Rise in Babesiosis Cases, Pennsylvania, USA, 2005-2018.

Babesiosis is an emerging infection in the state of Pennsylvania, and clinicians need to be made aware of its clinical manifestations as well as the risk factors associated with severe disease. Before 2010, our tertiary academic center in central Pennsylvania previously saw zero cases of babesiosis. We saw our first confirmed case of Babesia infection acquired in Pennsylvania in 2011; we recorded 2 confirmed cases in 2017 and 4 confirmed cases in 2018.

Long-term follow-up of post-cardiac surgery Mycobacterium chimaera infections: A 5-center case series.

Objectives: In multiple countries, endovascular/disseminated Mycobacterium chimaera infections have occurred in post-cardiac surgery patients in association with contaminated, widely-distributed cardiac bypass heater-cooler devices. To contribute to long-term characterization of this recently recognized infection, we describe the clinical course of 28 patients with 3-7 years of follow-up for survivors.

Methods: Identified at five hospitals in the United States 2010-2016, post-cardiac surgery patients in the cohort had growth of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)/M.

Early Infectious Disease Outpatient Follow-up of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Patients Reduces 30-Day Readmission.

We conducted a case-control study to examine the association between outpatient infectious disease (ID) follow-up and risk of 30-day readmission in 384 patients receiving outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. ID outpatient follow-up within 2 weeks was associated with lower risk of all-cause 30-day readmission (adjusted odds ratio, 0.33; P = .

A Teenager With Sacroileitis, Rash and Fever Caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis Bacteremia.

We report a rare case of sacroileitis in a teenager resulting from Streptobacillus moniliformis bacteremia, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight. We discuss the challenges of making this diagnosis and review the literature on rat bite fever.

Improving Outcomes in Patients With Sepsis.

Sepsis mortality may be improved by early recognition and appropriate treatment based on evidence-based guidelines. An intervention was developed that focused on earlier identification of sepsis, early antimicrobial administration, and an educational program that was disseminated throughout all hospital units and services. There were 1331 patients with sepsis during the intervention period and 1401 patients with sepsis during the control period.

The intricate relationship of histoplasmosis and sarcoidosis: a case report.

Introduction: Histoplasmosis is an endemic mycosis with most cases of clinical illness reported in North and Central America. Rarely, patients develop progressive disseminated histoplasmosis with extrapulmonary manifestations. These infections are fatal if not appropriately treated.

Rising Syphilis Infection among Rural HIV-Infected Men who Routinely Received Risk-Reduction Counseling: New Challenges to HIV Prevention in Clinical Care.

Objective: Syphilis incidence has been steadily increasing among HIV-infected men in the United States, representing an important public health challenge to HIV prevention. Clinic-based HIV prevention interventions are available but may need to be revisited in response to syphilis epidemic. We wanted to better understand the current epidemiology of syphilis in rural HIV-infected men who routinely received HIV risk-reduction counseling in order to plan more effective HIV prevention strategies in clinical care.

HIV transmission risk behaviors among people living with HIV/AIDS: the need to integrate HIV prevention interventions and public health strategies into HIV care.

Context: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS (PLWHA) who continue high-risk behaviors may represent an important source for transmitting HIV infections.

Objective: To identify factors associated with high-risk behaviors among PLWHA and to plan better HIV prevention intervention strategies in HIV care.

Design: A cross-sectional survey to assess HIV transmission risk behaviors including sexual practices, disclosure of HIV infection status to sexual partner(s), and injection drug use.