Infectious Diseases
- Corticosteroids: Giving and taking away
Two articles this month highlight opposite ends of the treatment spectrum, one on introducing adjunctive corticosteroids when treating Pneumocystis pneumonia, and the other on syndromes associated with glucocorticoid withdrawal.
- When should I give corticosteroids to my patient with Pneumocystis pneumonia?
Patients with HIV infection who are hypoxemic should receive corticosteroids. Evidence for patients without HIV infection is limited.
- Is there a role for chronic suppressive therapy in herpes simplex virus infection?
Yes, in patients with recurrent oral and genital HSV-2 infection and oral HSV-1 infection.
- Conjunctival petechiae in infective endocarditis
A 75-year-old-man presented with a 33-day history of intermittent nocturnal fevers of 39°C (102°F) and truncal rashes. The rashes appeared on the same day as the fever.
- Hey, Doc: Could the 2023–2024 cold and flu season finally be the calm after the storm?
The author answers questions patients may have about the currently available influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines.
- COVID-19: A management update
The authors examine current guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the National Institutes of Health.
- vOka vaccine-associated disseminated varicella zoster
The patient had received the live attenuated vaccine 1 month before presentation. He had no history of varicella infection.
- Should midodrine be used as an intravenous vasopressor-sparing agent in septic shock?
Research and robust data are still lacking regarding use of midodrine in this setting.
- Should you use compression duplex ultrasonography to detect deep vein thrombosis to evaluate unexplained fevers?
The authors provide recommendations on when to order imaging of the extremities in the evaluation of hospitalized patients with unexplained fever.