Inpatient Q Fever Frequency Is on the Rise.

Background: Q fever is a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii that is reportable in the USA. This infection is often asymptomatic; acute infection usually manifests as a self-limited febrile illness, hepatitis, or pneumonia. Chronic infection (usually infective endocarditis) often affects patients with valvulopathy or immunosuppression.

Ehrlichiosis-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Background: Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a potentially life-threatening tick-borne illness. HME-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare entity with a paucity of published literature regarding treatment and outcome. We present the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of 4 patients at our institutions with HME-associated HLH.

Pharmacist and physician insight of vancomycin therapeutic drug-monitoring changes.

The updated vancomycin guideline for treatment of serious methicillin-resistant infections prompted institutions to convert from trough to area-under-the-curve monitoring. The physician perception of the transition, coupled with that of pharmacists, was measured by pre- and postimplementation surveys. Both groups believed safety would be increased without efficacy changes.

fungemia successfully treated with voriconazole and terbinafine.

is ubiquitous in the environment and is considered an emerging infection. Immunocompromised hosts can have a wide spectrum of diseases ranging from cutaneous to disseminated disease that may involve pulmonary, central nervous system, or bone. Disseminated disease in immunocompetent hosts is uncommon.

Histoplasmosis-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Review of the Literature.

Background: Histoplasmosis is an endemic fungal disease with diverse clinical presentations. Histoplasmosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder with limited data regarding treatment and outcome. We described the clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of five patients in our institution with histoplasmosis-associated HLH.

Infections causing central airway obstruction: role of bronchoscopy in diagnosis and management.

Central airway obstructive infections (CAOI) are challenging medical conditions that may represent an advanced and complicated process of ongoing infections. The epidemiology of CAOI is unknown as well as the pathophysiology and the mechanism of development. This is due to sparse data in the literature that consists mainly of case reports and retrospective case series.

Vancomycin and the Risk of AKI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Vancomycin has been in use for more than half a century, but whether it is truly nephrotoxic and to what extent are still highly controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the risk of AKI attributable to intravenous vancomycin.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We conducted a systematic review of randomized, controlled trials and cohort studies that compared patients treated with intravenous vancomycin with a control group of patients given a comparator nonglycopeptide antibiotic and in which kidney function or kidney injury outcomes were reported.

Vancomycin Trough and Acute Kidney Injury: A Large Retrospective, Cohort Study.

Background: The association between vancomycin trough (VT) and acute kidney injury (AKI) at the recommended doses remains controversial.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of 500 adult patients who received vancomycin for ≥72 h. Data collected included 2 main predictors: average VT (including only VTs before the occurrence of AKI), first VT and other possible risk factors for AKI.

Histoplasmosis after solid organ transplant.

Background: To improve our understanding of risk factors, management, diagnosis, and outcomes associated with histoplasmosis after solid organ transplant (SOT), we report a large series of histoplasmosis occurring after SOT.

Methods: All cases of histoplasmosis in SOT recipients diagnosed between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2010 at 24 institutions were identified. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected.

A multicenter evaluation of tests for diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

Background: The sensitivity of the MVista Histoplasma antigen enzyme immunoassay (MiraVista Diagnostics) has been evaluated in disseminated histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS and in the "epidemic" form of acute pneumonia. Moreover, there has been no evaluation of the sensitivity of antigenemia detection in disseminated histoplasmosis after the implementation of methods to dissociate immune complexes and denature released antibodies. The goal of this study was to determine the sensitivity of the current antigen assay in different categories of histoplasmosis.

Ribosomal RNA sequence analysis of Brucella infection misidentified as Ochrobactrum anthropi infection.

A Brucella isolate was identified from purulent material collected during a hip surgery. Two previous blood cultures from the same patient yielded Ochrobactrum anthropi. After rRNA sequencing, all the isolates were identified as Brucella species and subsequently serotyped as Brucella suis.