Volume 52, Issue 5, 1 March 2011

M. abscessus pulmonary disease is challenging to manage. The majority of patients respond clinically and microbiologically to antibiotic and/or surgical therapy, but response is often temporary. Surgical resection, in addition to antibiotics, may offer a prolonged microbiologic response.

High sensitivity and specificity were achieved with 2 cytomegalovirus (CMV) polymerase chain reaction assays in dried blod spots for neonatal screening when assessed in a population of neonates born with symptoms compatible with congenital CMV or born to mothers with a primary infection during pregnancy.

Foodborne botulism remains a public health problem among Alaskan Natives, especially among the female population and older persons. Incidence might be decreasing but remains >800 times the overall US rate. Early diagnosis is critical for timely access to antitoxin and supportive care.

We evaluated 13 clinical prediction rules for respiratory isolation of inpatients with suspicion of tuberculosis. Mylotte s score was the best performing one. It attained a sensitivity of 88.9% and specificity of 63.9% and constitutes a useful tool in resource-constrained settings.

We have identified that in transplant subjects, long term use of voriconazole, a fluoride containing medication, is associated with elevated plasma fluoride levels compared to those not taking it. Fluoride related bone complications were also observed including periostitis and fluorosis.

On the Thai-Myanmar border, Plasmodium vivax is the most common cause of parasitological failure following treatment for acute falciparum malaria. Slowly eliminated antimalarials significantly reduce the risk of early recurrence.

This study using chimeric mice and human tracing methodology demonstrates that although hepatitis B virus transmission is possible through blood transfusion from occult hepatitis B donors, the rate remains low especially if the occult hepatitis B donors are anti-HBs positive.

Widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in infants and children has yielded extraordinary results. On the basis of numerous studies published to date, there is little reason to believe that, in adults, the more expensive conjugate vaccine should replace polysaccharide vaccine.

In most AIDS patients with a history of toxoplasmic encephalitis, combined antiretroviral therapy restored T. gondiispecific CD4 T-cell responses. This finding supports the safety of withdrawing toxoplasma prophylaxis when the CD4⁺ T-cell count returns to levels above 200/μL.

Predictors of liver fibrosis were evaluated in women using a noninvasive index (FIB-4). HIV RNA levels were associated with increased FIB-4 in the absence of viral hepatitis, alcohol use, or antiretroviral therapy. These data complement evidence suggesting a potential relationship between HIV infection and hepatic fibrosis.

Among HIV controllers, higher activated and HIV-specific CD4+ T cell frequencies were strongly associated with a greater burden of pro-viral DNA, suggesting that the very immune response helping control viral replication may be contributing to viral persistence.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) represents an emerging health threat to the United States as humans amplify CHIKV and vectors that transmit CHIKV are present in the country. To minimize the risk of CHIKV spread in the United States, healthcare providers and public health officials should be educated about recognition, diagnosis, and reporting of CHIK cases.

Though, multi-drug therapy (MDT) has effectively reduced the number of leprosy cases, the rate of reduction has slowed. We show high rates of dapsone resistance in relapse patients in our study. Therefore, early detection of early detection of Mycobacterium leprae and epidemiological study of relapse is relevant in attempts to eliminate the disease.