Division of Infectious Diseases
Prescribing in Pediatric Patients: Who is at Risk?
The following was previously posted by Dr. Marcelin to SHEA Journal Club published online in January 2019. In the inpatient setting, much of the broad-spectrum antibiotic prescribing occurs in the context of the sepsis syndrome, where uncertainty leads to overly broad empiricism. Development of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative rods (high-risk GNRs) may complicate empiric treatment choices, and […]
Jan 31, 2019
Baloxavir Marboxil for Uncomplicated Influenza – Worth the Cost?
Influenza season is in full swing and with that, the discussions surrounding treatment are heating up! Dr. Hankins, a second year ID fellow, led our recent journal club discussion on Baloxavir. The New England Journal of Medicine article, Baloxavir Marboxil for Uncomplicated Influenza in Adults and Adolescents, discusses two randomized control trials, that were double-blinded for […]
Jan 28, 2019
It’s Getting Hot in Here: The Conundrum of Fever in the ICU
Fever has plagued mankind through the ages although was not until the 1600s when Thomas Sydenham reportedly first recognized that fever was an innate response” to get rid of the injurious agents causing the disease”. In the intensive care unit, fever is one of the most common abnormal signs documented and frequently results in changes […]
Jan 24, 2019
Global Burden of Tuberculosis: Are We Making Any Improvements?
UNMC is a proud to play a critical role in biopreparedness and global health, which also means we have to stay up-to-date on global health, including tuberculosis. In a recent Infectious Diseases journal club, Dr. Lawler presented the following 2018 Lancet article on the global burden of TB. Global, regional, and national burden of tuberculosis, […]
Jan 21, 2019
Decisive De-labelling in Cancer Patients: Just what the Doctor Ordered
The following was previously posted by Dr. Marcelin to SHEA Journal Club published online in January 2019. Although 10% of Americans report penicillin allergies, 90% of those allergies are not substantiated. Up to 25% of patients living with cancer report penicillin allergies, but more than half of these are low risk and could tolerate beta-lactams. […]
Jan 16, 2019
SeptiCyte: Is It Ready for Prime-time?
The following is a summary of a recent ID Journal Club, presented and written by 2nd year ID Fellow Dr. Raj Karnatak: Sepsis defined as “life-threatening organ dysfunction due to the dysregulated host response to an infection” [1]. Sepsis most commonly results from a bacterial infection, or less frequently from a fungal or viral infection. […]
Jan 9, 2019
Technology vs. Humans: Role of Rapid Diagnostics and Antimicrobial Stewardship in Cancer Patients
Rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) plays an important role in Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASP) and highlights the impact of the Microbiology laboratory on reducing inappropriate antibiotic use, particularly in hospitalized patients. Early microbial identification with RDTs can lead to earlier initiation of targeted antimicrobial therapy, which can in turn result in shorter hospitalization, fewer adverse events […]
Jan 3, 2019
Happy Holidays!
As the holiday season comes to a close, we here at UNMC ID want to wish each and everyone of you a happy, healthy holiday season and a wonderful start to 2019! Thank you for your continued support in our endeavor to bring you the latest news, updates and research from our amazing faculty & […]
Dec 31, 2018
Farewell to 2018; a year of UNMC ID growth
2018 has been a year of growth for our Division of Infectious Diseases. We have added several new faculty to our group (and still actively hiring), continued to redesign the College of Medicine Infectious Diseases curriculum, established a new Orthopedic Infectious Diseases service line, expanded our social media presence, joined multiple national Infectious Diseases committees, […]
Dec 28, 2018
At the end of 2018, we remember and respect Influenza, 100 years after the great pandemic
The Mother of All Pandemics In the 1918-1919 calendar year, the world experienced the worst influenza pandemic in modern times. Coming on the heels of WWI, the H1N1 pandemic occurred in three waves – in the spring of 1918, fall 1918 and spring 1919. Estimates suggest that the pandemic infected a third of the world’s […]
Dec 26, 2018
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