Infectious Diseases

CROI 2010: Thwarting HIV transmission with antiretroviral therapy

Kevin J. Armington, MD April 16, 2010

Cortlandt Forum correspondent Kevin J. Armington, MD, reports on highlights from the 17th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic...
 

Cervical screening guidelines updated

December 18, 2009

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Cervical Cancer Screening to include new recommendations for women who have positive human papillomavirus High Risk DNA test results but negative cervical cytology screen/Pap smears.
 

Pertussis: Reappearing, and tricky to diagnose

By Sanjeev Sharma, MD, Sumanth Punukollu, MD, Christi Anderson, PharmD, Poonam Sharma, MD, and Donald Frey, MD December 11, 2009

Despite uniform vaccination strategies across the world, pertussis has reappeared globally. In the United States, the incidence of pertussis has increased ninefold in the past 15 years, and this often misdiagnosed illness is turning up in an increasing number of adults and adolescents.
 

Influenza Management

Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH, and Larissa Lucas, MD November 11, 2009

The most recent evidence on the management of influenza
 

Unexpected flu shot benefit

October 21, 2009

Efforts to get more patients vaccinated against various influenza infections in this particularly active flu season may have a greater payoff than expected.
 

Candidiasis Guidelines: New agents for invasive infections

By Carl Sherman October 16, 2009

Updated guidelines spell out therapy for superficial as well as life-threatening disease variants that are the product of modern medicine.
 

H. pylori: Guidelines for testing and treatment

By Carl Sherman September 09, 2009

Effective treatment may ease the pain of peptic ulcer disease and gastritis, prevent progression of gastric malignancy, and ease iron deficiency anemia.
 

Swine flu vaccination recommendations from CDC

August 06, 2009

Approximately half the U.S. population is in one or more of the groups targeted by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to receive vaccination.
 

Discrete yellow lesions on the eyelid

By Craig G. Burkhart, MD, MPH June 02, 2009

A 57-year-old Caucasian woman has had discrete yellow areas on her eyelids for several years. According to the patient, the precipitating factor was an episode of poison ivy that involved her eyelids four summers ago.
 

New HIV strategies presented at CROI

By Kevin J. Armington, MD May 26, 2009

Cortlandt Forum correspondent Kevin J. Armington, MD, reports on highlights from the 16th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which took place recently in Montreal.
 

Primary care on front line for atrial fibrillation

May 22, 2009

Diagnosing atrial fibrillation could sharply reduce strokes in the United States, and primary-care physicians have a key role to play, according to experts at the American College of Cardiology.
 

Stat Consult: Influenza A (H1N1) (Swine Flu)

By Brian S. Alper, MD, MSPH May 21, 2009

The latest information on swine flu diagnosis and treatment.
 

New evidence points to earlier start for HIV treatment

May 11, 2009

Starting antiretroviral therapy for HIV when CD4 counts are as high as 500 cells/mm3 reduces mortality risks by as much as 94%, according to several recent studies.
 

Chlamydia, gonorrhea top U.S. list of STDs

March 13, 2009

Chlamydia and gonorrhea were the two most common infectious diseases in 2007, hitting young women and minorities especially hard, the CDC announced in its annual report on sexually transmitted disease.
 

Genital ulcer in a vacationing patient

By Everett Schlam, MD March 13, 2009

A man returns from a trip with an unwanted souvenir.
 

Hepatitis C treatment different for Hispanics

March 02, 2009

A new study has found evidence that ethnicity may determine how patients respond to treatment for hepatitis C. In an open-label, nonrandomized trial, Hispanic whites did not fare as well as white patients who were not Hispanic.
 

Otitis externa

By Matthew Brier, MD, MPH, and Steven R. Brown, MD February 04, 2009

A quick summary of the latest evidence from the literature on this diffuse inflammation of the external ear canal.
 

Unconfirmed history of TB

Question asked by Sunil Modi, MD, Johnstown, Pa., and answered by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH January 26, 2009

A patient reports a history of TB but has no medical records and refuses purified protein derivative testing.
 

Recognizing bacterial meningitis

By Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH January 06, 2009

Bacterial infection of the meninges is potentially treatable if diagnosed early, making rapid diagnostics essential and increasing pressure on the clinician.
 

Non-group A strep: A continuing debate

Question by Russell W. Piper, MD, Washington, Pa., and answer by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH January 05, 2009

A reader seeks conclusive evidence-based data that "treatment is definitely indicated" in patients with significant clinical complaints and positive testing for non-group A strep.
 

FDA aproves Boostrix for adults

December 08, 2008

The FDA has approved Boostrix (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine, adsorbed [Tdap]) for use in adults 19-64 years of age. The vaccine was previously approved as a booster vaccine for preteens and teens.
 

Routine HIV testing encouraged, ignored

December 01, 2008

A new guideline from the American College of Physicians calls on doctors to routinely encourage HIV screening for all patients older than 13 years, regardless of their risk factors. Similar recommendations from the CDC, however, are not being followed.
 

Antibiotic-induced diarrhea

Submitted by Patricia L. Kress, MD, Eau Claire, Wis. November 21, 2008

To reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, I recommend yogurt with live cultures. The yogurt also helps settle diarrhea after a bout of gastroenteritis....
 

MRSA boosts CAP numbers

October 02, 2008

A new CDC report published online in Annals of Emergency Medicine (www.annemergmed .com, accessed July 7, 2008) found an unusually high number of community-acquired pneumonia cases caused by staph infection during the 2006-2007 flu season.
 

Miliary TB

Question raised by Win N. Yo, MD, New York City, NY and answered by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH July 01, 2008

An Asian immigrant with miliary pulmonary TB diagnosed by lung biopsy tests negative on a purified protein derivative test and sputum culture. While awaiting culture reports of the lung biopsy, she has been receiving four anti-TB medications. How long must she be on respiratory isolation?
 

PAP AND HIGH-RISK HPV

Question raised by Smita Kapoor, MD, Phoenix and answered by Daniel R. Mishell Jr, MD May 15, 2008

Should a Pap smear be repeated if the first report reads "no endocervical cells found"? Also, what should I do if the Pap smear is normal, but high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is detected? What is the likelihood the HPV will resolve on its own over time?
 

Clearing for duty after PPD conversion

Question by Duc Nguyen, MD, Gainesville, Fla., and answered by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH May 01, 2008

Should asymptomatic employees with a positive PPD test be allowed to return to work while x-ray results are pending?
 

Is Bowen testing good for Lyme disease?

Question raised by John Spence, MD, Marianna, Fla. and answered by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH April 24, 2008

A growing number of patients are receiving Bowen testing for Lyme disease. Many tests return as positive, and patients are placed on long, expensive, and often problematic therapies. Is there any validity at all to this testing?
 

Revisiting non-group A strep

Question raised by Russel W. Piper, MD, Washington, Pa., and answered by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH April 17, 2008

Cedric W. Spak, MD, says non-group A streptococcal pharyngitis should always be treated , but what is the medical rationale?
 

Revisiting non-group A strep

Question by Russel W. Piper, MD, Washington, Pa., and answer by Cedric W. Spak, MD, MPH April 17, 2008

Cedric W. Spak, MD, says non-group A streptococcal pharyngitis should always be treated , but what is the medical rationale?
 

Latest News

Popular Topics
Abdominal Obesity Abdominal Pain Acral Erythrodysesthesia Syndrome Alopecia Alopecia Areata Amiodarone Amitriptyline Aquagenic Syringeal Acrokeratoderma Bacterial Meningitis Bisphosphonates BONE FRACTURES Cardiovascular Disease Cataracts Cervical Cancer Screening Ciprofloxacin Compression Fractures Contact Urticaria Dermatology Family Medicine FAMILY PRACTICE Geriatrics Internal Medicine Online Exclusive Osteoporosis Primary Care