinosinusitis if they know the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of the drug. |
| Legionnaires’ disease strikes Cleveland auto plant | April 2001: Four people have become ill since late February. Two people have died. One man is still recovering. |
| Patients with C. pneumoniae infection at increased mortality risk | April 2001 |
| Researchers discover how paramyxoviruses enter, exit cells | February 2001: Study reveals clues to using new effective drugs to fight infectious diseases. |
| S. pneumoniae developing fluoroquinolone resistance | October 2001: Fluoroquinolone resistance was associated with resistance to other antimicrobials. |
| TRAVEL MEDICINE | |
|---|---|
| Dominican Republic hit by polio outbreak linked to OPV strain | January 2001: The Western Hemisphere had been free of wild poliovirus since 1991. |
| Lack of personal protective measures linked to leishmaniasis in Costa Rica | January 2001: Costa Rica accounted for 26% of CDC releases of the treatment sodium stibogluconate over a five-year period. |
| Ugandan Ebola outbreak now under control | March 2001: There were 425 presumptive case-patients with 224 (53%) deaths attributed to Ebola recorded from three districts in Uganda. |
| Volunteers needed for polio eradication effort | October 2001: STOP teams work toward strengthening surveillance and vaccination efforts in polio eradication program. |
| Yellow fever could re-emerge to cause epidemics | January 2001: Low vaccine coverage, increase in travel and other factors contribute to the threat. |
| VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES | |
|---|---|
| ACIP expects delays in flu vaccine delivery during the 2001-02 season | July 2001: Committee makes recommendations to handle delayed shipments and still assure adequate coverage. |
| ACIP recommends universal screenings for immigrants and refugees to U.S. | January 2001: Universal screening tests are key to assessing immigrants and refugees who arrive in the United States. |
| After delays and shortages, stocks of influenza vaccine remain | April 2001: Demand for the vaccine was diminished in 2000-2001 due to a milder than expected influenza season. |
| Con: Universal pertussis vaccination of adults has many obstacles | February 2001: Selected populations might benefit from immunization, but universal vaccination may not be feasible. |
| Conserve tetanus vaccine supply | July 2001: The tetanus toxoid shortage has led the CDC to recommend delaying routine booster shots until 2002. |
| Dominican Republic, Haiti hit by polio outbreak linked to OPV strain | December 2001: The Western Hemisphere had been free of wild poliovirus since 1991. |
| FDA panel requests more safety data, surveillance for LYMErix | February 2001: Advisory committee member says accelerated post-marketing data need to prove there are no new safety concerns regarding the vaccine. |
| Flu vaccine supply is getting back on track | January 2001: More vaccine is available now, but many physicians still report problems. |
| IOM finds no link between MMR vaccine and autism | December 2001: The IOM issued two reports this year about the safety of vaccines. |
| IOM report: No link found between MMR vaccine and autistic disorders | May 2001: The committee did not recommend a policy review of the licensure of MMR vaccine. |
| Patients with Lyme disease may be co-infected with babesiosis | March 2001: Patients experiencing Lyme disease and babesiosis have more acute symptoms that persist longer. |
| Pro: Pertussis vaccine might be extended to adults, adolescents | February 2001: While some information is murky, many factors point toward routine vaccination. |
| Separate studies in 2001 reveal no link between HepB, MS | December 2001: One study showed no relation between the two. The other showed a theoretical risk but no actual proof. |
| Shigella vaccine shifts spectrum of illness from severe to mild | January 2001: While enteropathogen E. coli is the predominantly occurring pathogen in traveler's diarrhea, Shigella takes on a more principal role in the etiology of the disease. |
| Shortage of tetanus and diphtheria toxoid-containing vaccines possible | March 2001: Sporadic supply, decreasing market share and the loss of two manufacturers jeopardize vaccine supply. |
| U.S. travelers may not know risk of acquiring hepatitis A and B abroad | May 2001: Physicians should encourage vaccination among patients who travel to many parts of the world. |
| Vaccine-derived polioviruses create problems for eradicating the disease | March 2001: Vaccine-derived polioviruses may circulate under suitable conditions, presenting an additional challenge in worldwide polio eradication efforts. |
| Will DNA vaccines be the way of the future? | January 2001: Researchers expect to produce them faster, eliminate boosters and provide a variety of distribution methods. |
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