Infections

Significant morbidity and mortality is caused by healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), including surgical site infections (SSIs), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and other healthcare-related infections and conditions caused by drug-resistant pathogens that jeopardize patient safety.

Optimal ESR and CRP Cut-Off Values Based on New Criteria for Periprosthetic Joint Infection

Periprothesthetic joint infection (PJI) is the infection of grave concern to the orthopedic community, especially in its growingly common antibiotic-resistant form. This all-too-common infection can be found deep inside the joint prosthesis following joint replacement ...More
March 21, 2013
Posted in News
Nurse Understaffing Increases Infection Risk in VLBW Babies

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, those weighing less than 3.25 pounds, account for half of infant deaths in the United States each year, yet a new study released in today's issue of JAMA-Pediatrics documents that these critically ill infants do not receive optimal ...More
March 18, 2013
Posted in News
Hair Removal May Boost Viral Infection Risk

“Brazilians” and other types of fashionable pubic hair removal may boost the risk of a viral infection called Molluscum contagiousum, suggests a small study published online in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. Historically, pubic hair used to be removed for ...More
March 18, 2013
Posted in News
Study Evaluates Manifestations of Cytomegalovirus-Associated Eye Infections in Patients Without HIV

The medical records of 18 patients (22 affected eyes) were reviewed as part of a case series study in an academic research setting by Kessara Pathanapitoon, MD, PhD, of Chiang Mai University in Thailand, and colleagues to describe the clinical manifestations and co-existing ...More
March 14, 2013
Posted in News
Researchers Advance Fight Against Leading Infectious Cause of Congenital Birth Defects

A virus most people probably have never heard of, but that the majority of us carry, is the No. 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects in the U.S. today. Because of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during in utero development, 1 in 750 children are born with or ...More
March 14, 2013
Posted in News
Study Indicates Very Low Risk of Infections in Advanced Brain Procedures

Patients undergoing cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures on the brain are at very low risk of infection—even without preventive antibiotics, reports a study in the March issue of Neurosurgery. "These data suggest that the overall risk of infection ...More
March 5, 2013
Posted in News
Dermatologist Warns Consumers About Complications Linked to Newer Tattoo Inks

Tattooing as a form of body art is increasing in popularity, especially among young adults. In fact, the Pew Research Center found that 36 percent of Americans ages 18-25 report getting a tattoo. As a result, dermatologists are seeing increased complications such as ...More
March 1, 2013
Posted in News
AAP Issues New Guidelines on Treating Ear Infections in Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is updating its guidelines for treating acute otitis media (AOM), the type of ear infection that is one of the most common illnesses in U.S. children. The evidence-based clinical guideline, “The Diagnosis and Management of Acute ...More
February 26, 2013
Posted in News
Planning for Bacteria in Cancer Patients May Help Hospitals Fight Infections

What cancerous conditions lead to what kinds of bacterial infections? If doctors knew, they could predict which patients would likely benefit from pre-treatment with certain kinds of antibiotics. A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in this month’s issue ...More
January 23, 2013
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Scientists Identify New Strategy to Fight Deadly Infection in Cystic Fibrosis

New research suggests that lowering excessive levels of a protein in immune system cells could be a strategy to clear an infection that is deadly to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Researchers determined that normalizing levels of the protein, called p62, in cells from ...More
January 23, 2013
Posted in News