Current opinion in infectious diseases
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Apr 2008
ReviewSerum markers in community-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
This article reviews recent data on the usefulness of serum markers in community-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The focus is on clinical studies, with an emphasis on adult critically ill patients. ⋯ Serum markers should only be used as a complementary tool to support the current clinical approach. Use of serum markers, in particular procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, represents a promising strategy in the clinical decision-making process in patients in whom pneumonia is suspected. Specifically, these markers can be used to guide culture sampling and empirical antibiotic prescription, and to monitor the clinical course, adjust the duration of antibiotic therapy and identify nonresponders, in whom an aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach may prevent further clinical deterioration.
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Feb 2008
ReviewEvidence for a role of Mycoplasma genitalium in pelvic inflammatory disease.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a common sexually transmitted pathogen frequently identified among women with pelvic inflammatory disease, the infection and inflammation of a woman's upper genital tract. Although Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae frequently cause pelvic inflammatory disease, up to 70% of cases have unidentified etiology. This review summarizes recent evidence for M. genitalium's role in pelvic inflammatory disease and subsequent sequelae. ⋯ Strong evidence suggests that M. genitalium is associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. Further study of M. genitalium upper-genital-tract infection diagnosis and treatment is warranted.
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Curr. Opin. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2007
ReviewImpact of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics on echinocandin dosing strategies.
Studies of antibiotic pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics are useful in the design of optimal dosing strategies. This review examines recent advances in echinocandin pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and discusses how these studies could lead to newer dosing strategies for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. ⋯ A better understanding of caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamics will help in the design of new optimized dosing regimens for invasive candidiasis.
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Many potentially life-threatening infections cause fever. Several recent large studies help to define causes of fever in returned travelers. ⋯ Knowledge of predominant causes of febrile infections by geographic region, traveler characteristics, and time of presentation can assist the clinician in guiding posttravel diagnosis and empiric therapy of ill returned travelers and is also valuable in pretravel preparation.
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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a tick-borne viral zoonosis with the potential of human-to-human transmission, affecting wide areas in Asia, Southeastern Europe, and Africa. Hemorrhagic manifestations constitute a prominent symptom of late stage disease with case fatality rates from 10% to 50%. The purpose of this article is to review recent literature on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever with emphasis on its epidemiology and management. ⋯ Clinicians should be aware of the potential of importation of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever cases from endemic areas and nosocomial transmission. Studies on the efficacy of ribavirin are needed.