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Archive for September, 2012

Quick Question: An Etiquette Column for ID Specialists

Paul Sax • September 24th, 2012

Categories: Health Care, Infectious Diseases, Misc, Patient Care

(7 votes, average: 4.71 out of 5)

(First in what will undoubtedly be a recurring series.) Hi Paul: What do you do when someone in a non-medical setting gets something really wrong, and it’s in our field? Here’s why I’m asking: I was picking up my 9-year-old son from school the other day, and his teacher reported to me that they were [...]

It’s Time to Dump the HIV Western Blot

Paul Sax • September 19th, 2012

Categories: Health Care, HIV, Infectious Diseases, Patient Care, Policy

(20 votes, average: 4.85 out of 5)

Hard to believe, but we have to get rid of the HIV Western blot — at least as our HIV confirmatory test. Here’s why (case adapted from several seen the past few years; I’m sure most of you have seen similar): 30-year-old man, high risk for HIV. He’s worried he might have become infected due [...]

Are Fluoroquinolones Really More Dangerous Than Other Antibiotics?

Paul Sax • September 11th, 2012

Categories: Health Care, Infectious Diseases, Patient Care

(12 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

In today’s New York Times, health writer Jane Brody slams quinolone antibiotics: Part of the problem is that fluoroquinolones are often inappropriately prescribed. Instead of being reserved for use against serious, perhaps life-threatening bacterial infections like hospital-acquired pneumonia, these antibiotics are frequently prescribed for sinusitis, bronchitis, earaches and other ailments that may resolve on their own or can [...]

People Fear EEE and West Nile, but not Influenza — Can Someone Explain Why?

Paul Sax • September 8th, 2012

Categories: Health Care, Infectious Diseases, Patient Care, Policy

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

OK, here’s a quick quiz — match the viral infection with the average annual US deaths: 1.  Eastern Equine Encephalitis A.  36,000, mostly in the elderly 2.  Influenza B.  < 10, mostly in the elderly I know, it was an easy one – 1 goes with B, and 2 with A. Here’s a good reference for more [...]

CROI 2013: March 3-7, Atlanta

Paul Sax • September 1st, 2012

Categories: HIV, Research

(5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)

The title says it all. Abstract deadline is October 9. Photo below is completely irrelevant.