September 3rd 2024
The updated COVID-19 vaccine targets the currently circulating Omicron variant JN.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2.
Older Woman With Dyspnea and Large Abdominal Ecchymosis
October 6th 2009THE CASE: A 77-year-old woman who has had shortness of breath and intermittent left flank pain for the past 2 to 3 days is brought by her family for evaluation. The dyspnea worsens when she lies down. She denies chest pain, back pain, and syncope. She has also had mild nonbloody diarrhea of 2 days’ duration but no vomiting or oral intake intolerance.
Mycobacterium marinum Granuloma in a Fisherman
October 6th 2009While fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, an 81-year-old man slipped and fell into the water. Afterward, he noticed a superficial abrasion over his right knee. During the next 10 days, red bumps, pustules, and slight tenderness developed. He was treated empirically with mupirocin ointment, amoxicillin/clavulanate and subsequently with cephalexin. However, new papular lesions continued to develop adjacent to the area of involvement, which showed no signs of healing.
Diagnostic Testing for H1N1 Flu: When and How
September 30th 2009Confirming the presence of the H1N1 influenza virus in patients with suspected infection is critical to public health efforts to track, study, and contain the disease-and to the ability of clinicians to provide optimal management. Appropriate diagnostic testing is key to this process.
H1N1 Influenza: Prevention and Treatment-How and for Whom
September 30th 2009Not all patients in whom infection with the H1N1 influenza virus is suspected or confirmed need to be treated. Many patients with mild disease can forgo pharmacotherapy. In fact, in many cases, it may even be prudent to discourage such patients from coming into their health care provider's office, in the interest of infection control. However, all patients with severe disease and those considered at high risk for complications from seasonal influenza should be offered therapy with antiviral agents.
The H1N1 Influenza Pandemic: Strategies for Controlling Its Spread
September 30th 2009Before considering the infection control strategies recommended during the current H1N1 influenza pandemic, it is useful to review the transmission characteristics of influenza viruses-including H1N1-that form the basis for these strategies:
Recognizing H1N1 Flu: An In-Depth Look at Its Clinical Characteristics
September 29th 2009The ability to recognize cases of the new H1N1 flu and distinguish these from seasonal influenza and other respiratory illnesses is perhaps the overriding concern of primary care practitioners. Prompt and accurate identification of this entity is the key to both effective management of individual illness and effective public health measures.
Travel Medicine: Emerging Pathogens and New Recommendations, Part 1
September 11th 2009More than half of travelers to the developing world experience a health-related problem during their trip, with 8% requiring medical attention on their return because of persistent symptoms. The GeoSentinel database, a collaborative effort among 31 travel medicine clinics on 6 different continents, suggests that the most common diagnoses in these persons continue to be malaria (24%), dengue fever (6%), acute traveler’s diarrhea (4%), and typhoid fever (2%).
H1N1 Toy Part of CDC's Effort to Educate Young Children
September 9th 2009As a reflection of the disproportionate impact that the swine flu is having on young children, the CDC’s gift shop in Atlanta is now selling a swine flu toy-a soft 7 inch model of the virus that can be used by adults to explain H1N1 infection to youngsters.
What clue in the photo points to the cause of this chronic hand dermatitis?
September 8th 2009A 46-year-old dentist presents for evaluation of chronic hand dermatitis of 1 year’s duration. He has no other rashes. Standard patch testing was negative. Another physician prescribed a high-potency corticosteroid cream that controls the rash but does not clear it. The patient takes no other medications.
Influenza in Children: Neurological Complications
August 19th 2009When you encounter unexplained seizures or mental status changes in children who have influenza-like illness, send respiratory specimens for diagnostic testing and promptly start empirical antiviral therapy, especially in hospitalized patients.
Aeromonas hydrophila Cellulitis
August 7th 2009This painful, purulent, malodorous, 5 x 5-cm ulcer developed a few days after the 71-year-old patient had struck his foot against a radiator. For the past 24 hours, he had subjective fevers and chills. He denied recent travel and saltwater or freshwater exposure. He had chronic lymphedema and admitted to drinking alcohol socially.
Is this mildly pruritic eruption a bacterial infection-or something else?
August 4th 2009This pruritic rash developed in a 43-year-old woman who had undergone a lumpectomy and lymph node dissection for breast cancer. She completed radiation therapy and chemotherapy 3 weeks ago. The rash has been present for 5 days. Levofloxacin was started 1 day ago.