Articles tagged with Acute Infections
The European Union experiences a significant number of healthcare-associated infections each year, resulting in approximately 2.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The study found that these infections have a higher combined burden than other communicable diseases like influenza and HIV/AIDS.
A US university is testing an intervention to reduce antibiotic prescriptions for viral infections, a major contributor to antibiotic resistance. The study focuses on adult acute bronchitis and children's upper respiratory tract infections, aiming to promote better use of antibiotics and reduce resistance.
Researchers have reported a new neurological complication of Zika virus infection, specifically sensory polyneuropathy, in a Honduran patient. The study highlights the potential for Zika virus to cause acute infectious sensory polyneuropathy, which began during the acute infectious phase.
A recent study estimates the financial burden of acute gastrointestinal illnesses on the Swiss healthcare system, which costs between €29-€45 million annually. The most commonly reported cause of foodborne disease in Switzerland is Campylobacter infections, generating estimated EUR 8 million annual costs.
A Finnish study found that nearly 60% of patients with coronary artery disease also had dental root tip infections. The researchers discovered a strong link between the two conditions, suggesting that oral infections may contribute to heart disease risk. Root canal treatment may help reduce this risk.
The US Army's MHRP is part of a collaborative research team awarded $4.6M per year to develop an integrated approach to finding an HIV cure. Researchers will study immune responses generated by therapeutic vaccines and broadly neutralizing antibodies.
Researchers found that early combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) blunts gastrointestinal inflammation and immune activation in acutely infected HIV patients. However, cART did not restore CD4+ T cell counts in the gut, suggesting that earlier therapy may be beneficial but with limited long-term benefits.
Researchers develop CRISPR/Cas9 guide RNA sequences targeting latent herpesvirus DNA in infected human cells, suppressing virus replication. Efficient elimination of EBV genomes was observed, while HCMV replication was impaired with simultaneous editing at multiple critical sites.
Researchers analyze high-risk individuals and track their HIV status to understand the evolution of symptoms and signs during acute infection. The study reveals a correlation between peak viremia and set-point viremia, establishing a critical window for intervention strategies.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that Ontario's infant rotavirus immunization program significantly reduced hospitalizations for acute gastroenteritis by 71%, while emergency department visits dropped by 68%. The findings also suggest that herd immunity may have been created among older children and adults.
A new study suggests that detecting HIV earlier through screening programs can lead to lower rates of transmission in local epidemics. In San Diego, an acute infection screening program was implemented, resulting in fewer new HIV diagnoses than expected without such testing.
A young patient infected with Zika virus presented with motor deficiency, intense pain, and urinary retention. Researchers detected high concentrations of the virus in cerebrospinal fluid and treated the patient with methylprednisolone, leading to improved neurological conditions.
A systematic review of 25 years of studies found no significant difference in risk of laboratory-confirmed respiratory infection between N95 respirators and surgical masks. The authors recommend RCTs to evaluate N95 respirator effectiveness in clinical environments due to human behavior factors.
A new study found that behavioral interventions, such as peer comparison and accountable justification, significantly reduced unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions for acute respiratory infections. The study built upon prior research and resulted in a 16 percentage point reduction in prescription rates.
A study found that accountable justification and peer comparison behavioral interventions significantly reduced inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. The interventions resulted in modest changes to the practice environment without restricting clinicians' choice of treatment.
Research reveals a four-fold increased risk of in-hospital cardiovascular mortality in AMI patients with respiratory infections. Respiratory infections were associated with longer hospital stays, more severe clinical presentations, and higher incidence of arrhythmias and reinfarction.
A new study suggests that less than 1% of diagnosed acute hepatitis C cases met CDC reporting criteria, indicating massive underreporting in the public health surveillance system. This finding is crucial for guiding public health initiatives and planning for future needs, as accurate estimates are essential for targeting resources.
A new RAND Corporation study found that patients treated virtually for acute respiratory infections are just as likely to be prescribed antibiotics as those treated face-to-face. The study also found higher rates of broad-spectrum antibiotic use in virtual care.
Researchers found that a viral co-infection with Epstein-Barr virus can suppress the immune response to malaria in mice, leading to severe anemia. The study suggests that similar effects may occur in humans, particularly young children living in malaria-endemic areas.
A new study reports that bathing patients in chlorhexidine was equally effective in preventing MRSA transmission as current contact precautions, reducing contamination events by 29%. The research challenges the practice of limiting patient contact and may provide a cheaper alternative strategy for improving patient care.
A new study finds that recently infected individuals with HIV are not as likely to infect others as previously estimated, suggesting a potential impact on Treatment as Prevention programs. The researchers used two approaches to estimate acute phase infectivity and found estimates to be significantly lower than previous studies.
Researchers estimate that newly infected individuals with HIV are less likely to spread the virus to others during the acute phase of infection, which may improve strategies to control HIV's spread. This finding bolsters the approach of treating patients with antiretroviral drugs before the onset of AIDS to prevent transmission.
A recent study found that approximately 40 percent of hospitalizations for severe sepsis can be prevented or treated early to avoid rehospitalization. The most common readmission diagnoses included ambulatory care sensitive conditions such as heart failure and pneumonia.
A study conducted by McMaster University researchers found that hospitalized patients wash their hands infrequently, with rates as low as 3% when entering and leaving their rooms. The research emphasizes the importance of educating patients on hand hygiene practices to reduce the spread of infection.
A recent study found that healthy individuals carry an average of five types of viruses on their bodies, with some individuals harboring up to 15 viruses. The researchers discovered seven families of viruses, including strains of herpes viruses not associated with sexually transmitted infections.
A new study suggests that minor infections like colds and flu can increase short-lived stroke risk in vulnerable children. The study found that the risk of stroke was highest within a three-day period after an infection, highlighting the need for infection prevention and vaccination to protect at-risk kids.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America releases practical recommendations to help acute care hospitals prioritize prevention efforts and reduce central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). The guidance includes evidence-based strategies such as engaging healthcare personnel, educating staff, and standardizing c...
A study published in New England Journal of Medicine shows that dalbavancin is as effective as vancomycin in treating serious bacterial skin and skin-structure infections, including MRSA. The antibiotic has been proven to be an effective therapy for these infections, allowing for treatment once a week instead of several times a day.
Researchers analyzed nearly 300,000 patients and found that surgical site infections are relatively rare after ambulatory surgery but the absolute number is substantial. Early access to a clinician can help identify and treat these infections early and reduce overall morbidity.
Acute respiratory tract infections account for nearly 10% of ambulatory care visits in the US. Despite efforts to reduce inappropriate antibiotic use, it remains a problem among adult patients, with no decrease seen in emergency room visits from 2001-2010.
A University of Southampton study has found that ibuprofen provides no benefit for patients with respiratory tract infections, including colds and sore throats. The research also showed that steam inhalation has no clear symptom-relieving effect, while ibuprofen may actually contribute to the progression of illness in some individuals.
Pediatric patients with culture-positive Staphylococcus aureus infections saw a significant increase in methicillin-resistant MRSA cases, leading to longer hospital stays and more surgeries. MRSA-infected patients were also more likely to experience complications such as deep vein thrombosis and septic shock.
A study found that women had higher rates of spontaneous viral clearance, with an average time to clearance of 16.5 weeks. The gene IL28B and HCV genotype 1 were also independent predictors of spontaneous clearance in females.
Researchers at UC Davis have identified a potential drug target for brucellosis, a chronic and debilitating bacterial disease. The study found that PPARγ is responsible for altering the metabolism of immune cells to supply bacteria with energy, enabling its survival and replication.
A new study published in The Lancet found that internet-based training can significantly lower antibiotic prescribing rates for acute respiratory tract infections. Clinicians who received training in using CRP tests or enhanced communication skills reduced their prescribing rates by 47% and 32%, respectively. Combining both types of tr...
Researchers detected a new virus, CyCV-VN, in 4% of patients with central nervous system infections and up to 58% of farm animal fecal samples, raising concerns about animal-to-human transmission
A study found that an intervention improving clinician education and personalized audit and feedback reduced broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing for common pediatric bacterial ARTIs by nearly half. Antibiotic prescribing for viral infections remained low, with no significant change after the intervention.
A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that current use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics increases the risk of acute kidney injury by two-fold. The risk was highest with ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin, and concurrent use with renin-angiotensin-system blockers further increased the risk.
A study found that nearly one percent of newly incarcerated inmates with IV drug history have acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Systematic screening could identify over 7,000 new HCV cases across the U.S. annually among asymptomatic inmates.
Research reveals a steady increase in UK children's emergency hospital admissions since 2003, primarily driven by common infections. The trend shows a particularly significant rise among under-5s, with projected population increases suggesting up to 230,000 more admissions by 2020.
A recent study found that older patients hospitalized with critical illness are at increased risk of developing dementia. The study, published in Critical Care, identified infection, neurological dysfunction, and acute renal failure as independent risk factors for dementia diagnosis.
Children's hospital admissions for acute throat infections increased by 76% between 1999 and 2010, according to new research. The study found that short hospital stays accounted for the majority of admissions, but suggested that improved healthcare access could reduce unnecessary hospitalizations.
A training tool called DECISION+2 helps physicians involve patients in decision-making, reducing the need for antibiotics for acute respiratory infections. The study found that patients who used DECISION+2 were significantly less likely to report using antibiotics immediately after consultation.
A new wound care meta-review has drawn firm conclusions from Cochrane published studies, identifying strong clinical evidence for treating specific wound issues. The review covered 44 Cochrane Systematic Reviews and found evidence for treating acute and chronic wounds, including venous ulcers and diabetic ulcers.
Researchers at BUSM discovered the liver's regulatory function in responding to lung infections. The study found that hepatocytes generate blood proteins that change concentration during an acute phase response, which prevents bacterial spread.
A study found that a strain of MRSA bacteria acquired resistance to antibiotics on farms and can now infect humans. The researchers sequenced the genomes of 88 different S. aureus isolates and found that the MRSA strain ST398 likely evolved from an antibiotic-sensitive human strain.
Research presented at American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2012 links common childhood infections to a high risk of ischemic stroke. Acute infections are more critical in triggering stroke than chronic infections over time.
A study by University of Utah researchers found that the bacterial toxin alpha-hemolysin triggers bladder cell shedding and disables immune responses, contributing to persistent urinary tract infections. The toxin causes degradation of proteins involved in cellular responses to infection, leading to more severe clinical symptoms.
Memory T cells that initially developed against a virus upon first encounter can be lost during chronic infections, making it challenging for vaccine development. Researchers at the Emory Vaccine Center have identified a molecule called 2B4 on memory cells that slows them down during chronic infections.
A study on a cruise ship norovirus outbreak found that infected passengers were more likely to have an ill cabin mate and resided or dined on the deck level where a vomiting incident occurred. Quick reporting by sick passengers and crew is crucial in preventing the spread of illness.
Researchers found that recent bus or tram use within five days of symptom onset was associated with a six-fold increased risk of going to the doctor. Daily users may be protected against seasonal influenza and pandemic risks due to repeated exposure, experts say.
Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh found that antibiotics are more effective than a placebo in relieving symptoms of middle-ear infections in young children. The study, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, involved 291 children between 6 and 23 months old with acute middle ear infections.
A new study found that antibiotics provide only modest benefits for treating acute ear infections in children, while also increasing the risk of side effects. The review of published research suggests that careful examination of the eardrum by a clinician is critical for accurate diagnosis.
Researchers analyzed 135 studies to support new AOM practice guidelines, identifying otoscopic findings as key to accurate diagnosis. They also found that heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use is associated with changes in AOM microbial epidemiology.
A recent study published in JAMA found that black patients experience a higher rate of severe sepsis compared to white patients. The study attributes this disparity to higher rates of infection and increased risk of acute organ dysfunction, with younger adults being disproportionately affected.
Up to 200,000 children under-5 each year could be dying due to RSV-accelerated acute lower-respiratory tract infections. The Lancet study finds that RSV is the most important viral pathogen causing these infections in young children.
A study found that people with infections were more likely to experience memory loss and cognitive decline compared to those without infections. The study suggests that reducing inflammation may be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease.
A new study by Queensland University of Technology found that hospital infections cost the Australian healthcare system over 850,000 lost bed days annually. Reducing these rates could release up to 150,158 bed days, allowing for an estimated 38,500 additional admissions.
The study found that antibiotic prescription rates for acute respiratory tract infections decreased by 27% among children under 5 years old between 1995-1996 and 2005-2006, while rates remained stable for adults. The shift was attributed to a decline in ambulatory visits for ear infections and initiatives promoting judicious use of ant...
Researchers found that 62% of patients with chronic uSpA had Chlamydia infection, significantly higher than controls. This suggests Chlamydia may play a role in causing this type of arthritis.