Month: August 2017

Infectious Diseases Interest Group Kicks Off the Year with an Upcoming Panel!

The Infectious Diseases Interest Group here at UNMC will be hosting a panel of ID physicians covering a range of sub-specialties within ID. Our goal is to provide an introduction to incoming students about the many opportunities in ID and allow physicians to share their passion for the field. Additionally, students will be able to ask […]

Aug 30, 2017

UNMC Clinical Microbiology Fellowship Program Welcomes Dr. Arryn Craney!

Content courtesy of Dr. Paul Fey and Dr. Arryn Craney. UNMC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology in collaboration with Nebraska Medicine sponsors a Clinical Microbiology Fellowship Program that is accredited by the Committee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) of the American Academy of Microbiology.  This two year training program provides the trainee hands-on experience in […]

Aug 28, 2017

Welcoming our new ID fellows – Focus on Dr. Karnatak

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Karnatak as a new fellow in our Infectious Diseases program! Read on to learn a little more about him… Tell us about the position you are starting? I am starting infectious diseases fellowship at UNMC. I plan to do two years of specialization in infectious diseases followed by one […]

Aug 25, 2017

Advancing Healthcare and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Nebraska

Content courtesy of Phil Chung and the Nebraska ASAP.  The Nebraska Antimicrobial Stewardship Assessment and Promotion Program (ASAP) is funded by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Healthcare-Associated Infection Team through a CDC grant.  It is closely affiliated with the nationally recognized Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at Nebraska Medicine and Division of Infectious […]

Aug 23, 2017

Are contact isolation precautions (CP) necessary when caring for patients infected or colonized with endemic MRSA or VRE?

Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Infectious Diseases and Nebraska Medicine Department of Infection Control and Epidemiology recently published results from a two-year observational study indicating that routine use of contact isolation precautions (CP) are not needed in caring for patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). (Rupp ME, […]

Aug 21, 2017

Cephalexin with or without TMP-SMX Showed Similar Clinical Cure Rates for Uncomplicated Cellulitis

Content courtesy of Philip Chung, PharmD, MS, BCPS The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends use of antimicrobial agent active only against streptococci (e.g., cephalexin) for management of cellulitis in patients without systemic signs of infection, penetrating trauma, evidence of MRSA, and injection drug use.  Despite this recommendation, healthcare providers frequently prescribe additional antimicrobial agents […]

Aug 18, 2017

THINK FUNGUS – Fungal Disease Awareness Week!

Welcome to the first Fungal Disease Awareness Week sponsored by the CDC and partners! In Infectious Diseases, we truly to see lives saved by thinking about possible fungal diseases and we treat them often. Interested in learning more about Fungal Diseases? Check out the CDC video and the website here. Share the post to help the […]

Aug 15, 2017

Antimicrobial Stewardship in Long-Term Care Facilities – The Time is Now!

Antibiotic use is common in long-term care facilities (LTCF) with 70% residents receiving at least one course of systemic antibiotic every year. A significant proportion of the antibiotic use (40% to 75%) in nursing homes has been found to be unnecessary or inappropriate. The prevalence of multi-drug resistant organisms and C. difficile infections are already […]

Aug 14, 2017

Pharmacist-Driven Intervention Improves Care of Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.  Previous studies have shown Infectious Diseases (ID) consultation for patients with SAB optimizes care and reduces mortality.  A recent study highlights outcomes of a pharmacist-driven intervention to encourage adherence to SAB quality-of-care measures and ID consultation in an Ohio medical center.  The study investigators found that these interventions significantly increased compliance to SAB quality-of-care measures from […]

Aug 11, 2017

Microbiology and Infectious Diseases – The Ghostbusters of Medicine

  Medicine is a team sport, there is no denying that, but together the Microbiologist and Infectious Diseases(ID) specialists create a powerhouse of for diagnosis and treatment. Detect, Identify and Destroy. Infectious Disease physicians are called in to start the investigation – does the patient have an infection? What do we think is the most […]

Aug 7, 2017