Antiviral Agents for Influenza: Molecular Targets, Concerns of Resistance, and New Treatment Options
Maltezou HC et al. – The use of antiviral agents against seasonal, avian, and pandemic influenza should be an integral part of current pandemic preparedness planning and should be based on local and international surveillance data on antiviral resistance. As the authors tackle such resistance issues there appears to be an urgent need for developing strategies to conserve current antivirals against influenza, develop new agents or formulations that will exploit current pharmacokinetic knowledge, and study combination regimens. read more
Emerging Infections in Burns
Branski LK et al. – Innovations in fluid management, ventilatory support, surgical care, and antimicrobial therapy have contributed to a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality rates in burn patients. Vancomycin and clindamycin are the two most important reserve antibiotics for methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Oxazolidinones and streptogramins have showed high effectiveness against gram–positive infections. Colistin has re–emerged as a highly effective antibiotic against multiresistant Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter infections. Current challenges include Candida, Aspergillus, and molds. read more
Chronic Surgical Site Infection Due to Suture-Associated Polymicrobial Biofilm
athju S et al. – Chronic SSI can arise from underlying bacterial biofilms, which can invest implanted foreign bodies and associated soft tissue surfaces. read more
Empirical Antimicrobial Therapy for Bloodstream Infection Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: No Better than a Coin Toss
Herzke CA et al. – Only half of patients with MRSA BSI received appropriate empirical therapy. Factors associated with receiving appropriate empirical antibiotics included the presence of a central venous catheter at admission and a history of joint arthroplasty. Surprisingly, prior MRSA infection was not predictive of receipt of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. read more
A comparison of linezolid with glycopeptides in severe MRSA pneumonia
Abunasser J et al. – The results showed a survival benefit only for linezolid, despite the fact that all three antibiotics had levels above MIC in all the compartments sampled, leading them to speculate that linezolid may have improved outcomes by mechanisms not directly related to its antimicrobial actions. read more
