Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
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Despite the declaration of smallpox eradication in 1980, the existence of variola stockpiles and the threat of bioterrorism demand that immunity to smallpox through vaccination be maintained. Although the currently available vaccine was used for the most successful medical intervention ever accomplished, it also is associated with side effects that are difficult to accept in a vaccine for a disease that has not been present for >25 years. Herein, we review alternative approaches to maintaining immunity to smallpox through vaccination with attenuated poxviruses, and we suggest modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) as a leading candidate for an alternative smallpox vaccine.
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Quantifying uncertainty: physicians' estimates of infection in critically ill neonates and children.
To determine the diagnostic accuracy of physicians' prior probability estimates of serious infection in critically ill neonates and children, we conducted a prospective cohort study in 2 intensive care units. Using available clinical, laboratory, and radiographic information, 27 physicians provided 2567 probability estimates for 347 patients (follow-up rate, 92%). The median probability estimate of infection increased from 0% (i.e., no antibiotic treatment or diagnostic work-up for sepsis), to 2% on the day preceding initiation of antibiotic therapy, to 20% at initiation of antibiotic treatment (P<.001). ⋯ Treatment and testing thresholds were derived from the provided predictions and treatment rates. Physicians' prognoses regarding the presence of serious infection were remarkably precise. Studies investigating the value of new tests for diagnosis of sepsis should establish that they add incremental value to physicians' judgment.
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Glycopeptides are no more effective than beta-lactam agents for prevention of surgical site infection after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis.
A meta-analysis was performed to investigate whether a switch from beta-lactams to glycopeptides for cardiac surgery prophylaxis should be advised. Results of 7 randomized trials (5761 procedures) that compared surgical site infections (SSIs) in subjects receiving glycopeptide prophylaxis with SSIs in those who received beta -lactam prophylaxis were pooled. ⋯ Glycopeptides approached superiority to beta-lactams for prevention of leg SSIs (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.58-1.01) and were superior for prevention of SSIs caused by methicillin-resistant gram-positive bacteria (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33-0.90). Standard prophylaxis for cardiac surgery should continue to be beta-lactams in most circumstances.
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The need for new antimicrobial agents is greater than ever because of the emergence of multidrug resistance in common pathogens, the rapid emergence of new infections, and the potential for use of multidrug-resistant agents in bioweapons. Paradoxically, some pharmaceutical companies have indicated that they are curtailing anti-infective research programs. We evaluated the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) databases of approved drugs and the research and development programs of the world's largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to document trends in the development of new antimicrobial agents. ⋯ Projecting future development, new antibacterial agents constitute 6 of 506 drugs disclosed in the developmental programs of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Despite the critical need for new antimicrobial agents, the development of these agents is declining. Solutions encouraging and facilitating the development of new antimicrobial agents are needed.