Infectious Diseases

Food additive may prevent spread of deadly new avian flu
A common food additive can block a deadly new strain of avian influenza virus from infecting healthy cells, report researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine in the online journal, PLOS ONE. The compound (tert-butyl hydroquinone), in wide use as a preservative, binds to a part of the flu virus that has never been targeted by any existing antiviral drug, raising hopes for its effectiveness against multi-drug-resistant flu viruses. MedicalXpress

More opportunities found for respiratory infections to spread among staff in emergency departments
After studying social contact between patients and staff in a busy emergency department (ED) for one year, researchers at Emory University have learned more about the spread of infection and why prevention strategies are so important. The researchers looked at three types of interaction – patient-to-patient contact, patient-to-staff contact and staff-to-staff contact. The most common type of contact was staff-to-staff, and thus staff may be more likely to spread infections to other staff. The study was published recently in the Public Library of Sciences (PLOS) One. MedicalXpress

Researchers identify fifth dengue subtype
Researchers have identified a fifth dengue subtype, the first new subtype in 50 years, a finding that could add another challenge to vaccine development, according to findings presented at a dengue meeting under way in Bangkok. The researchers' analysis suggested that the virus was different from the current four subtypes, and their sequencing tests found that it was phylogenetically distinct. Tests on monkeys found that the virus provoked different antibodies than for the other four subtypes, according to ScienceInsider. CIDRAP

CDC Update on the Multistate Outbreak of Fungal Meningitis and Other Infections: One Year Later - Statement
This week, CDC has two papers in the New England Journal of Medicine, one describing the clinical aspects of the infections associated with this outbreak and the other summarizing the epidemiologic investigation. The clinical paper, focusing on the early stages of the outbreak, describes patients who experienced a wide variety of illnesses, including meningitis, stroke, arachnoiditis (inflammation of one of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord), and epidural or paraspinal infections which ranged in severity from very mild to life-threatening. The epidemiology paper finalizes the original preliminary report published by the New England Journal of Medicine and details the efforts undertaken by public health agencies to identify and stop the outbreak. CDC

2012 West Nile Virus Outbreak - Who Were the Critically Ill Patients?
Analysis revealed white men were disproportionately affected and there was a notable association with ICU care in patients with hypertension, less so with diabetes and kidney disease. Neurologic symptoms were prominent, with encephalopathy more frequent than seizures. Significant complications were AKI and ARF. The mortality for WNV and ICU admission was high at 42%. A limitation in more in-depth analysis was the lack of uniform diagnostic evaluation. Mora A, Tsai-Nguyen G, Columbus C. Chest. 2013 Oct 1;144(4_MeetingAbstracts):381A. PMID: 24153794

Cantilever sensory array: The Rosetta Stone for antibiotic resistance?
JoVE, the Journal of Visualized Experiments will publish a novel technique to confront the problem of antibiotic resistance. According to Dr. Joseph Ndieyira, one of the developers involved in the technique, "The use of this technology will allow scientists to understand how antibiotics work, how bacteria develop resistance, and what molecular mechanisms could be exploited to get around their defense mechanisms." MedicalXpress