The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · May 2007
Comparative StudyProspective comparison of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant community-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospitalized patients.
We sought to determine the proportion of community-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) at a large county hospital. In addition, we sought to identify the demographic and clinical risk factors associated with CA-MRSA infection. ⋯ The majority of patients hospitalized with community-associated S. aureus infections were due to MRSA, most of which involved an SSTI. African-American race, recent antibiotics and past homeless status predicted infection with MRSA; however, no clinical profile could reliably exclude MRSA. Clinicians should be aware of the increasing prevalence of CA-MRSA.
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The Journal of infection · May 2007
Antibiotic treatment of community acquired pneumonia varies widely across Germany.
Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) is a frequent and potentially fatal infectious disease which, in the majority of cases, needs an antibiotic intervention. ⋯ The presented treatment variability ranges within given guidelines, but indicates the need for an ongoing implementation of evidence-based guidelines in order to avoid potential negative clinical or economic consequences.
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The Journal of infection · Apr 2007
Performance of a predictive rule to distinguish bacterial and viral meningitis.
Although diagnostic performance has recently improved by using new diagnostic methodologies, acute patient management is usually initiated after considering only fairly elementary findings of CSF examination. Using these early findings it is often difficult to distinguish between bacterial and aseptic (viral) meningitis. In order to help distinguish these two categories, scoring tools have been proposed that are more or less complex and validated. ⋯ Thus, from this analysis of five meningitis scoring systems, we believe that our new tool is simple, does not need any complex calculation and is effective in identifying bacterial vs viral meningitis in fully immunocompetent children and adults.
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The Journal of infection · Mar 2007
Nosocomial infections in paediatric and neonatal intensive care units.
To describe the epidemiological profile of NI in the PICU and NICU, and its related risk factors. ⋯ This study describes the epidemiological profile of NI in two high-risk paediatric units. These results suggest the need to evaluate the infection control measures with the aim of reducing associated morbidity.
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The Journal of infection · Mar 2007
Case ReportsVibrio vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus necrotising fasciitis in fishermen visiting an estuarine tropical northern Australian location.
Three cases of severe necrotising fasciitis due to Vibrio vulnificus (two cases) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus (one case, fatal), have occurred in Caucasian tourists while fishing at a remote tropical northern Australian estuarine area. Infections were acquired over a 4-year period during the tourist fishing season (April to July 2000-2003), when water temperatures range from 23 to 30 degrees C. ⋯ Underlying risk factors were identified in each patient; in one instance, previously unrecognised haemochromatosis was diagnosed. Likely reasons for Vibrio occurrence in this particular ecological niche are discussed.