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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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| BONE AND JOINT INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Rifampin’s role in osteomyelitis therapy unclear | February 2002: Relapsing or MRSA osteomyelitis are a few instances when rifampin may be indicated. |
| BREAKING NEWS AND COMMENTARY | |
|---|---|
| ACIP recommends against mass smallpox vaccination for the public | July 2002 |
| Ah, the sweet sounds of infectious diseases | July 2002: A Penn professor’s novel pedagogy features infectious disease terms set to music. |
| Anthrax, one year later: On the trail of the unknown mailer | September 2002: The FBI is still looking for a suspect as public health officials move forward with plans to secure the medical infrastructure of the United States. |
| Aventis to donate smallpox vaccine | April 2002: The doses have been in cold storage since they were produced in the 1950s. |
| Blood transfusions, transplants and breast milk all linked to West Nile | October 2002: The CDC is investigating several patients who received blood and then were diagnosed with West Nile virus. |
| CDC issues new hand hygiene guidelines | November 2002: New guidelines recommend incorporating alcohol-based handrubs to reduce infections. |
| CDC lifts ban on Td booster shots | July 2002 |
| Death toll from Ebola outbreak in Africa continues to climb | February 2002: Medical teams find 49 confirmed cases with 42 deaths; 22 additional suspect cases are being followed. |
| Details of malaria cases in two Virginia teenagers revealed | November 2002: Cases of malaria in two teenagers underscore the importance of considering malaria in patients with fever of an unknown cause. |
| Experimental drug offers faster relief for common cold symptoms | January 2002 |
| FDA advisory panel rejects pleconaril for treatment of common cold | April 2002: The Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee said it wants to see more information on menstrual disruption associated with the drug. |
| FDA approves Augmentin XR for bacterial sinusitis | November 2002: GlaxoSmithKline officials said their drug helps address the need for antibiotics that are effective in an era of drug resistance. |
| FDA approves first nucleotide analogue for HBV | October 2002: Adefovir works by blocking the replication of hepatitis B virus in the body. |
| FDA approves new once daily injectable antibiotic | January 2002: The safety and tolerability profile of ertapenem was comparable with ceftriaxone and piperacillin/tazobactam. |
| FDA gives marketing clearance for voriconazole | September 2002: Drug expands options for treatment of life-threatening fungal infections. |
| First case of VRSA found in Michigan | July 2002 |
| Genetics could play role in hypersensitivity to HIV drug | March 2002: Gene may weed out those with potentially life-threatening complications. |
| Healthy life can be increased five to 10 years, WHO reports | December 2002: The annual report measures the amount of disease, disability and death that can be attributed to some of the most important risks to health. |
| Infection control official named to top spot of CDC | July 2002: Julie Gerberding, MD, a member of the Infectious Disease News editorial board, is the first female director of the CDC. |
| Medicine.com: drug decisions go high-tech | May 2002: While computer-assisted decisions about medications are becoming increasingly commonplace, their inherent limits require prudent use. |
| Misdiagnosing appendicitis has both financial and clinical costs | August 2002: Study demonstrates other conditions mimic appendicitis; therefore, testing should be improved. |
| New drug improves survival in severe sepsis patients | June 2002: Bleeding events in the study were the most common adverse reaction associated with drotrecogin-a therapy. |
| New strategy keeps athletes healthy at the Olympics | November 2002: Rapid flu tests and antiviral medication helped athletes remain in the competition. |
| Officials investigate first nvCJD case in U.S. | May 2002: Case is believed to have originated in Britain but is the first case of nvCJD in a U.S. resident. |
| Organ transplants likely link to West Nile virus in four cases | September 2002: Risks of contracting West Nile through organ transplant remain low; rapid detection tests may be needed. |
| Pet prairie dogs infected with tularemia spark public health concern | September 2002: CDC officials urge anyone who has recently handled sick or dead prairie dogs to report it to health officials. |
| Responding to demand, supplier beefs up manufacturing of Td vaccine | June 2002: Aventis will begin shipping a limited supply of Td vaccine this month to office physicians. |
| Senate may begin investigation of Red Cross, following FDA sanctions | February 2002 |
| Sepsis: serious problem with controversial options | November 2002: Although human-activated protein C is FDA approved, physicians remain wary. |
| Suspected cutaneous anthrax reported in Texas | May 2002: Laboratory worker working with Bacillus anthracis developed a lesion on right jaw. |
| What's Your Diagnosis? | |
| Wyeth will cease production of influenza, pneumococcal vaccines | December 2002: Company says adequate supply of influenza vaccine for 2003-2004 season will come from other manufacturers. |
| CARDIOVASCULAR INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Identify the organism before initiating endocarditis therapy | February 2002: Blood cultures and evidence of endocardial involvement are more important than vascular phenomena. |
| EMERGING DISEASES | |
|---|---|
| ACIP weighs public demand but comes out against mass smallpox vaccination | July 2002: The panel called for limited use of the vaccine given the high risk of adverse events after vaccination. |
| Antimicrobial resistance: Lessons learned from history | September 2002: The problem is getting worse, but researchers have gained insight into what they are up against. |
| Emerging diseases and medical history are on display at Mütter Museum | January 2002: A new exhibit at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia focuses on everything from Hantavirus to Ebola. |
| Multiple erythema migrans may be typical in Lyme disease | January 2002: The symptoms of chronic Lyme disease are nonspecific, and in Lyme infection, are accompanied by objective signs. |
| New CDC campaign targets antibiotic resistance | April 2002: Campaign seeks to increase clinicians’ awareness of antimicrobial resistance, and teach them how to avoid perpetuating the problem. |
| Tularemia incidence remains low, but look for unusual presentations | May 2002: There is concern that Francisella tularensis could be developed into a bioterrorist weapon. |
| Two rarely detected viruses are now predominant enterovirus serotypes | June 2002: Enteroviruses E13 and E18 were rarely seen in the United States until last year. |
| EMERGING INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Bioterrorism: physicians playing ‘catch-up’ | August 2002: Department of Human Health and Services official tells physicians ‘we’re in unfamiliar waters.’ |
| Pro/Con: Controlling VRE and MRSA | December 2002: Controlling vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Active surveillance cultures and contact precautions vs. standard precautions |
| West Nile virus continues heading westward; nine fatal cases reported | August 2002: CDC official said it’s difficult to predict where the virus could end up next. |
| GASTROINTESTINAL INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Cardiac surgeon likely source of hepatitis in patients | May 2002: A cluster of seven cases has been diagnosed in people who have only the physician in common. |
| Early postexposure RNA testing for HCV prudent | July 2002: Negative findings can be reassuring to health care workers following accidental needle stick injury. |
| First seven-day treatment of H. pylori infection approved by FDA | December 2002: Rabeprazole and antibiotics are faster than currently approved options. |
| New agents for hepatitis B moving steadily toward clinical practice | May 2002:Approved agents interferon and lamivudine have been effective, and new agents show potential. |
| Norwalk-like viruses cause most nonbacterial gastroenteritis | August 2002: Study links pathogens to 93% of outbreaks of nonbacterial gastroenteritis. |
| GLOBAL MEDICINE | |
|---|---|
| Insect repellent study reveals widely varied protection levels for products | August 2002: Repellents containing DEET provided longer protection from mosquito bites. |
| Malaria parasite is older, more diverse than previously thought | August 2002: Resistance to chloroquine and other antimalarials can spread more pervasively than previously thought. |
| HIV/AIDS & STDS | |
|---|---|
| Abacavir could become first-line pediatric option | April 2002: Study looks at abacavir as first-line therapy for children with HIV and finds similar profile to adults. |
| Activated platelets can internalize bacteria | October 2002 |
| Assays provide clues to better HIV treatment | August 2002: While drug resistance has been a problem for years, assays that measure it can guide physicians to what is actually working. |
| Decline seen in risky sex among teens | October 2002 |
| FDA approves rapid HIV test | November 2002: Quick 20-minute results are expected to boost the numbers of Americans that will get tested. |
| Garlic supplements can impede HIV medication | January 2002: A NIAID study shows that garlic supplements sharply reduced blood levels of saquinavir. |
| HIV/AIDS death toll will rise in coming years, report says | August 2002: Recent report shows that the HIV epidemic hasn’t peaked, but rather is spreading to other areas. |
| HIV drugs and treatment options are improving | May 2002: Research shows drugs in development have inhibitory powers at all stages of HIV development. |
| HIV prevention in sub-Saharan Africa emphasized | June 2002: Prevention could be 28 times more cost-effective than treatment in certain areas where HIV is prevalent, according to a recent analysis. |
| Hepatitis B vaccine marks 20 years | July 2002: The CDC recently looked back at the first 20 years of hepatitis B vaccine use and looked ahead to challenges in the future. |
| International AIDS Society-USA panel issues recommendations for therapy | September 2002: The updated recommendations guide physicians in use of antiretroviral therapy for patients with HIV and AIDS. |
| New findings explain T cell loss in HIV infection | January 2002: A new study indicates that high HIV levels do not block T-cell production, but instead cause those cells to multiply and divide more rapidly. |
| OIs still a problem for HIV patients | May 2002: Access to care and drug resistance continue to put patients with HIV at risk for opportunistic infections. |
| Pill count greatly impacts HIV treatment adherence | November 2002: Recent survey finds that adherence issues are multifactorial, with many considerations including costs and dosing frequency. |
| Research continues rolling in on best treatments for HIV-HCV coinfection | December 2002: Physician urges those treating patients with HIV not to withhold HAART from patients with hepatitis C. |
| Researchers probe metabolic abnormalities and HIV | December 2002 |
| Special Report AIDS Vaccine Update May 2002 |
|
| Strategic treatment interruption for HIV patients has delivered mixed results | February 2002: Data so far good for interruption for those with acute infection, but not “as promising” for chronic infection. |
| Texas man tests HIV positive after receiving HIV-tainted blood | March 2002 |
| Treatment-experienced HIV patients derive benefit from T-20 | August 2002: Two clinical trials show similar results, treated patients were twice as likely to achieve undetectable HIV levels. |
| Ugandan program successful, but work still needed | July 2002: Cost and access to antiretroviral therapy remain problematic. |
| When should patients start HAART? | November 2002 |
| IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Expanding armamentarium for antifungal agents | March 2002: New azoles and echinocandins may join the older azoles and amphotericin. |
| Immune restoration syndrome in AIDS uncommon but therapeutically challenging | March 2002: Some patients with paradoxical manifestations of meningitis have also exhibited the syndrome. |
| New guidelines focus on education, antiseptics and barrier precautions | March 2002: The 2001 guidelines for preventing IV catheter-associated infections aim to curb a major health burden. |
| Norwalk viruses major cause of diarrheal illness in nursing homes | March 2002: About 80% of nursing home outbreaks in a single winter are caused by Norwalk viruses. |
| INFECTIONS OF THE SKIN | |
|---|---|
| Exotic animals can cause common diseases | April 2002 |
| First manifestation of HIV drug toxicities can be in the skin | April 2002 |
| New drug treats skin and skin-structure infections, shortens course | November 2002: The company hopes to obtain an indication for patients hospitalized with a skin or skin structure infection due to gram-positive bacteria requiring parenteral therapy. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | |
|---|---|
| Illegal prescription drug distribution is big business | January 2002: Immigrants, mostly undocumented, keep the illegal prescription drug market booming, some say. |
| NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Common methods to prevent prosthesis-related infections lack scientific proof | June 2002: Efficacy of prophylactic measures difficult to prove, but that doesn’t mean they should not be used. |
| Infection control critical to containing MRSA in hospital | June 2002: Outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a neonatal intensive care unit highlights the importance of infection control measures. |
| Nasal antibiotic ointment reduces infection risk after surgery | July 2002: Mupirocin nasal ointment significantly decreased the rate of S. aureus nosocomial infections among nasal carriers. |
| Nosocomial ‘outbreak’ of M. fortuitum traced to ice machine | October 2002 |
| Nursing shortage deemed detrimental to patient health | September 2002: Nursing shortages are a chronic problem, but with an aging workforce and fewer new nurses, a crisis looms. |
| Risk factors for acquiring various resistant organisms are similar | October 2002: Study finds a need to focus on broad control measures that will be effective for all organisms. |
| RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS | |
|---|---|
| Health officials identify new viral respiratory pathogen: Metapneumovirus | October 2002: First reported in people in 2001, human Metapneumovirus was originally an avian virus. |
| Older fluoroquinolones appear to be losing their potency in Spain | October 2002: The proportion of resistant pneumococcal isolates is increasing. |
| Researchers try to pin down rhinovirus-staphylococci interaction | December 2002: A study team from Wake Forest University finds that the “cloud adult” phenomenon does exist. |
| VRSA and GAS are winning their battle against antibiotics | December 2002: New cases are signals to the health care community to continue to use antibiotics wisely and judiciously, the CDC said. |
| THERAPEUTICS | |
|---|---|
| Supplies for some medications running short, according to the FDA | September 2002: Drug companies’ manufacturing problems can put a halt to certain life-saving drugs. |
| TRAVEL MEDICINE | |
|---|---|
| Drugs in development may improve odds for people with malaria | February 2002: Artemisinin derivatives appear to hold the most promise; fixed dosing is in the works, but it is not yet available. |
| Eastern and Western traditions unite in ‘integrative’ medicine | January 2002 |
| Eradication may not be end of polio vaccination | March 2002: Some say stopping oral polio immunization, at least in the foreseeable future, would be a mistake. |
| Immigrants gave chance for physicians to hone diagnostic skills | January 2002: Ellis Island physicians developed a “good sixth sense” for illness. |
| Malaria cases in travelers still few, but can be problematic | February 2002: Being aware of a patient’s travel plans, particularly to areas like Africa and Asia, is essential to prescribing treatment. |
| Preventing resistant S. aureus disease in returning travelers | February 2002: MRSA is an endemic pathogen in many hospitals throughout the world, and should be considered when treating patients who have recently traveled. |
| VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES | |
|---|---|
| After vaccination stopped adenovirus rates soared | June 2002: The manufacturer of the adenovirus vaccine stopped production in 1995; cases rose to near epidemic levels. |
| Burton opts not to subpoena Vaccine Safety Datalink records | June 2002: The subpoena could have endangered patient privacy and threatened the viability of the vaccine safety system. |
| CDC releases first adult immunization schedule | November 2002: The format is similar to that of the childhood immunization schedule. |
| CDC will again recommend tiered influenza vaccine delivery | September 2002: Influenza vaccine should be given to high-risk individuals first, starting in October. |
| How to shore up nation’s vaccine supply | March 2002: The U.S. had an effective vaccine delivery system, but the network has started to crack. This report looks at why this happened and what can be done about it. |
| Meningococcal C vaccine program answers up in United Kingdom | December 2002: How did a vaccine that was called for by the public and passed through licensure without evidence of efficacy perform in the real world? |
| No value — until you need it | March 2002: Vaccines are fundamentally undervalued by society. Will changing these perceptions solve the crisis? |
| Physicians weigh in about vaccine shortages and possible solutions | April 2002: Physicians say the lack of communication is another dilemma in and of itself. |
| Shots not only for tots: the challenge of adult vaccination | April 2002: Influenza vaccine shortages highlight the importance of adult immunization. |
| Vaqta recipients may need to be reimmunized | April 2002: Some doses distributed in the past two years may not have contained the recommended amount of vaccine. |
| Who will be vaccinated against smallpox? | December 2002: Earlier this year an advisory panel suggested limited pre-event vaccination, but there was objection. |
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