Recent Updates in Antimicrobial Stewardship in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAntimicrobial stewardship within acute care is common and has been expanding to outpatient areas. Some inpatient antimicrobial stewardship tactics apply to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) and complex outpatient antimicrobial therapy (COpAT) management, but differences do exist.Recent FindingsOPAT/COpAT is a growing area of practice and research with its own unique considerations for antimicrobial stewardship. Potential ideas for antimicrobial stewardship in the OPAT/COpAT setting include redesigning the regimen to COpAT instead of OPAT, ensuring the use of the shortest effective ...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - November 9, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Reducing Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (CLABSIs) by Reducing Central Line Days
AbstractPurpose of ReviewWhile reducing unnecessary days present of central venous catheters (CVCs) is part of central line associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) best practices, there is limited information regarding compliance with this recommendation as well as addressing barriers to compliance.Recent FindingsSignificant work has been directed towards daily audits of necessity and improving communication between members of the medical team. Other critical interventions include utilization of the electronic health record (EHR), leadership support of CLABSI reduction goals, and avoiding CVC placement over more appropri...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - November 2, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Diagnostic Challenges in Sepsis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewSepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Groundbreaking international collaborative efforts have culminated in the widely accepted surviving sepsis guidelines, with iterative improvements in management strategies and definitions providing important advances in care for patients. Key to the diagnosis of sepsis is identification of infection, and whilst the diagnostic criteria for sepsis is now clear, the diagnosis of infection remains a challenge and there is often discordance between clinician assessments for infection.Recent FindingsWe review the utility of common biochemical, microbiological...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - October 25, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Use of Long-Acting Lipoglycopeptides for the Treatment of Serious, Off-label Infections: a Review of the Literature
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe standard of care for serious Gram-positive bacterial infections, such as osteomyelitis and infective endocarditis, has traditionally required prolonged durations of intravenous antibiotics. Recent literature has suggested that oral antibiotics are non-inferior in certain patient populations. Despite these advancements, there are still patients with practical implications that render oral antimicrobial therapy unappealing, including history of medication non-adherence or lack of a suitable oral option given organism isolation. As a result, long acting lipoglycopeptides (dalbavancin and oritavanc...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - October 15, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Diagnosis and Management of Osteomyelitis in Children
AbstractPurpose of ReviewPediatric osteomyelitis is a condition involving infection of the bone in children. It necessitates rapid diagnosis and treatment. It is important for a medical practitioner to be familiar with this condition. We review the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis, as well as treatment and the following up of this condition in children.Recent FindingsDifferent causative organisms require unique diagnosis and treatment approaches. Establishing the diagnosis often requires multiple diagnostic modalities. Differential diagnosis requires excluding noninfectious causes such as m...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - October 13, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Surveillance for Common Arboviruses in Whole Blood of Malaria-Free Ill Returned Canadian Travelers to the Americas
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe Zika virus outbreak in the Americas prompted enhanced global surveillance due to the recognition of adverse neurological outcomes, including Guillain-Barr é Syndrome, a novel but devastating congenital syndrome. Symptomatic Zika virus infection is clinically indistinguishable from other arboviral infections of the Americas such as chikungunya, dengue, and the more recently emerging Mayaro virus.Recent FindingsWe conducted laboratory surveillance for such arboviruses in ill returned travelers to the Americas between November 2015 and May 2016 by examining whole blood, malaria-negative specimens...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - September 29, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Yellow Fever in Transplantation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewYellow fever is an emerging infectious disease, with epidemics occurring in Africa and South America, and poses great concern due to high lethality rates of up to 60% in severe cases, despite the availability of an efficacious vaccine. In this paper, we sought to review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prevention strategies, and treatment in overall and in the transplant population.Recent FindingsYellow fever control relies mainly on adequate vaccine coverage, and as the yellow fever vaccine is composed of live, attenuated virus, it is contraindicated in the immunosuppressed in...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - September 29, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Surveillance for Common Arboviruses in Whole Blood of Malaria-Free Ill Returned Canadian Travelers to the Americas
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe Zika virus outbreak in the Americas prompted enhanced global surveillance due to the recognition of adverse neurological outcomes, including Guillain-Barr é Syndrome, a novel but devastating congenital syndrome. Symptomatic Zika virus infection is clinically indistinguishable from other arboviral infections of the Americas such as chikungunya, dengue, and the more recently emerging Mayaro virus.Recent FindingsWe conducted laboratory surveillance for such arboviruses in ill returned travelers to the Americas between November 2015 and May 2016 by examining whole blood, malaria-negative specimens...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - September 29, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Yellow Fever in Transplantation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewYellow fever is an emerging infectious disease, with epidemics occurring in Africa and South America, and poses great concern due to high lethality rates of up to 60% in severe cases, despite the availability of an efficacious vaccine. In this paper, we sought to review the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, prevention strategies, and treatment in overall and in the transplant population.Recent FindingsYellow fever control relies mainly on adequate vaccine coverage, and as the yellow fever vaccine is composed of live, attenuated virus, it is contraindicated in the immunosuppressed in...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - September 29, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
