Volume 57, Issue 8, 15 October 2013

In a large hospital cohort, older adults with respiratory syncytial virus infections were shown to have high rates of lower respiratory tract complications (72%) and respiratory failure requiring assisted ventilation (>10%), prolonged hospitalization, and high mortality (>10%).

In US jurisdictions routinely testing Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex for pyrazinamide susceptibility, pyrazinamide resistance increased from 2.0% to 3.3% per year during 1999–2009. Changing human and mycobacterial characteristics, including phylogenetic lineage of M. tuberculosis, were associated with this increase.

Multilocus variable number of tandem repeats analysis genotyping of Clostridium difficile isolates from screening tests and patients with symptomatic C. difficile infection reveals that asymptomatic carriers and environmental transmission from both carriers and patients with C. difficile infection contribute to new hospital-acquired cases.

In a human challenge model with Campylobacter jejuni CG8421, primary infection caused campylobacteriosis and immune responsiveness measured by specific immunoglobuling (Ig) A and IgG, antibody-secreting cells, fecal IgA, and interferon γ production. Unexpectedly, after rechallenge, subjects were not protected from clinical illness.

We present a consensus document that proposes a standardized case definition and diagnostic guidelines for evaluation of adults and children with suspected encephalitis. In addition, areas of research priority, including host genetics and selected emerging infections, are discussed.

This article describes an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 illnesses associated with consumption of fresh strawberries contaminated by deer. The investigation identified a novel vehicle for E. coli O157:H7 infection and highlights problems concerning produce contamination by wildlife.

Among a population-based cohort of uniformly high-risk elderly patients who survived an episode of pneumonia, we observed a near 2-fold relative increase in risk (5% absolute risk increase) of recurrent pneumonia among patients currently using inhaled corticosteroids compared to nonusers.

The explosion of medical apps creates challenges among providers trying to find reliable, trustworthy infectious diseases apps. This has opened the door for regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. We reviewed over 900 apps to find 11 new useful infectious diseases apps.

More than 50% of persons diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are not engaged in medical care and represent the greatest challenge and opportunity facing our domestic HIV epidemic. Conceptual frameworks, health implications, measurement and monitoring considerations, and evidence-based interventions are reviewed.

Single molecular or multi-step assays (glutamate dehydrogenase, toxin A/B, +/− molecular) are recommended for the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infections in patients with clinically significant diarrhea. Rapid and accurate tests can improve resource allocations and improve patient care. Enzyme immunoassay for toxins A/B is too insensitive for use as a stand-alone assay.

This review discusses the evolving field of viral discovery as well as emerging and reemerging viral pathogens that affect transplant recipients.

A high prevalence of prolonged QTc interval was shown in opioiddependent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected patients on methadone maintenance therapy. HIV patients with chronic hepatitis C–induced cirrhosis, antiretroviral-naive HIV patients, and those receiving higher doses of methadone are at increased risk for prolonged QTc interval.

We found that combined antiretroviral therapy is associated with decreased odds of biologic false-positive reactions in persons with human immunodeficiency virus, perhaps as a result of improved B-cell function.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–negative men with rectal chlamydia and/or gonorrhea have an annual HIV incidence of 7%, which is 2.5 times the HIV risk of men without these infections. Findings can be used for targeting of interventions, such as preexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.

During a large laboratory-confirmed measles outbreak among refugees in Dadaab, Kenya, in 2011, 76% of hospitalizations due to measles and 67% of deaths among those patients occurred among adults. Measles mortality was significantly associated with neurological complications and acute malnutrition.