World Wide Web resources on zoonotic infections: a subjective overview.

Zoonoses are a diverse group of infections whose significance is underestimated and understudied. The prevalence of zoonoses is higher in the developing world, where health professionals are often deprived of the rapid and free availability of related scientific information; however, continuous evolution of the World Wide Web (WWW) may offer such an option. This review sought to evaluate the content of available WWW resources on zoonoses.

Open access World Wide Web resources on urogenital infections.

Background: Urinary tract infections are the most common infections seen in hospitalized patients and the second most common, after respiratory tract infections, seen in the general population. The World Wide Web can now assist healthcare professionals in finding up-to-date information on different medical conditions.

Methods: We sought to identify websites that contain information on urogenital infections by using popular search engines, such as Google and Yahoo.

Oral rifampin for eradication of Staphylococcus aureus carriage from healthy and sick populations: a systematic review of the evidence from comparative trials.

Background: Rifampin has been used for the eradication of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) colonization in various populations of healthy and sick people.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of the evidence from randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials that compared the effectiveness and safety of a rifampin-based regimen with another regimen in eradicating S.

World Wide Web resources on control of nosocomial infections.

Nosocomial infections are a major worldwide cause of death and disability, infection control programs are effective in limiting these infections, especially those acquired in the intensive care unit. The development of the world wide web has provided health care professionals with immediate access to continuously updated information in the field of infection control. We sought to identify websites that contain information on nosocomial infection control by using popular internet search engines, such as Google, Yahoo and AltaVista, and by reviewing relevant publications identified in the PubMed and Current Contents databases.

A comparative study on the cost of new antibiotics and drugs of other therapeutic categories.

Background: Drug treatment is becoming more expensive due to the increased cost for the introduction of new drugs, and there seems to be an uneven distribution of medication cost for different therapeutic categories. We hypothesized that the cost of new antimicrobial agents may differ from that of other therapeutic categories and this may play a role in the stagnation of development of new antibiotics.

Methodology/principal Findings: We performed a pharmaco-economical comparative analysis of the drug cost of treatment for new agents introduced in the United States drug market in various therapeutic categories.

Oral rifampin for prevention of S. aureus carriage-related infections in patients with renal failure--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Rifampin has been studied as prophylaxis against Staphylococcus aureus-related infections in patients on dialysis.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the effectiveness and safety of oral rifampin with another regimen or no therapy in reducing S. aureus-related infections in dialysis patients.

Delayed effusive pericarditis and recurrent pleural effusion after radiation treatment for Hodgkin's disease responsive to per os doxycycline.

We present our experience with a patient with effusive pericarditis and recurrent pleural effusion that first developed 23 yr after radiation treatment for the nodular sclerosis type of Hodgkin's disease. Extensive diagnostic work up including pericardial and pleural biopsy, excluded any other cause (than radiation) of the recurrent pleural effusion. Pericarditis and pleural effusion were not controlled with regimens including steroid and non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents.

Nephrotoxicity of intravenous colistin: a prospective evaluation.

Twenty-one patients who received intravenous colistimethate sodium (CMS) for at least 7 days for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections were included in a prospective cohort study at 'Henry Dunant' Hospital in Athens, Greece. The mean (+/- standard deviation) and median daily doses, cumulative doses and duration of treatment of intravenous CMS were, respectively, 5.5 (+/- 1.