A key step toward a safer strep vaccine
(University of California - San Diego) An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, have identified the genes encoding a molecule that famously defines Group A Streptococcus (strep), a pathogenic bacterial species responsible for more than 700 million infections worldwide each year. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - June 11, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Deadly 2012 Strep Outbreak at 'Medical Spa' Linked to WorkersDeadly 2012 Strep Outbreak at 'Medical Spa' Linked to Workers
Outbreaks of group A Streptococcus infections at weight loss clinics in Maryland and Delaware in 2012 were probably caused by poor infection control practices on the part of the staff, according to a new study. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Nurses Headlines)
Source: Medscape Nurses Headlines - May 29, 2014 Category: Nursing Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news
Deadly 2012 outbreak at "medical spa" linked to workers
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Outbreaks of group A Streptococcus infections at weight loss clinics in Maryland and Delaware in 2012 were probably caused by poor infection control practices on the part of the staff, according to a new study. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - May 28, 2014 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news
Group A streptococcus in pregnancy: Expert contributes to research
A physician offers a description of the recommended approach to diagnosing and treating Group A streptococcus (GAS) in pregnant and postpartum women. Group A streptococcus can cause invasive infections in the form of endometritis, necrotizing fasciitis, or streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. These infections, when associated with sepsis, have associated mortality rates of 30 to 50 percent. When a pregnant woman presents with GAS infection, her symptoms are often atypical, with extremes of temperature, unusual and vague pain, and pain in the extremities. Imaging may appear normal, but removing a small sample from the uterus...
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - March 6, 2014 Category: Science Source Type: news
Sydenham's Chorea - NEJM video
This article from PubMed describes the chorea epidemic:In 1518, one of the strangest epidemics in recorded history struck the city of Strasbourg. Hundreds of people were seized by an irresistible urge to dance, hop and leap into the air.In houses, halls and public spaces, as fear paralyzed the city and the members of the elite despaired, the dancing continued with mindless intensity. Seldom pausing to eat, drink or rest, 400 of them danced for days or even weeks. And before long, the chronicles agree, dozens were dying from exhaustion.References:In a spin: the mysterious dancing epidemic of 1518. Waller JC. Endea...
Source: Clinical Cases and Images - January 20, 2014 Category: Journals (General) Tags: NEJM Neurology Source Type: news
Scientists reveal steps leading to necrotizing fasciitis
(The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Faculty of Medicine have discovered the mechanism by which Streptococcus pyogenes, or Group A streptococcus bacteria, cause life-threatening diseases such as necrotizing fasciitis (commonly known as flesh-eating disease) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. This opens the door to possible future treatments to curb this and other potentially fatal bacteria. The university's technology transfer company, Yissum, is seeking partners to help develop effective therapies against invasive streptococcus infections. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 16, 2014 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Strep throat home test 'could save thousands of doctor's visits'
Researchers have created a home test for strep throat that they say is almost as accurate as laboratory tests and could eliminate the need for doctor's visits for sore throat. This is according to a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Strep throat is a type of sore throat caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes, also known as group A streptococcus (GAS). This form of bacteria is highly contagious and can be spread through airborne particles when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through touching infected surfaces... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - November 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Ear, Nose and Throat Source Type: news
Still Rx'ing Antibiotics for Bronchitis and Non-Group A Strep Sore Throat
This is an opportunity for primary care to help avert a public health catastrophe. Physicians need to take ownership over this issue and demand more time for URI patients—-E&M criteria do not capture what is lost when these visits are viewed simply as “Level 2 Office Visit, CPT 99212.” (Source: Consultant Live)
Source: Consultant Live - October 7, 2013 Category: Primary Care Source Type: news
Study finds no change in inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for sore throat
Visits to primary care physicians by adults with sore throats decreased between 1997 and 2010 but there was no change in the overall national antibiotic prescribing rate, according to a research letter by Michael L. Barnett, M.D., and Jeffrey A. Linder, M.D., M.P.H., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. The prevalence of group A Streptococcus (GAS) - a common cause of sore throat requiring antibiotics - is about 10 percent among adults seeking care from their physicians... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - October 3, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Ear, Nose and Throat Source Type: news
PCR Assays for Detecting 13 Streptococcal SuperantigensPCR Assays for Detecting 13 Streptococcal Superantigens
In this article, the authors present a highly specific panel of PCR assays for detecting streptococcal superantigens, which contribute to the pathogenesis of severe group A Streptococcus infection. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - September 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pathology & Lab Medicine Journal Article Source Type: news
Tonsil/Adenoid Removal to Prevent PANDAS?Tonsil/Adenoid Removal to Prevent PANDAS?
This study examines the speculation of whether tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy might improve the severity of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with group A streptococcus. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - September 2, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pediatrics Journal Article Source Type: news
Social Media Spots a Strep Outbreak (CME/CE)
(MedPage Today) -- An alert parent who noticed postings about multiple cases of severe sore throat on Facebook helped the Minnesota public health authorities identify a foodborne outbreak of group A Streptococcus pharyngitis, according to a new report. (Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics)
Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics - July 18, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Social media, DNA typing help identify source of foodborne strep outbreak
(Infectious Diseases Society of America) Facebook posts helped alert public health officials to a strep throat outbreak among a high school dance team in 2012, and DNA fingerprinting led investigators to pasta prepared by a previously ill parent as the likely source. Although strep throat, or Group A Streptococcus pharyngitis, usually spreads from person to person by droplets, foodborne transmission is possible, as a report published online in Clinical Infectious Diseases found. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 18, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
What Causes Constipation?
Discussion
Constipation generally is defined as infrequent or painful defecation. Constipation can be very disturbing to the patient and family who believe the stools are too infrequent, too hard or too difficult to pass. Most children develop constipation after the child begins to associate pain (e.g. a hard bowel movement) with defecation. The child then begins to withhold the stools trying to decrease the defecation discomfort. As stool withholding continues, the rectum dilates and gradually accommodates with the normal defecation urge disappearing. Passing large hard stools infrequently reinforces the defecation pain. ...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - February 25, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Donna M. D'Alessandro, M.D. Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
