June 28th, 2010
Haque NZ et al. – Mortality in patients with MRSA HAP, VAP, and HCAP increases as a function of the vancomycin MIC even for strains with MIC values within the susceptible range. Evaluation of vancomycin MICs should be contemplated at the institutional level and for individual cases of MRSA pneumonia. The use of vancomycin therapy in patients with MRSA pneumonia caused by isolates with MICs between 1 and 2 (mu)g/mL should be undertaken with caution and alternative therapies should be considered. read more
June 28th, 2010
Honda H et al. – Only one third of patients with S. aureus bacteremia in this cohort had an infectious diseases specialist consultation. Infectious diseases consultation was independently associated with a reduction in 28–day mortality. Routine infectious diseases consultation should be considered for patients with S. aureus bacteremia, especially those with greater severity of illness or multiple comorbidities. read more
June 21st, 2010
Kilburn SA et al. – The authors identified 25 randomised controlled trials. No two trials investigated the same antibiotics, and there was no standard treatment regime used as a comparison. The authors are not able to define the best treatment for cellulitis and their limited conclusions are mostly based on single trials. No single treatment was clearly superior. Surprisingly, oral antibiotics appeared to be more effective than antibiotics given into a vein for moderate and severe cellulitis. This merits further study. Antibiotics given by injection into a muscle were as effective as when given into a vein, with a lower incidence of adverse events. In one study the addition of corticosteroids to an antibiotic appeared to shorten the length of hospital stay, however further trials are needed. A single small study indicated vibration therapy may increase the rate of recovery but the results of single trials should be viewed with caution. The authors had insufficient data to give meaningful results for adverse events.
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June 16th, 2010
Sexton JD et al. – EMR have a high potential for exposure to MRSA, not only through patient and hospital contacts but also in the fire station environment. MRSA was isolated with the highest frequency on the couches and the class desks. Although the true health significance of these exposures is unknown, improved infection control practices, such as routine handwashing and surface disinfection, are warranted to reduce MRSA exposures. read more
June 16th, 2010
Pereira GH et al. – Infections by VR–E faecalis fell to zero in 2008. The authors observed difficulties in controlling colonization with measures directed mainly by surveillance cultures and differences between responses of E faecium and E faecalis.
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