Daniel J. Diekema

How Common Is

Invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections are usually preceded by nasal colonization. Although surveys of S. aureus nasal carriage have been conducted

Nutritional Supplementation and TB Treatment

Patients with TB are often malnourished and may have deficiencies of several micronutrients that play a role in the immune response. Previous studies of micronutrient supplementation for TB patients have yielded contradictory findings. Now, investigators have performed a randomized clinical trial to examine the effects of micronutrients among TB patients in Tanzania. From April 2000 through April 2005, 887 adults …

Improved Diagnosis of Prosthetic-Joint Infections?

Periprosthetic-tissue cultures lack sensitivity for the microbiologic diagnosis of prosthetic-joint infection, perhaps because the organisms are

Diagnosis and Management of Prosthetic Joint Infection

Target Population: Infectious diseases specialists, orthopedists, and other healthcare professionals who care for patients with prosthetic joint

Two Controlled Trials Confirm Effectiveness of Daily Chlorhexidine Bathing

Several uncontrolled studies have suggested that daily chlorhexidine bathing can reduce the risk for healthcare-associated bloodstream infections

Is Whole-Genome Sequencing the Future of Clinical Microbiology?

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of bacteria is a valuable research tool. However, WGS is rarely used in clinical settings because of timeliness issues and the need for expertise in analysis and interpretation. Now, investigators in the U.K. report using rapid-sequencing technology to investigate an outbreak …

Lower Susceptibility Breakpoints for the Enterobacteriaceae

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of cephalosporins and aztreonam for extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae can

Using Viruses to Detect MRSA and MSSA in Blood Cultures

Culture-based methods for detecting Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in blood and then determining whether the pathogen is methicillin-resistant (MRSA) or

Staph vs. Staph: A New Way to Attack

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for infection, and eradication of such carriage is increasingly used as a preventive measure. UseStaphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for infection, and eradication of such carriage is increasingly used as a preventive measure. Use

Staph vs. Staph: A New Way to Attack Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Carriage?

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for infection, and eradication of such carriage is increasingly used as a preventive measure. UseStaphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is a risk factor for infection, and eradication of such carriage is increasingly used as a preventive measure. Use