Publications by authors named "James M Sizemore"
Purpose: A novel automatic discontinuation policy implemented within an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) is described, and results of an evaluation of the policy's effects on antibiotic usage are reported.
Methods: A retrospective, before-and-after study was conducted at an 800-bed, tertiary care, academic teaching hospital to evaluate selected antibiotic usage outcomes in both intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU adult patients targeted for ASP interventions before and after implementation of an automatic discontinuation of antibiotics policy (ADAP) authorizing the ASP team to automatically halt antibiotic therapy in cases involving inappropriate duplicate antimicrobial coverage or excess duration of therapy. The primary outcome was total days of antibiotic therapy.
The major genetic determinants of HIV-1 control affect HLA class I peptide presentation.
Science
December 2010
Infectious and inflammatory diseases have repeatedly shown strong genetic associations within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC); however, the basis for these associations remains elusive. To define host genetic effects on the outcome of a chronic viral infection, we performed genome-wide association analysis in a multiethnic cohort of HIV-1 controllers and progressors, and we analyzed the effects of individual amino acids within the classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) proteins. We identified >300 genome-wide significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MHC and none elsewhere.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Central nervous system (CNS) involvement with Blastomyces dermatitidis is an uncommon and potentially fatal complication of blastomycosis.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 22 patients with CNS blastomycosis at our institutions from 1990 through 2008 (13 proven, 5 probable, and 4 possible cases).
Results: Magnetic resonance imaging was used in most patients, alone or in addition to computed tomography.
Background: Male circumcision is protective against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and select other STIs. The protective role of male circumcision in genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and disease, however, remains controversial.
Methods: We evaluated data from a sample of heterosexual black men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic to determine if circumcision status influenced HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence, clinical genital disease, or asymptomatic shedding.
Background: The spectrum of genital herpes (GH) has been understudied in men, especially African American men.
Methods: Consecutive men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic were enrolled in a study of GH epidemiology. Consenting participants answered questionnaires detailing their sexual and social activities and underwent serological testing for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) and collection of genital swabs for viral detection.
Background And Objectives: Studies addressing how past experience with sexually transmitted diseases (STD) influence health-seeking behaviors among at-risk men are few.
Goal: The goal of this study was to determine whether health-seeking behaviors among men diagnosed with urethritis differ based on whether they report prior urethritis.
Study Design: Male STD clinic attendees answered a questionnaire regarding their demographic, sexual, and health-seeking characteristics.
Background: Studies addressing health-seeking behaviors among men at risk for STD are few; this study examines how having a regular doctor might influence risk-taking or STD prevalence.
Goal: The goal was to examine demographic, sexual, and health-seeking characteristics of male STD clinic attendees.
Study Design: Randomly selected men attending an STD clinic answered a questionnaire regarding the aforementioned characteristics.