Emerging infectious diseases
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Since the 1800s, the only known vector of Borrelia recurrentis has been the body louse. In 2011, we found B. recurrentis DNA in 23% of head lice from patients with louse-borne relapsing fever in Ethiopia. Whether head lice can transmit these bacteria from one person to another remains to be determined.
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Emerging Infect. Dis. · May 2013
Letter Historical ArticleMycobacterium tuberculosis complex in remains of 18th-19th century slaves, Brazil.
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Emerging Infect. Dis. · May 2013
Case ReportsDelayed diagnosis of chronic Q fever and cardiac valve surgery.
Untreated chronic Q fever causes a high number of complications and deaths. We present cases of chronic Q fever that were not diagnosed until after the patients underwent cardiac valve surgery. In epidemic areas, Q fever screening of valve surgery patients secures early initiation of treatment and can prevent illness and death.
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Emerging Infect. Dis. · May 2013
Changes in severity of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection from pandemic to first postpandemic season, Germany.
We studied risk factors for a severe clinical outcome in hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 infection at the University Hospital Heidelberg in the pandemic and first postpandemic seasons. We identified 102 patients in 2009-10 and 76 in 2010-11. The proportion of severely diseased patients dramatically increased from 14% in 2009-10 to 46% in 2010-11 as did the mortality rate (5%-12%). ⋯ Multivariate analysis showed that older male patients with chronic lung disease were at increased risk for a severe clinical outcome. In summary, the proportion of patients with severe disease and fatal cases increased in the postpandemic season. Therefore, patients with suspected infections should be promptly identified and receive early treatment.