HIV and ID Observations

December 25th, 2016

Ebola Vaccine, a New Use for Listerine, USPSTF on HSV, Nether Grooming, and More: A Christmas and Hanukkah Overlap ID Link-o-Rama

A few notable ID stories out there for this remarkable convergence in our Judeo-Christian holiday calendar: Experimental Ebola vaccine “100%” effective. Impressive scientific progress on prevention of this terrifying disease, with even better strategies expected soon. 10 days of antibiotics is better than 5 for childhood (age < 2) otitis media. For the record, my “inside source” on this […]

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December 18th, 2016

Holiday Distractions, Dirty Pets, and Time to Vote for Your Favorite Cartoon Caption

Many people find it tough to concentrate at work this time of year. So much to juggle: Holiday parties. Shopping. Travel plans — specifically, should we go with DEET or picaridin? Lots of high-carb, high-calorie foods stealing blood from our brains. Maybe too much eggnog or punch doing the same thing. Kids on vacation, with their demands for […]

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December 11th, 2016

You Want Guidelines? We Got Guidelines!

About a million years ago — in other words, probably sometime during my ID fellowship — I asked transplant ID guru Bob Rubin how various ID guidelines came together, including one on antifungal therapy he had just led. “You lock a bunch of experts in a hotel conference room,” he said. “Provide them plenty of food and coffee. […]

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December 4th, 2016

Just Wondering: Quick ID/HIV Questions to Ponder During Month Number 12

A selection of ID/HIV questions that have been dogging me over the past year, some longer: Why is there no reliable, readily available PCR diagnostic test for malaria? Seems especially ironic since the one for babesia has become so commonly used. Does the Binax antigen test make it unnecessary? Why aren’t we actively recommending Zika testing for couples who return from […]

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November 25th, 2016

ID Cartoon Caption Contest #2 Winner — and a New Contest for the Holidays

Every so often, one of my regular readers (which must number at least a dozen at this point, including my extended family, dog, and cat) asks me where I come up with ideas. The answer, of course, is that there are infinite sources of inspiration in the field of Infectious Diseases — the difficulty is choosing what fascinating topic […]

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November 20th, 2016

Seven ID/HIV Things to Be Grateful For This Holiday Season, 2016 Edition

I know, I know — you read that title and thought, “Grateful now? He must be out of his mind.” But with the (unsurprising) concession that I too felt that watching the election returns was akin to witnessing a slowly developing and incomprehensible train wreck, I remind you that the expression of gratitude is well known to make you happier. […]

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November 13th, 2016

Poll: Should We Be Starting HIV “Elite Controllers” On Antiretroviral Therapy?

(Note to readers: This will have nothing to do with the election — for obvious reasons. Yes, there’s a poll at the end, but your political views will not matter one bit. There, I feel better.) Just received this email from a longstanding leader in HIV care and research: I would like to ask for you a favor. […]

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November 6th, 2016

Do ID Clinicians Perpetuate Our Own Stigma?

Infectious Diseases doctors will find this exchange familiar: New person you’re meeting:  What to do you do? ID Doc:  I’m a doctor. New person:  Oh — what kind? ID Doc:  A specialist in Infectious Diseases. New person (making a face, or moving a few feet back, either to be humorous or truly frightened, or both):  Yuck! […]

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October 29th, 2016

Are Antibiotics Useful for Small Skin Abscesses? Now There’s an Answer

Let’s start with the clinical controversy, one that’s been bouncing around Emergency Rooms, outpatient practices, postgraduate courses, and medical journals for years. Specifically, are antibiotics helpful for skin abscesses that are adequately drained? It’s still debated since of course most patients with this annoying problem will get better on their own provided the drainage is adequate. What do the antibiotics […]

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October 20th, 2016

Back to School: Questions from “ID in Primary Care” — Shared and Answered!

Once again, we’re giving our “Infectious Diseases in Primary Care” post-graduate course in beautiful Boston — where the weather is perfect, the air crisp and clear, and we are all watching with excitement as the few remaining baseball teams and presidential candidates make a mad dash to the end of their respective races. (You might have heard something […]

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