MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Clinical Microbiology Reviews' source. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:34:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597006&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232369%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nachamkin I PMID: 22232369 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597006 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597005&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232370%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brooke JS Abstract Summary: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging multidrug-resistant global opportunistic pathogen. The increasing incidence of nosocomial and community-acquired S. maltophilia infections is of particular concern for immunocompromised individuals, as this bacterial pathogen is associated with a significant fatality/case ratio. S. maltophilia is an environmental bacterium found in aqueous habitats, including plant rhizospheres, animals, foods, and water sources. Infections of S. maltophilia can occur in a range of organs and tissues; the organism is commonly found in respiratory tract infections. This review summarizes the current literature and presents S. maltophilia as an organism with various molecular mechanisms used for colonization and infectio... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597005 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597004&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Harms A, Dehio C Abstract Summary: Bartonella spp. are facultative intracellular pathogens that employ a unique stealth infection strategy comprising immune evasion and modulation, intimate interaction with nucleated cells, and intraerythrocytic persistence. Infections with Bartonella are ubiquitous among mammals, and many species can infect humans either as their natural host or incidentally as zoonotic pathogens. Upon inoculation into a naive host, the bartonellae first colonize a primary niche that is widely accepted to involve the manipulation of nucleated host cells, e.g., in the microvasculature. Consistently, in vitro research showed that Bartonella harbors an ample arsenal of virulence factors to modulate the response of such cells, gain entrance, and establish an ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597004 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597003&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232372%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Francesconi F, Lupi O Abstract Summary: Myiasis is defined as the infestation of live vertebrates (humans and/or animals) with dipterous larvae. In mammals (including humans), dipterous larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food and cause a broad range of infestations depending on the body location and the relationship of the larvae with the host. In this review, we deeply discuss myiasis as a worldwide infestation with different agents and with its broad scenario of clinical manifestations as well as diagnosis techniques and treatment. PMID: 22232372 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597003 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597002&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232373%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gaitanis G, Magiatis P, Hantschke M, Bassukas ID, Velegraki A Abstract Summary: In the last 15 years, the genus Malassezia has been a topic of intense basic research on taxonomy, physiology, biochemistry, ecology, immunology, and metabolomics. Currently, the genus encompasses 14 species. The 1996 revision of the genus resulted in seven accepted taxa: M. furfur, M. pachydermatis, M. sympodialis, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta, and M. slooffiae. In the last decade, seven new taxa isolated from healthy and lesional human and animal skin have been accepted: M. dermatis, M. japonica, M. yamatoensis, M. nana, M. caprae, M. equina, and M. cuniculi. However, forthcoming multidisciplinary research is expected to show the etiopathological relationships between these new species... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597002 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597002 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597001&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232374%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Samal J, Kandpal M, Vivekanandan P Abstract Summary: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a complex clinical entity frequently associated with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The persistence of HBV genomes in the absence of detectable surface antigenemia is termed occult HBV infection. Mutations in the surface gene rendering HBsAg undetectable by commercial assays and inhibition of HBV by suppression of viral replication and viral proteins represent two fundamentally different mechanisms that lead to occult HBV infections. The molecular mechanisms underlying occult HBV infections, including recently identified mechanisms associated with the suppression of HBV replication and inhibition of HBV proteins, are reviewed in detail. The availability of highl... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597001 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5597000&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232375%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Doggett SL, Dwyer DE, Peñas PF, Russell RC Abstract Summary: Since the late 1990s, bed bugs of the species Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus have undergone a worldwide resurgence. These bed bugs are blood-sucking insects that readily bite humans. Cutaneous reactions may occur and can start out as small macular lesions that can develop into distinctive wheals of around 5 cm in diameter, which are accompanied by intense itching. Occasionally, bullous eruptions may result. If bed bugs are numerous, the patient can present with widespread urticaria or eythematous rashes. Often, bites occur in lines along the limbs. Over 40 pathogens have been detected in bed bugs, but there is no definitive evidence that they transmit any disease-causing organisms to humans. Anemia may r... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5597000 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5597000 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5596999&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D22232376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Peters BM, Jabra-Rizk MA, O'May GA, Costerton JW, Shirtliff ME Abstract Summary: Microorganisms coexist in a complex milieu of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses on or within the human body, often as multifaceted polymicrobial biofilm communities at mucosal sites and on abiotic surfaces. Only recently have we begun to appreciate the complicated biofilm phenotype during infection; moreover, even less is known about the interactions that occur between microorganisms during polymicrobial growth and their implications in human disease. Therefore, this review focuses on polymicrobial biofilm-mediated infections and examines the contribution of bacterial-bacterial, bacterial-fungal, and bacterial-viral interactions during human infection and potential strategies for protectio... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5596999 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5596999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295085&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976602%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barros MB, de Almeida Paes R, Schubach AO Abstract Summary: Sporotrichosis, which is caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii, is currently distributed throughout the world, especially in tropical and subtropical zones. Infection generally occurs by traumatic inoculation of soil, plants, and organic matter contaminated with the fungus. Certain leisure and occupational activities, such as floriculture, agriculture, mining, and wood exploitation, are traditionally associated with the mycosis. Zoonotic transmission has been described in isolated cases or in small outbreaks. Since the end of the 1990s there has been an epidemic of sporotrichosis associated with transmission by cats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than 2,000 human cases and 3,000 animal cases have be... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295085 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295084&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976603%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bern C, Kjos S, Yabsley MJ, Montgomery SP Abstract Summary: Chagas' disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and causes potentially life-threatening disease of the heart and gastrointestinal tract. The southern half of the United States contains enzootic cycles of T. cruzi, involving 11 recognized triatomine vector species. The greatest vector diversity and density occur in the western United States, where woodrats are the most common reservoir; other rodents, raccoons, skunks, and coyotes are also infected with T. cruzi. In the eastern United States, the prevalence of T. cruzi is highest in raccoons, opossums, armadillos, and skunks. A total of 7 autochthonous vector-borne human infections have been reported in Texas, California, Tennessee, and Louisi... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295084 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295083&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976604%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Colombo AL, Padovan AC, Chaves GM Abstract Summary: Trichosporon spp. are basidiomycetous yeast-like fungi found widely in nature. Clinical isolates are generally related to superficial infections. However, this fungus has been recognized as an opportunistic agent of invasive infections, mostly in cancer patients and those exposed to invasive medical procedures. It is possible that the ability of Trichosporon strains to form biofilms on implanted devices, the presence of glucuronoxylomannan in their cell walls, and the ability to produce proteases and lipases are all factors likely related to the virulence of this genus and therefore may account for the progress of invasive trichosporonosis. Disseminated trichosporonosis has been increasingly reported worldwide and represe... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295083 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295082&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976605%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lindeboom JA, Bruijnesteijn van Coppenraet LE, van Soolingen D, Prins JM, Kuijper EJ Abstract Summary: Mycobacterium haemophilum is a slowly growing acid-fast bacillus (AFB) belonging to the group of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) frequently found in environmental habitats, which can colonize and occasionally infect humans and animals. Several findings suggest that water reservoirs are a likely source of M. haemophilum infections. M. haemophilum causes mainly ulcerating skin infections and arthritis in persons who are severely immunocompromised. Disseminated and pulmonary infections occasionally occur. The second at-risk group is otherwise healthy children, who typically develop cervical and perihilar lymphadenitis. A full diagnostic regimen for the optimal detection of... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295082 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295081&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976606%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marshall BM, Levy SB Abstract Summary: Antimicrobials are valuable therapeutics whose efficacy is seriously compromised by the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. The provision of antibiotics to food animals encompasses a wide variety of nontherapeutic purposes that include growth promotion. The concern over resistance emergence and spread to people by nontherapeutic use of antimicrobials has led to conflicted practices and opinions. Considerable evidence supported the removal of nontherapeutic antimicrobials (NTAs) in Europe, based on the "precautionary principle." Still, concrete scientific evidence of the favorable versus unfavorable consequences of NTAs is not clear to all stakeholders. Substantial data show elevated antibiotic resistance in bacteria asso... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295081 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295080&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976607%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schildgen V, van den Hoogen B, Fouchier R, Tripp RA, Alvarez R, Manoha C, Williams J, Schildgen O Abstract Summary: It has been 10 years since human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was identified as a causative agent of respiratory illness in humans. Since then, numerous studies have contributed to a substantial body of knowledge on many aspects of HMPV. This review summarizes our current knowledge on HMPV, HMPV disease pathogenesis, and disease intervention strategies and identifies a number of areas with key questions to be addressed in the future. PMID: 21976607 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295080 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295079&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976608%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mahlen SD Abstract Summary: Serratia species, in particular Serratia marcescens, are significant human pathogens. S. marcescens has a long and interesting taxonomic, medical experimentation, military experimentation, and human clinical infection history. The organisms in this genus, particularly S. marcescens, were long thought to be nonpathogenic. Because S. marcescens was thought to be a nonpathogen and is usually red pigmented, the U.S. military conducted experiments that attempted to ascertain the spread of this organism released over large areas. In the process, members of both the public and the military were exposed to S. marcescens, and this was uncovered by the press in the 1970s, leading to U.S. congressional hearings. S. marcescens was found to be a certain huma... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295079 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5295078&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21976609%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kunnath-Velayudhan S, Gennaro ML Abstract Summary: Infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes a variety of clinical conditions ranging from life-long asymptomatic infection to overt disease with increasingly severe tissue damage and a heavy bacillary burden. Immune biomarkers should follow the evolution of infection and disease because the host immune response is at the core of protection against disease and tissue damage in M. tuberculosis infection. Moreover, levels of immune markers are often affected by the antigen load. We review how the clinical spectrum of M. tuberculosis infection correlates with the evolution of granulomatous lesions and how granuloma structural changes are reflected in the peripheral circulation. We also discuss how antigen-specific, periph... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5295078 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5295078 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048951&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734242%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Unemo M, Dillon JA Summary: Gonorrhea, which may become untreatable due to multiple resistance to available antibiotics, remains a public health problem worldwide. Precise methods for typing Neisseria gonorrhoeae, together with epidemiological information, are crucial for an enhanced understanding regarding issues involving epidemiology, test of cure and contact tracing, identifying core groups and risk behaviors, and recommending effective antimicrobial treatment, control, and preventive measures. This review evaluates methods for typing N. gonorrhoeae isolates and recommends various methods for different situations. Phenotypic typing methods, as well as some now-outdated DNA-based methods, have limited usefulness in differentiating between strains of N. gonorrhoeae. Genotypi... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048951 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048950&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734243%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tamarozzi F, Halliday A, Gentil K, Hoerauf A, Pearlman E, Taylor MJ Summary: The discovery of Wolbachia intracellular bacteria within filarial nematodes, including Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of onchocerciasis or "river blindness," has delivered a paradigm shift in our understanding of the parasite's biology, to where we now know that the bacterial endosymbionts are essential for normal development of larvae and embryos and may support the long-term survival of adult worms. The apparent mutualistic dependency has also offered a novel approach to the treatment of onchocerciasis through the use of antibiotics to eliminate Wolbachia, delivering for the first time a treatment which has significant macrofilaricidal efficacy. Studies with other filarial nematode species... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048950 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048949&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734244%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rikihisa Y Summary: Anaplasma phagocytophilum persists in nature by cycling between mammals and ticks. Human infection by the bite of an infected tick leads to a potentially fatal emerging disease called human granulocytic anaplasmosis. A. phagocytophilum is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that replicates inside mammalian granulocytes and the salivary gland and midgut cells of ticks. A. phagocytophilum evolved the remarkable ability to hijack the regulatory system of host cells. A. phagocytophilum alters vesicular traffic to create an intracellular membrane-bound compartment that allows replication in seclusion from lysosomes. The bacterium downregulates or actively inhibits a number of innate immune responses of mammalian host cells, and it upregulates cellular choleste... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048949 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048948&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734245%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Picard C, Casanova JL, Puel A Summary: Autosomal recessive IRAK-4 and MyD88 deficiencies predispose affected patients to recurrent invasive pyogenic bacterial infection. Both defects result in the selective impairment of cellular responses to Toll-like receptors (TLRs) other than TLR3 and of cellular responses to most interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1Rs), including IL-1R, IL-18R, and IL-33R. Hypomorphic mutations in the X-linked NEMO gene and hypermorphic mutations in the autosomal IKBA gene cause X-linked recessive and autosomal dominant anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (EDA-ID) syndromes. Both of these defects impair NF-κB-mediated cellular responses to multiple receptors, including TLRs, IL-1Rs, and tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNF-Rs). They therefore ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048948 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048947&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734246%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Taylor-Robinson D, Jensen JS Summary: The history, replication, genetics, characteristics (both biological and physical), and factors involved in the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma genitalium are presented. The latter factors include adhesion, the influence of hormones, motility, possible toxin production, and immunological responses. The preferred site of colonization, together with current detection procedures, mainly by PCR technology, is discussed. The relationships between M. genitalium and various diseases are highlighted. These diseases include acute and chronic nongonococcal urethritis, balanoposthitis, chronic prostatitis, and acute epididymitis in men and urethritis, bacterial vaginosis, vaginitis, cervicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and reproductive disease in wome... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048947 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048947 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048946&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734247%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Winstanley T, Courvalin P Summary: This review aims to discuss expert systems in general and how they may be used in medicine as a whole and clinical microbiology in particular (with the aid of interpretive reading). It considers rule-based systems, pattern-based systems, and data mining and introduces neural nets. A variety of noncommercial systems is described, and the central role played by the EUCAST is stressed. The need for expert rules in the environment of reset EUCAST breakpoints is also questioned. Commercial automated systems with on-board expert systems are considered, with emphasis being placed on the "big three": Vitek 2, BD Phoenix, and MicroScan. By necessity and in places, the review becomes a general review of automated system performances for the detection o... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048946 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048945&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734248%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mook-Kanamori BB, Geldhoff M, van der Poll T, van de Beek D Summary: Pneumococcal meningitis continues to be associated with high rates of mortality and long-term neurological sequelae. The most common route of infection starts by nasopharyngeal colonization by Streptococcus pneumoniae, which must avoid mucosal entrapment and evade the host immune system after local activation. During invasive disease, pneumococcal epithelial adhesion is followed by bloodstream invasion and activation of the complement and coagulation systems. The release of inflammatory mediators facilitates pneumococcal crossing of the blood-brain barrier into the brain, where the bacteria multiply freely and trigger activation of circulating antigen-presenting cells and resident microglial cells. The result... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048945 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5048944&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21734249%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Teixeira AR, Hecht MM, Guimaro MC, Sousa AO, Nitz N Summary: Acute Trypanosoma cruzi infections can be asymptomatic, but chronically infected individuals can die of Chagas' disease. The transfer of the parasite mitochondrial kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) minicircle to the genome of chagasic patients can explain the pathogenesis of the disease; in cases of Chagas' disease with evident cardiomyopathy, the kDNA minicircles integrate mainly into retrotransposons at several chromosomes, but the minicircles are also detected in coding regions of genes that regulate cell growth, differentiation, and immune responses. An accurate evaluation of the role played by the genotype alterations in the autoimmune rejection of self-tissues in Chagas' disease is achieved with the cross-kingdom chicken ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5048944 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5048944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4802309&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482724%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Abrahamian FM, Goldstein EJ Summary: The microbiology of animal bite wound infections in humans is often polymicrobial, with a broad mixture of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Bacteria recovered from infected bite wounds are most often reflective of the oral flora of the biting animal, which can also be influenced by the microbiome of their ingested prey and other foods. Bacteria may also originate from the victim's own skin or the physical environment at the time of injury. Our review has focused on bite wound infections in humans from dogs, cats, and a variety of other animals such as monkeys, bears, pigs, ferrets, horses, sheep, Tasmanian devils, snakes, Komodo dragons, monitor lizards, iguanas, alligators/crocodiles, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, prairie dogs, swans, ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4802309 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4802309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4802308&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482725%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Guarner J, Brandt ME Summary: Fungal infections are becoming more frequent because of expansion of at-risk populations and the use of treatment modalities that permit longer survival of these patients. Because histopathologic examination of tissues detects fungal invasion of tissues and vessels as well as the host reaction to the fungus, it is and will remain an important tool to define the diagnostic significance of positive culture isolates or results from PCR testing. However, there are very few instances where the morphological characteristics of fungi are specific. Therefore, histopathologic diagnosis should be primarily descriptive of the fungus and should include the presence or absence of tissue invasion and the host reaction to the infection. The pathology report shou... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4802308 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4802308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4802307&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482726%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: O'Brien TF, Stelling J Summary: Microbial surveillance systems have varied in their source of support; type of laboratory reporting (patient care or reference); inclusiveness of reports filed; extent of microbial typing; whether single hospital, multihospital, or multicountry; proportion of total medical centers participating; and types, levels, integration across levels, and automation of analyses performed. These surveillance systems variably support the diagnosis and treatment of patients, local or regional infection control, local or national policies and guidelines, laboratory capacity building, sentinel surveillance, and patient safety. Overall, however, only a small fraction of available data are under any surveillance, and very few data are fully integrated and analyze... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4802307 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4802307 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4802306&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482727%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shankar J, Restrepo A, Clemons KV, Stevens DA Summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis, one of the most important endemic and systemic mycoses in Latin America, presents several clinical pictures. Epidemiological studies indicate a striking rarity of disease (but not infection) in females, but only during the reproductive years. This suggested a hormonal interaction between female hormones and the etiologic dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Many fungi have been shown to use hormonal (pheromonal) fungal molecules for intercellular communication, and there are increasing numbers of examples of interactions between mammalian hormones and fungi, including the specific binding of mammalian hormones by fungal proteins, and suggestions of mammalian hormonal modulation of fungal ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4802306 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4802306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4802305&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482728%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Parsons LM, Somoskövi A, Gutierrez C, Lee E, Paramasivan CN, Abimiku A, Spector S, Roscigno G, Nkengasong J Summary: With an estimated 9.4 million new cases globally, tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major public health concern. Eighty percent of all cases worldwide occur in 22 high-burden, mainly resource-poor settings. This devastating impact of tuberculosis on vulnerable populations is also driven by its deadly synergy with HIV. Therefore, building capacity and enhancing universal access to rapid and accurate laboratory diagnostics are necessary to control TB and HIV-TB coinfections in resource-limited countries. The present review describes several new and established methods as well as the issues and challenges associated with implementing quality tuberculosis laborat... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4802305 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4802305 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4802304&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482729%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kwan CK, Ernst JD Summary: A syndemic is defined as the convergence of two or more diseases that act synergistically to magnify the burden of disease. The intersection and syndemic interaction between the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics have had deadly consequences around the world. Without adequate control of the TB-HIV syndemic, the long-term TB elimination target set for 2050 will not be reached. There is an urgent need for additional resources and novel approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of both HIV and TB. Moreover, multidisciplinary approaches that consider HIV and TB together, rather than as separate problems and diseases, will be necessary to prevent further worsening of the HIV-TB syndemic. This review examines c... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4802304 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4802304 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4748478&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482730%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bousema T, Drakeley C Summary: Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the tropics, with Plasmodium falciparum responsible for the majority of the disease burden and P. vivax being the geographically most widely distributed cause of malaria. Gametocytes are the sexual-stage parasites that infect Anopheles mosquitoes and mediate the onward transmission of the disease. Gametocytes are poorly studied despite this crucial role, but with a recent resurgence of interest in malaria elimination, the study of gametocytes is in vogue. This review highlights the current state of knowledge with regard to the development and longevity of P. falciparum and P. vivax gametocytes in the human host and the factors influencing their distribution within endemic populations. Th... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4748478 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4748478 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4748469&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21482731%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gomes MZ, Lewis RE, Kontoyiannis DP Summary: Rhizopus, Mucor, and Lichtheimia (formerly Absidia) species are the most common members of the order Mucorales that cause mucormycosis, accounting for 70 to 80% of all cases. In contrast, Cunninghamella, Apophysomyces, Saksenaea, Rhizomucor, Cokeromyces, Actinomucor, and Syncephalastrum species individually are responsible for fewer than 1 to 5% of reported cases of mucormycosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis of, treatment of, and prognosis for unusual Mucormycetes infections (non-Rhizopus, -Mucor, and -Lichtheimia species). The infections caused by these less frequent members of the order Mucorales frequently differ in their epidemiology, geographic distribution, and ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4748469 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4748469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399871&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233505%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: PMID: 21233505 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399871 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399870&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233506%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Leiby DA Summary: Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites of animals and humans that cause babesiosis, a zoonotic disease transmitted primarily by tick vectors. Although a variety of species or types of Babesia have been described in the literature as causing infection in humans, the rodent parasite Babesia microti has emerged as the focal point of human disease, especially in the United States. Not only has B. microti become established as a public health concern, this agent is increasingly being transmitted by blood transfusion: estimates suggest that between 70 and 100 cases of transfusion-transmitted Babesia (TTB) have occurred over the last 30 years. A recent upsurge in TTB cases attributable to B. microti, coupled with at least 12 fatalities in transfusion... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399870 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399869&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233507%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hauser AR, Jain M, Bar-Meir M, McColley SA Summary: A select group of microorganisms inhabit the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis. Once established within the pulmonary environment in these patients, many of these microbes adapt by altering aspects of their structure and physiology. Some of these microbes and adaptations are associated with more rapid deterioration in lung function and overall clinical status, whereas others appear to have little effect. Here we review current evidence supporting or refuting a role for the different microbes and their adaptations in contributing to poor clinical outcomes in cystic fibrosis. PMID: 21233507 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399869 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399868&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233508%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silver LL Summary: The discovery of novel small-molecule antibacterial drugs has been stalled for many years. The purpose of this review is to underscore and illustrate those scientific problems unique to the discovery and optimization of novel antibacterial agents that have adversely affected the output of the effort. The major challenges fall into two areas: (i) proper target selection, particularly the necessity of pursuing molecular targets that are not prone to rapid resistance development, and (ii) improvement of chemical libraries to overcome limitations of diversity, especially that which is necessary to overcome barriers to bacterial entry and proclivity to be effluxed, especially in Gram-negative organisms. Failure to address these problems has led to a great deal of... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399868 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399867&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233509%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Feng Y, Xiao L Summary: Molecular diagnostic tools have been used recently in assessing the taxonomy, zoonotic potential, and transmission of Giardia species and giardiasis in humans and animals. The results of these studies have firmly established giardiasis as a zoonotic disease, although host adaptation at the genotype and subtype levels has reduced the likelihood of zoonotic transmission. These studies have also identified variations in the distribution of Giardia duodenalis genotypes among geographic areas and between domestic and wild ruminants and differences in clinical manifestations and outbreak potentials of assemblages A and B. Nevertheless, our efforts in characterizing the molecular epidemiology of giardiasis and the roles of various animals in the transmission o... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399867 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399866&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233510%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sydnor ER, Perl TM Summary: Health care-associated infections (HAIs) have become more common as medical care has grown more complex and patients have become more complicated. HAIs are associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost. Growing rates of HAIs alongside evidence suggesting that active surveillance and infection control practices can prevent HAIs led to the development of hospital epidemiology and infection control programs. The role for infection control programs has grown and continues to grow as rates of antimicrobial resistance rise and HAIs lead to increasing risks to patients and expanding health care costs. In this review, we summarize the history of the development of hospital epidemiology and infection control, common HAIs and the pathogens causin... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399866 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399865&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233511%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Collado L, Figueras MJ Summary: The genus Arcobacter, defined almost 20 years ago from members of the genus Campylobacter, has become increasingly important because its members are being considered emergent enteropathogens and/or potential zoonotic agents. Over recent years information that is relevant for microbiologists, especially those working in the medical and veterinary fields and in the food safety sector, has accumulated. Recently, the genus has been enlarged with several new species. The complete genomes of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter nitrofigilis are available, with the former revealing diverse pathways characteristic of free-living microbes and virulence genes homologous to those of Campylobacter. The first multilocus sequence typing analysis showed a great ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399865 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399864&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233512%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Odumade OA, Hogquist KA, Balfour HH Summary: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gammaherpesvirus that infects a large fraction of the human population. Primary infection is often asymptomatic but results in lifelong infection, which is kept in check by the host immune system. In some cases, primary infection can result in infectious mononucleosis. Furthermore, when host-virus balance is not achieved, the virus can drive potentially lethal lymphoproliferation and lymphomagenesis. In this review, we describe the biology of EBV and the host immune response. We review the diagnosis of EBV infection and discuss the characteristics and pathogenesis of infectious mononucleosis. These topics are approached in the context of developing therapeutic and preventative strategies. PMID: 2123... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399864 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399863&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D21233513%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vareille M, Kieninger E, Edwards MR, Regamey N Summary: The airway epithelium acts as a frontline defense against respiratory viruses, not only as a physical barrier and through the mucociliary apparatus but also through its immunological functions. It initiates multiple innate and adaptive immune mechanisms which are crucial for efficient antiviral responses. The interaction between respiratory viruses and airway epithelial cells results in production of antiviral substances, including type I and III interferons, lactoferrin, β-defensins, and nitric oxide, and also in production of cytokines and chemokines, which recruit inflammatory cells and influence adaptive immunity. These defense mechanisms usually result in rapid virus clearance. However, respiratory viruses elaborate... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399863 Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4399863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061707&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930070%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lurain NS, Chou S Summary: The study of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) antiviral drug resistance has enhanced knowledge of the virological targets and the mechanisms of antiviral activity. The currently approved drugs, ganciclovir (GCV), foscarnet (FOS), and cidofovir (CDV), target the viral DNA polymerase. GCV anabolism also requires phosphorylation by the virus-encoded UL97 kinase. GCV resistance mutations have been identified in both genes, while FOS and CDV mutations occur only in the DNA polymerase gene. Confirmation of resistance mutations requires phenotypic analysis; however, phenotypic assays are too time-consuming for diagnostic purposes. Genotypic assays based on sequencing provide more rapid results but are dependent on prior validation by phenotypic methods. Reports... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061707 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061706&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930071%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wroblewski LE, Peek RM, Wilson KT Summary: Helicobacter pylori is a gastric pathogen that colonizes approximately 50% of the world's population. Infection with H. pylori causes chronic inflammation and significantly increases the risk of developing duodenal and gastric ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Infection with H. pylori is the strongest known risk factor for gastric cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Once H. pylori colonizes the gastric environment, it persists for the lifetime of the host, suggesting that the host immune response is ineffective in clearing this bacterium. In this review, we discuss the host immune response and examine other host factors that increase the pathogenic potential of this bacterium, including host p... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061706 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061705&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930072%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ram S, Lewis LA, Rice PA Summary: The complement system comprises several fluid-phase and membrane-associated proteins. Under physiological conditions, activation of the fluid-phase components of complement is maintained under tight control and complement activation occurs primarily on surfaces recognized as "nonself" in an attempt to minimize damage to bystander host cells. Membrane complement components act to limit complement activation on host cells or to facilitate uptake of antigens or microbes "tagged" with complement fragments. While this review focuses on the role of complement in infectious diseases, work over the past couple of decades has defined several important functions of complement distinct from that of combating infections. Activation of complement in the fl... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061705 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061705 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061704&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930073%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dannenberg AM Summary: This review hopes to improve the selection of new tuberculosis (TB) vaccines by providing several perspectives on the immunization of humans, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and monkeys which have not usually been considered. (i) In human TB vaccine trials, the low rate of healing of Mycobacterium bovis BCG lesions (used as the control group) would distinguish individuals who might be helped by vaccination from the 95% who do not need it and would make these trials more conclusive. (ii) The rabbit immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is much more effective in arresting tuberculosis than those of other laboratory animals, so pulmonary tubercle counting in rabbits should be included in all preclinical TB vaccine testing. (iii) Both delayed-type hypers... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061704 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061703&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930074%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barratt JL, Harkness J, Marriott D, Ellis JT, Stark D Summary: There are many neglected nonenteric protozoa able to cause serious morbidity and mortality in humans, particularly in the developing world. Diseases caused by certain protozoa are often more severe in the presence of HIV. While information regarding neglected tropical diseases caused by trypanosomatids and Plasmodium is abundant, these protozoa are often not a first consideration in Western countries where they are not endemic. As such, diagnostics may not be available in these regions. Due to global travel and immigration, this has become an increasing problem. Inversely, in certain parts of the world (particularly sub-Saharan Africa), the HIV problem is so severe that diseases like microsporidiosis and toxoplasmo... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061703 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061703 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061702&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930075%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Chang AH, Parsonnet J Summary: Although scientific knowledge in viral oncology has exploded in the 20th century, the role of bacteria as mediators of oncogenesis has been less well elucidated. Understanding bacterial carcinogenesis has become increasingly important as a possible means of cancer prevention. This review summarizes clinical, epidemiological, and experimental evidence as well as possible mechanisms of bacterial induction of or protection from malignancy. PMID: 20930075 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061702 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061702 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061701&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930076%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nau R, Sörgel F, Eiffert H Summary: The entry of anti-infectives into the central nervous system (CNS) depends on the compartment studied, molecular size, electric charge, lipophilicity, plasma protein binding, affinity to active transport systems at the blood-brain/blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, and host factors such as meningeal inflammation and CSF flow. Since concentrations in microdialysates and abscesses are not frequently available for humans, this review focuses on drug CSF concentrations. The ideal compound to treat CNS infections is of small molecular size, is moderately lipophilic, has a low level of plasma protein binding, has a volume of distribution of around 1 liter/kg, and is not a strong ligand of an efflux pump at the blood-brain or blood-CSF barri... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061701 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061700&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20930077%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Revankar SG, Sutton DA Summary: Melanized or dematiaceous fungi are associated with a wide variety of infectious syndromes. Many are soil organisms and are generally distributed worldwide, though certain species appear to have restricted geographic ranges. Though they are uncommon causes of disease, melanized fungi have been increasingly recognized as important pathogens, with most reports occurring in the past 20 years. The spectrum of diseases with which they are associated has also broadened and includes allergic disease, superficial and deep local infections, pneumonia, brain abscess, and disseminated infection. For some infections in immunocompetent individuals, such as allergic fungal sinusitis and brain abscess, they are among the most common etiologic fungi. Melanin is... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061700 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4061700 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742598&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610819%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brouwer MC, Tunkel AR, van de Beek D Summary: The epidemiology of bacterial meningitis has changed as a result of the widespread use of conjugate vaccines and preventive antimicrobial treatment of pregnant women. Given the significant morbidity and mortality associated with bacterial meningitis, accurate information is necessary regarding the important etiological agents and populations at risk to ascertain public health measures and ensure appropriate management. In this review, we describe the changing epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in the United States and throughout the world by reviewing the global changes in etiological agents followed by specific microorganism data on the impact of the development and widespread use of conjugate vaccines. We provide recommendation... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742598 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742597&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610820%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hammerschlag MR, Guillén CD Summary: Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in children presents a number of problems for the practitioner that are not usually faced when testing adults for the same infections. The identification of an STI in a child can have, in addition to medical implications, serious legal implications. The presence of an STI is often used to support the presence or allegations of sexual abuse, and conversely, the identification of an STI in a child will prompt an investigation of possible abuse. The purpose of this paper is to review the epidemiology of child sexual abuse, including the epidemiology of major STIs including Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), Trichomonas vaginalis, and human pa... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742597 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742596&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610821%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Craun GF, Brunkard JM, Yoder JS, Roberts VA, Carpenter J, Wade T, Calderon RL, Roberts JM, Beach MJ, Roy SL Summary: Since 1971, the CDC, EPA, and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) have maintained the collaborative national Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (WBDOSS) to document waterborne disease outbreaks (WBDOs) reported by local, state, and territorial health departments. WBDOs were recently reclassified to better characterize water system deficiencies and risk factors; data were analyzed for trends in outbreak occurrence, etiologies, and deficiencies during 1971 to 2006. A total of 833 WBDOs, 577,991 cases of illness, and 106 deaths were reported during 1971 to 2006. Trends of public health significance include (i) a decrease in the ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742596 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742595&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610822%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Freeman J, Bauer MP, Baines SD, Corver J, Fawley WN, Goorhuis B, Kuijper EJ, Wilcox MH Summary: The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has changed dramatically during this millennium. Infection rates have increased markedly in most countries with detailed surveillance data. There have been clear changes in the clinical presentation, response to treatment, and outcome of CDI. These changes have been driven to a major degree by the emergence and epidemic spread of a novel strain, known as PCR ribotype 027 (sometimes referred to as BI/NAP1/027). We review the evidence for the changing epidemiology, clinical virulence and outcome of treatment of CDI, and the similarities and differences between data from various countries and continents. Community-acquired CDI h... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742595 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742594&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610823%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Burd EM Summary: Molecular technology has changed the way that clinical laboratories diagnose and manage many infectious diseases. Excellent sensitivity, specificity, and speed have made molecular assays an attractive alternative to culture or enzyme immunoassay methods. Many molecular assays are commercially available and FDA approved. Others, especially those that test for less common analytes, are often laboratory developed. Laboratories also often modify FDA-approved assays to include different extraction systems or additional specimen types. The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) federal regulatory standards require clinical laboratories to establish and document their own performance specifications for laboratory-developed tests to ensure accurate and prec... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742594 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742593&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610824%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gonçalves DU, Proietti FA, Ribas JG, Araújo MG, Pinheiro SR, Guedes AC, Carneiro-Proietti AB Summary: Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), the first human retrovirus to be discovered, is present in diverse regions of the world, where its infection is usually neglected in health care settings and by public health authorities. Since it is usually asymptomatic in the beginning of the infection and disease typically manifests later in life, silent transmission occurs, which is associated with sexual relations, breastfeeding, and blood transfusions. There are no prospects of vaccines, and screening of blood banks and in prenatal care settings is not universal. Therefore, its transmission is active in many areas such as parts of Africa, South and Central America, the C... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742593 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742592&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610825%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kanoh S, Rubin BK Summary: Macrolides have diverse biological activities and an ability to modulate inflammation and immunity in eukaryotes without affecting homeostatic immunity. These properties have led to their long-term use in treating neutrophil-dominated inflammation in diffuse panbronchiolitis, bronchiectasis, rhinosinusitis, and cystic fibrosis. These immunomodulatory activities appear to be polymodal, but evidence suggests that many of these effects are due to inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation. Macrolides accumulate within cells, suggesting that they may associate with receptors or carriers responsible for the regulation of cell cycle and immunity. A concern is that long-... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742592 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3742591&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20610826%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: David MZ, Daum RS Summary: Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs), endovascular infections, pneumonia, septic arthritis, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, foreign-body infections, and sepsis. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were once confined largely to hospitals, other health care environments, and patients frequenting these facilities. Since the mid-1990s, however, there has been an explosion in the number of MRSA infections reported in populations lacking risk factors for exposure to the health care system. This increase in the incidence of MRSA infection has been associated with the recognition of new MRSA clones known as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). CA-MRSA strains differ from the older, health care-associ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3742591 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3742591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457091&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375352%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Achkar JM, Fries BC All humans are colonized with Candida species, mostly Candida albicans, yet some develop diseases due to Candida, among which genitourinary manifestations are extremely common. The forms of genitourinary candidiasis are distinct from each other and affect different populations. While vulvovaginal candidiasis affects mostly healthy women, candiduria occurs typically in elderly, hospitalized, or immunocompromised patients and in neonates. Despite its high incidence and clinical relevance, genitourinary candidiasis is understudied, and therefore, important questions about pathogenesis and treatment guidelines remain to be resolved. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about genitourinary candidiasis. PMID: 20375352 [PubMed - in process] (Sour... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457091 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457090&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375353%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Newton HJ, Ang DK, van Driel IR, Hartland EL The genus Legionella contains more than 50 species, of which at least 24 have been associated with human infection. The best-characterized member of the genus, Legionella pneumophila, is the major causative agent of Legionnaires' disease, a severe form of acute pneumonia. L. pneumophila is an intracellular pathogen, and as part of its pathogenesis, the bacteria avoid phagolysosome fusion and replicate within alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells in a vacuole that exhibits many characteristics of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The formation of the unusual L. pneumophila vacuole is a feature of its interaction with the host, yet the mechanisms by which the bacteria avoid classical endosome fusion and recruit markers of the ER are... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457090 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457090 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457089&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375354%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lipuma JJ Infection of the airways remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in persons with cystic fibrosis (CF). This review describes salient features of the epidemiologies of microbial species that are involved in respiratory tract infection in CF. The apparently expanding spectrum of species causing infection in CF and recent changes in the incidences and prevalences of infection due to specific bacterial, fungal, and viral species are described. The challenges inherent in tracking and interpreting rates of infection in this patient population are discussed. PMID: 20375354 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457089 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457088&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375355%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Hidron A, Vogenthaler N, Santos-Preciado JI, Rodriguez-Morales AJ, Franco-Paredes C, Rassi A Parasitic infections previously seen only in developing tropical settings can be currently diagnosed worldwide due to travel and population migration. Some parasites may directly or indirectly affect various anatomical structures of the heart, with infections manifested as myocarditis, pericarditis, pancarditis, or pulmonary hypertension. Thus, it has become quite relevant for clinicians in developed settings to consider parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis of myocardial and pericardial disease anywhere around the globe. Chagas' disease is by far the most important parasitic infection of the heart and one that it is currently considered a global parasitic infection due to... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457088 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457087&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375356%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gulley ML, Tang W Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA measurement is being incorporated into routine medical practice to help diagnose, monitor, and predict posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in immunocompromised graft recipients. PTLD is an aggressive neoplasm that almost always harbors EBV DNA within the neoplastic lymphocytes, and it is often fatal if not recognized and treated promptly. Validated protocols, commercial reagents, and automated instruments facilitate implementation of EBV load assays by real-time PCR. When applied to either whole blood or plasma, EBV DNA levels reflect clinical status with respect to EBV-related neoplasia. While many healthy transplant recipients have low viral loads, high EBV loads are strongly associated with current or impending P... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457087 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457086&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375357%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Saccente M, Woods GL Blastomycosis is endemic in regions of North America that border the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, as well as in the Mississippi River and Ohio River basins. Men are affected more often than women and children because men are more likely to participate in activities that put them at risk for exposure to Blastomyces dermatitidis. Human infection occurs when soil containing microfoci of mycelia is disturbed and airborne conidia are inhaled. If natural defenses in the alveoli fail to contain the infection, lymphohematogenous dissemination ensues. Normal host responses generate a characteristic pyogranulomatous reaction. The most common sites of clinical disease are the lung and skin; osseous, genitourinary, and central nervous system manifestations ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457086 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457085&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375358%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bottone EJ Bacillus cereus is a Gram-positive aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, motile, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium that is widely distributed environmentally. While B. cereus is associated mainly with food poisoning, it is being increasingly reported to be a cause of serious and potentially fatal non-gastrointestinal-tract infections. The pathogenicity of B. cereus, whether intestinal or nonintestinal, is intimately associated with the production of tissue-destructive exoenzymes. Among these secreted toxins are four hemolysins, three distinct phospholipases, an emesis-inducing toxin, and proteases. The major hurdle in evaluating B. cereus when isolated from a clinical specimen is overcoming its stigma as an insignificant contaminant. Outside its notoriety in associa... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457085 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457085 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457084&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375359%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Iwamoto M, Ayers T, Mahon BE, Swerdlow DL Seafood is part of a healthful diet, but seafood consumption is not risk-free. Seafood is responsible for an important proportion of food-borne illnesses and outbreaks in the United States. Seafood-associated infections are caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses, and parasites; this diverse group of pathogens results in a wide variety of clinical syndromes, each with its own epidemiology. Some seafood commodities are inherently more risky than others, owing to many factors, including the nature of the environment from which they come, their mode of feeding, the season during which they are harvested, and how they are prepared and served. Prevention of seafood-associated infections requires an understanding not only of the etiologic a... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457084 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457084 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457083&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375360%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jonsson CB, Figueiredo LT, Vapalahti O Hantaviruses are enzootic viruses that maintain persistent infections in their rodent hosts without apparent disease symptoms. The spillover of these viruses to humans can lead to one of two serious illnesses, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. In recent years, there has been an improved understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and natural history of these viruses following an increase in the number of outbreaks in the Americas. In this review, current concepts regarding the ecology of and disease associated with these serious human pathogens are presented. Priorities for future research suggest an integration of the ecology and evolution of these and other host-virus ecosystems through modeli... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457083 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3457082&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20375361%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McManus DP, Gray DJ, Li Y, Feng Z, Williams GM, Stewart D, Rey-Ladino J, Ross AG The potential impact of the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) on schistosomiasis transmission in China has invoked considerable global concern. The TGD will result in changes in the water level and silt deposition downstream, favoring the reproduction of Oncomelania snails. Combined with blockages of the Yangtze River's tributaries, these changes will increase the schistosomiasis transmission season within the marshlands along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The changing schistosome transmission dynamics necessitate a comprehensive strategy to control schistosomiasis. This review discusses aspects of the epidemiology and transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in China and considers the path... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3457082 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3457082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172497&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065324%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Forrest GN, Tamura K The increasing emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has resulted in the increased use of rifampin combination therapy. The data supporting rifampin combination therapy in nonmycobacterial infections are limited by a lack of significantly controlled clinical studies. Therefore, its current use is based upon in vitro or in vivo data or retrospective case series, all with major limitations. A prominent observation from this review is that rifampin combination therapy appears to have improved treatment outcomes in cases in which there is a low organism burden, such as biofilm infections, but is less effective when effective surgery to obtain source control is not performed. The clinical ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172497 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172496&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065325%26dopt%3DAbstract This article provides an extensive review of these topics, in addition to others, such as taxonomic issues, microbial pathogenicity, and antimicrobial resistance markers. PMID: 20065325 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172496 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172495&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065326%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tregoning JS, Schwarze J In global terms, respiratory viral infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Infancy, in particular, is a time of increased disease susceptibility and severity. Early-life viral infection causes acute illness and can be associated with the development of wheezing and asthma in later life. The most commonly detected viruses are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus (RV), and influenza virus. In this review we explore the complete picture from epidemiology and virology to clinical impact and immunology. Three striking aspects emerge. The first is the degree of similarity: although the infecting viruses are all different, the clinical outcome, viral evasion strategies, immune response, and long-term sequelae share many common features... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172495 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172494&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065327%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Howden BP, Davies JK, Johnson PD, Stinear TP, Grayson ML The emergence of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) over the past decade has provided a challenge to diagnostic microbiologists to detect these strains, clinicians treating patients with infections due to these strains, and researchers attempting to understand the resistance mechanisms. Recent data show that these strains have been detected globally and in many cases are associated with glycopeptide treatment failure; however, more rigorous clinical studies are required to clearly define the contribution of hVISA to glycopeptide treatment outcomes. It is now becoming clear that sequential point mutations in key global regulatory gen... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172494 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172493&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065328%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Butler G Human fungal pathogens are associated with diseases ranging from dandruff and skin colonization to invasive bloodstream infections. The major human pathogens belong to the Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus clades, and infections have high and increasing morbidity and mortality. Many human fungal pathogens were originally assumed to be asexual. However, recent advances in genome sequencing, which revealed that many species have retained the genes required for the sexual machinery, have dramatically influenced our understanding of the biology of these organisms. Predictions of a rare or cryptic sexual cycle have been supported experimentally for some species. Here, I examine the evidence that human pathogens reproduce sexually. The evolution of the mating-type locu... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172493 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172492&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065329%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Drawz SM, Bonomo RA Since the introduction of penicillin, beta-lactam antibiotics have been the antimicrobial agents of choice. Unfortunately, the efficacy of these life-saving antibiotics is significantly threatened by bacterial beta-lactamases. beta-Lactamases are now responsible for resistance to penicillins, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems. In order to overcome beta-lactamase-mediated resistance, beta-lactamase inhibitors (clavulanate, sulbactam, and tazobactam) were introduced into clinical practice. These inhibitors greatly enhance the efficacy of their partner beta-lactams (amoxicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin, and ticarcillin) in the treatment of serious Enterobacteriaceae and penicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections. However, sele... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172492 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172491&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065330%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schmid DS, Jumaan AO The licensure and recommendation of varicella vaccine in the mid-1990s in the United States have led to dramatic declines in varicella incidence and varicella-related deaths and hospitalizations. Varicella outbreaks remain common and occur increasingly in highly vaccinated populations. Breakthrough varicella in vaccinated individuals is characteristically mild, typically with fewer lesions that frequently do not progress to a vesicular stage. As such, the laboratory diagnosis of varicella has grown increasingly important, particularly in outbreak settings. In this review the impact of varicella vaccine on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) disease, arising complications in the effective diagnosis and monitoring of VZV transmission, and the relative strengths and... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172491 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172491 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172490&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065331%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ortega YR, Sanchez R The coccidian parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis is recognized as an emerging pathogen that causes protracted diarrhea in humans. The first cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in the late 1970s and were observed among expatriates and travelers in regions where infections are endemic. Since then, Cyclospora has been considered a cause of traveler's diarrhea. Epidemiological investigations were reported and examined in areas of endemicity even before the true identity of Cyclospora was elucidated. Cyclospora was fully characterized in the early 1990s, but it was not until the 1995 Cyclospora outbreak in the United States and Canada that it caught the attention of the public and physicians. The biology, clinical presentation, epidemiology, diagnosis, tr... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172490 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172489&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20065332%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mancini N, Carletti S, Ghidoli N, Cichero P, Burioni R, Clementi M Sepsis, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world, is a clinical syndrome with signs and symptoms relating to an infectious event and the consequent important inflammatory response. From a clinical point of view, sepsis is a continuous process ranging from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) to multiple-organ-dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Blood cultures are the current "gold standard" for diagnosis, and they are based on the detection of viable microorganisms present in blood. However, on some occasions, blood cultures have intrinsic limitations in terms of sensitivity and rapidity, and it is not expected that these drawbacks will be overcome by significant improvements in the ne... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172489 Fri, 01 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3172489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895396&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822887%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Park SJ, Mehrad B All humans are continuously exposed to inhaled Aspergillus conidia, yet healthy hosts clear the organism without developing disease and without the development of antibody- or cell-mediated acquired immunity to this organism. This suggests that for most healthy humans, innate immunity is sufficient to clear the organism. A failure of these defenses results in a uniquely diverse set of illnesses caused by Aspergillus species, which includes diseases caused by the colonization of the respiratory tract, invasive infection, and hypersensitivity. A key concept in immune responses to Aspergillus species is that the susceptibilities of the host determine the morphological form, antigenic structure, and physical location of the fungus. In this review, we summarize th... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895396 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895395&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822888%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Goldsmith CS, Miller SE Electron microscopy, considered by some to be an old technique, is still on the forefront of both clinical viral diagnoses and viral ultrastructure and pathogenesis studies. In the diagnostic setting, it is particularly valuable in the surveillance of emerging diseases and potential bioterrorism viruses. In the research arena, modalities such as immunoelectron microscopy, cryo-electron microscopy, and electron tomography have demonstrated how viral structural components fit together, attach to cells, assimilate during replication, and associate with the cellular machinery during replication and egression. These studies provide information for treatment and vaccine strategies. PMID: 19822888 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Review... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895395 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895394&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822889%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martina BE, Koraka P, Osterhaus AD Much remains to be learned about the pathogenesis of the different manifestations of dengue virus (DENV) infections in humans. They may range from subclinical infection to dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and eventually dengue shock syndrome (DSS). As both cell tropism and tissue tropism of DENV are considered major determinants in the pathogenesis of dengue, there is a critical need for adequate tropism assays, animal models, and human autopsy data. More than 50 years of research on dengue has resulted in a host of literature, which strongly suggests that the pathogenesis of DHF and DSS involves viral virulence factors and detrimental host responses, collectively resulting in abnormal hemostasis and increased vascular permeabili... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895394 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895393&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822890%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lister PD, Wolter DJ, Hanson ND Treatment of infectious diseases becomes more challenging with each passing year. This is especially true for infections caused by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with its ability to rapidly develop resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. Although the import of resistance mechanisms on mobile genetic elements is always a concern, the most difficult challenge we face with P. aeruginosa is its ability to rapidly develop resistance during the course of treating an infection. The chromosomally encoded AmpC cephalosporinase, the outer membrane porin OprD, and the multidrug efflux pumps are particularly relevant to this therapeutic challenge. The discussion presented in this review highlights the clinical significance of thes... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895393 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895392&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822891%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miller MB, Tang YW The introduction of in vitro nucleic acid amplification techniques, led by real-time PCR, into the clinical microbiology laboratory has transformed the laboratory detection of viruses and select bacterial pathogens. However, the progression of the molecular diagnostic revolution currently relies on the ability to efficiently and accurately offer multiplex detection and characterization for a variety of infectious disease pathogens. Microarray analysis has the capability to offer robust multiplex detection but has just started to enter the diagnostic microbiology laboratory. Multiple microarray platforms exist, including printed double-stranded DNA and oligonucleotide arrays, in situ-synthesized arrays, high-density bead arrays, electronic microarrays, and su... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895392 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895391&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822892%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Stark D, Barratt JL, van Hal S, Marriott D, Harkness J, Ellis JT Globally, the number of immunosuppressed people increases each year, with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic continuing to spread unabated in many parts of the world. Immunosuppression may also occur in malnourished persons, patients undergoing chemotherapy for malignancy, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Components of the immune system can be functionally or genetically abnormal as a result of acquired (e.g., caused by HIV infection, lymphoma, or high-dose steroids or other immunosuppressive medications) or congenital illnesses, with more than 120 congenital immunodeficiencies described to date that either affect humoral immunity or compromise T-cell function. All individuals affected ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895391 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895390&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822893%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Price P, Murdoch DM, Agarwal U, Lewin SR, Elliott JH, French MA Up to one in four patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and given antiretroviral therapy (ART) experiences inflammatory or cellular proliferative disease associated with a preexisting opportunistic infection, which may be subclinical. These immune restoration diseases (IRD) appear to result from the restoration of immunocompetence. IRD associated with intracellular pathogens are characterized by cellular immune responses and/or granulomatous inflammation. Mycobacterial and cryptococcal IRD are attributed to a pathological overproduction of Th1 cytokines. Clinicopathological characteristics of IRD associated with viral infections suggest different pathogenic mechanisms. For example, IRD associa... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895390 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895389&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822894%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Strahilevitz J, Jacoby GA, Hooper DC, Robicsek A Although plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) was thought not to exist before its discovery in 1998, the past decade has seen an explosion of research characterizing this phenomenon. The best-described form of PMQR is determined by the qnr group of genes. These genes, likely originating in aquatic organisms, code for pentapeptide repeat proteins. These proteins reduce susceptibility to quinolones by protecting the complex of DNA and DNA gyrase or topoisomerase IV enzymes from the inhibitory effect of quinolones. Two additional PMQR mechanisms were recently described. aac(6')-Ib-cr encodes a variant aminoglycoside acetyltransferase with two amino acid alterations allowing it to inactivate ciprofloxacin through the acetyla... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895389 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2895388&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19822895%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Freudenmann RW, Lepping P This papers aims at familiarizing psychiatric and nonpsychiatric readers with delusional infestation (DI), also known as delusional parasitosis. It is characterized by the fixed belief of being infested with pathogens against all medical evidence. DI is no single disorder but can occur as a delusional disorder of the somatic type (primary DI) or secondary to numerous other conditions. A set of minimal diagnostic criteria and a classification are provided. Patients with DI pose a truly interdisciplinary problem to the medical system. They avoid psychiatrists and consult dermatologists, microbiologists, or general practitioners but often lose faith in professional medicine. Epidemiology and history suggest that the imaginary pathogens change constantly,... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2895388 Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2895388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602937&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597005%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Wormser GP, Schwartz I Summary: Despite resolution of the objective manifestations of Lyme disease after antibiotic treatment, a minority of patients have fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and/or difficulties with concentration or short-term memory of uncertain etiology; these are called post-Lyme disease symptoms or, in more severe cases, post-Lyme disease syndrome or "chronic Lyme disease." Several recent studies in which Borrelia burgdorferi-infected animals were treated with antibiotic therapy have demonstrated the presence of PCR positivity for B. burgdorferi DNA in the absence of culture positivity. In mice that were treated with antibiotic therapy, residual spirochetes could be taken up by ticks during a blood meal and could be transmitted to SCID mice. These spirochetes a... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602937 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602936&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597006%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fried AJ, Bonilla FA Summary: Primary antibody deficiencies are the most common primary immunodeficiency diseases. They are a heterogeneous group of disorders with various degrees of dysfunctional antibody production resulting from a disruption of B-cell differentiation at different stages. While there has been tremendous recent progress in the understanding of some of these disorders, the etiology remains unknown for the majority of patients. As there is a large spectrum of underlying defects, the age at presentation varies widely, and the clinical manifestations range from an almost complete absence of B cells and serum immunoglobulins to selectively impaired antibody responses to specific antigens with normal total serum immunoglobulin concentrations. However, all of these ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602936 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602935&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597007%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Procop GW Summary: Paragonimus species are highly evolved parasites with a complex life cycle that involves at least three different hosts, i.e., snails, crustaceans, and mammals. The adult forms of Paragonimus species reside and mate in the lungs of a variety of permissive mammalian hosts, including humans. Although human paragonimiasis is uncommonly encountered in North America, both autochthonous and imported disease may be encountered. Paragonimus kellicotti, the species endemic to North America, is a well-known pathogen in wild and domestic animals. Five patients with North American paragonimiasis have been reported in the recent medical literature. The biologic, clinical, radiologic, and laboratory features of paragonimiasis are reviewed, with emphasis on North American ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602935 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602934&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597008%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dagenais TR, Keller NP Summary: Aspergillus species are globally ubiquitous saprophytes found in a variety of ecological niches. Almost 200 species of aspergilli have been identified, less than 20 of which are known to cause human disease. Among them, Aspergillus fumigatus is the most prevalent and is largely responsible for the increased incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in the immunocompromised patient population. IA is a devastating illness, with mortality rates in some patient groups reaching as high as 90%. Studies identifying and assessing the roles of specific factors of A. fumigatus that contribute to the pathogenesis of IA have traditionally focused on single-gene deletion and mutant characterization. In combination with recent large-scale approaches analyzing ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602934 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602933&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597009%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Keiser J, Utzinger J Summary: An estimated 750 million people are at risk of infections with food-borne trematodes, which comprise liver flukes (Clonorchis sinensis, Fasciola gigantica, Fasciola hepatica, Opisthorchis felineus, and Opisthorchis viverrini), lung flukes (Paragonimus spp.), and intestinal flukes (e.g., Echinostoma spp., Fasciolopsis buski, and the heterophyids). Food-borne trematodiases pose a significant public health and economic problem, yet these diseases are often neglected. In this review, we summarize the taxonomy, morphology, and life cycle of food-borne trematodes. Estimates of the at-risk population and number of infections, geographic distribution, history, and ecological features of the major food-borne trematodes are reviewed. We summarize clinical m... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602933 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602932&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597010%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Herman JS, Chiodini PL Gnathostomiasis is a food-borne zoonosis caused by the late-third stage larvae of Gnathostoma spp. It is being seen with increasing frequency in countries where it is not endemic and should be regarded as another emerging imported disease. Previously, its foci of endemicity have been confined to Southeast Asia and Central and South America, but its geographical boundaries appear to be increasing, with recent reports of infection in tourists returning from southern Africa. It has a complex life cycle involving at least two intermediate hosts, with humans being accidental hosts in which the larvae cannot reach sexual maturity. The main risks for acquisition are consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater fish and geographical exposure. Infection results i... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602932 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602931&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597011%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Buchanan AM, Cunningham CK Summary: An estimated 2.5 million children are currently living with HIV, the vast majority as a result of mother-to-child transmission. Prevention of perinatal HIV infection has been immensely successful in developed countries. A comprehensive package of services, including maternal and infant antiretroviral therapy, elective cesarean section, and avoidance of breast-feeding, has resulted in transmission rates of less than 2%. However, in developing countries, access to such services is often not available, as demonstrated by the fact that the vast majority of children with HIV live in Africa. Over the past few years, many developing nations have made great strides in improving access to much-needed services. Notably, in eastern and southern Africa,... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602931 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602930&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19597012%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Baird JK The gravity of the threat posed by vivax malaria to public health has been poorly appreciated. The widely held misperception of Plasmodium vivax as being relatively infrequent, benign, and easily treated explains its nearly complete neglect across the range of biological and clinical research. Recent evidence suggests a far higher and more-severe disease burden imposed by increasingly drug-resistant parasites. The two frontline therapies against vivax malaria, chloroquine and primaquine, may be failing. Despite 60 years of nearly continuous use of these drugs, their respective mechanisms of activity, resistance, and toxicity remain unknown. Although standardized means of assessing therapeutic efficacy against blood and liver stages have not been developed, this review... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602930 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2602930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472767&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366911%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kuno G Outbreaks of the severe dengue syndrome, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), emerged beginning in the 1950s, marking a dramatic change in the dengue syndrome. While intense investigations in multiple directions have been conducted for many years to elucidate the intrinsic mechanisms conducive to the development of DHF, no consensus has yet emerged. Meanwhile, relatively little attention has been paid to the occurrence of severe dengue and death prior to the 1950s. This comprehensive review was designed to evaluate outbreak records in the early dengue history to better understand the epidemiologic background and other factors that existed before the emergence of DHF outbreaks. By applying a set of stringent criteria to remove unreliable data as much as possible and by interp... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472767 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472767 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472749&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366912%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Haesebrouck F, Pasmans F, Flahou B, Chiers K, Baele M, Meyns T, Decostere A, Ducatelle R Helicobacters other than Helicobacter pylori have been associated with gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in humans. These very fastidious microorganisms with a typical large spiral-shaped morphology were provisionally designated "H. heilmannii," but in fact they comprise at least five different Helicobacter species, all of which are known to colonize the gastric mucosa of animals. H. suis, which has been isolated from the stomachs of pigs, is the most prevalent gastric non-H. pylori Helicobacter species in humans. Other gastric non-H. pylori helicobacters colonizing the human stomach are H. felis, H. salomonis, H. bizzozeronii, and the still-... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472749 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472730&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366913%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vanlaere I, Libert C The mammalian immune system is optimized to cope effectively with the constant threat of pathogens. However, when the immune system overreacts, sepsis, severe sepsis, or septic shock can develop. Despite extensive research, these conditions remain the leading cause of death in intensive care units. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute a family of proteases that are expressed in developmental, physiological, and pathological processes and also in response to infections. Studies using MMP inhibitors and MMP knockout mice indicate that MMPs play essential roles in infection and in the host defense against infection. This review provides a brief introduction to some basic concepts of infections caused by gram-negative bacteria and reviews reports de... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472730 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472712&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366914%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mogensen TH The innate immune system constitutes the first line of defense against invading microbial pathogens and relies on a large family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which detect distinct evolutionarily conserved structures on pathogens, termed pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Among the PRRs, the Toll-like receptors have been studied most extensively. Upon PAMP engagement, PRRs trigger intracellular signaling cascades ultimately culminating in the expression of a variety of proinflammatory molecules, which together orchestrate the early host response to infection, and also is a prerequisite for the subsequent activation and shaping of adaptive immunity. In order to avoid immunopathology, this system is tightly regulated by a number of endogenous ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472712 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472694&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366915%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Salvana EM, Salata RA Biologics are increasingly becoming part of routine disease management. As more agents are developed, the challenge of keeping track of indications and side effects is growing. While biologics represent a milestone in targeted and specific therapy, they are not without drawbacks, and the judicious use of these "magic bullets" is essential if their full potential is to be realized. Infectious complications in particular are not an uncommon side effect of therapy, whether as a direct consequence of the agent or because of the underlying disease process. With this in mind, we have reviewed and summarized the risks of infection and the infectious disease-related complications for all FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies and some related small molecules, and we ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472694 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472674&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366916%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cannon RD, Lamping E, Holmes AR, Niimi K, Baret PV, Keniya MV, Tanabe K, Niimi M, Goffeau A, Monk BC Fungi cause serious infections in the immunocompromised and debilitated, and the incidence of invasive mycoses has increased significantly over the last 3 decades. Slow diagnosis and the relatively few classes of antifungal drugs result in high attributable mortality for systemic fungal infections. Azole antifungals are commonly used for fungal infections, but azole resistance can be a problem for some patient groups. High-level, clinically significant azole resistance usually involves overexpression of plasma membrane efflux pumps belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) or the major facilitator superfamily class of transporters. The heterologous expression of efflux pumps ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472674 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472654&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366917%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Graeff-Teixeira C, da Silva AC, Yoshimura K Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis is caused by a variety of helminthic infections. These worm-specific infections are named after the causative worm genera, the most common being angiostrongyliasis, gnathostomiasis, toxocariasis, cysticercosis, schistosomiasis, baylisascariasis, and paragonimiasis. Worm parasites enter an organism through ingestion of contaminated water or an intermediate host and can eventually affect the central nervous system (CNS). These infections are potentially serious events leading to sequelae or death, and diagnosis depends on currently limited molecular methods. Identification of parasites in fluids and tissues is rarely possible, while images and clinical examinations do not lead to a definitive diagnosis.... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472654 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472633&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366918%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sears CL Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) strains are strains of B. fragilis that secrete a 20-kDa heat-labile zinc-dependent metalloprotease toxin termed the B. fragilis toxin (BFT). BFT is the only recognized virulence factor specific for ETBF. ETBF strains are associated with inflammatory diarrheal disease in children older than 1 year of age and in adults; limited data suggest an association of ETBF colonization with inflammatory bowel disease flare-ups and colorectal cancer. ETBF secretes one of three highly related BFT isoforms. The relationship between BFT isoform and disease expression is unknown. Although the mechanism of action of BFT is incompletely understood, available data suggest that BFT binds to a specific intestinal epithelial cell receptor, stimul... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472633 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2472610&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19366919%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Blackwell JM, Jamieson SE, Burgner D Following their discovery in the early 1970s, classical human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci have been the prototypical candidates for genetic susceptibility to infectious disease. Indeed, the original hypothesis for the extreme variability observed at HLA loci (H-2 in mice) was the major selective pressure from infectious diseases. Now that both the human genome and the molecular basis of innate and acquired immunity are understood in greater detail, do the classical HLA loci still stand out as major genes that determine susceptibility to infectious disease? This review looks afresh at the evidence supporting a role for classical HLA loci in susceptibility to infectious disease, examines the limitations of data reported to date, and discusse... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2472610 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2472610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2102406&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136439%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jacoby GA SUMMARY: AmpC beta-lactamases are clinically important cephalosporinases encoded on the chromosomes of many of the Enterobacteriaceae and a few other organisms, where they mediate resistance to cephalothin, cefazolin, cefoxitin, most penicillins, and beta-lactamase inhibitor-beta-lactam combinations. In many bacteria, AmpC enzymes are inducible and can be expressed at high levels by mutation. Overexpression confers resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins including cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone and is a problem especially in infections due to Enterobacter aerogenes and Enterobacter cloacae, where an isolate initially susceptible to these agents may become resistant upon therapy. Transmissible plasmids have acquired genes for AmpC enzymes, which conseque... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2102406 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2102406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098723&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136430%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: PMID: 19136430 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098723 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098722&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136431%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Doolan DL, Dobaño C, Baird JK Naturally acquired immunity to falciparum malaria protects millions of people routinely exposed to Plasmodium falciparum infection from severe disease and death. There is no clear concept about how this protection works. There is no general agreement about the rate of onset of acquired immunity or what constitutes the key determinants of protection; much less is there a consensus regarding the mechanism(s) of protection. This review summarizes what is understood about naturally acquired and experimentally induced immunity against malaria with the help of evolving insights provided by biotechnology and places these insights in the context of historical, clinical, and epidemiological observations. We advocate that naturally acquired immunity sh... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098722 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098721&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136432%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Shafir SC, Sorvillo FJ, Smith L Trichomonas vaginalis has long been recognized as one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections. However, it is only in recent years that it has been appreciated that Trichomonas may play a critical role in amplifying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. Given the evidence that T. vaginalis likely promotes HIV infection, the apparent high level of Trichomonas infection in the African-American community is cause for concern. Even if T. vaginalis increases the risk of HIV transmission by a small or modest amount, it translates into a sizable population effect since Trichomonas is so common in this community. Therefore, control of trichomoniasis may represent an important avenue of control for the prevention of HIV transmiss... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098721 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098720&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136433%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Parahitiyawa NB, Jin LJ, Leung WK, Yam WC, Samaranayake LP Summary: The human gingival niche is a unique microbial habitat. In this habitat, biofilm organisms exist in harmony, attached to either enamel or cemental surfaces of the tooth as well as to the crevicular epithelium, subjacent to a rich vascular plexus underneath. Due to this extraordinary anatomical juxtaposition, plaque biofilm bacteria have a ready portal of ingress into the systemic circulation in both health and disease. Yet the frequency, magnitude, and etiology of bacteremias due to oral origin and the consequent end organ infections are not clear and have not recently been evaluated. In this comprehensive review, we address the available literature on triggering events, incidence, and diversity of odontogenic... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098720 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098720 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098719&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136434%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santi-Rocca J, Rigothier MC, Guillén N Summary: Amoebiasis by Entamoeba histolytica is a major public health problem in developing countries and leads to several thousand deaths per year. The parasite invades the intestine (provoking diarrhea and dysentery) and the liver, where it forms abscesses (amoebic liver abscesses [ALAs]). The liver is the organ responsible for filtering blood coming from the intestinal tract, a task that implies a particular structure and immune features. Amoebae use the portal route and break through the sinusoidal endothelial barrier to reach the hepatic parenchyma. When faced with systemic and cell-mediated defenses, trophozoites adapt to their new environment and modulate host responses, leading to parasite survival and the formation of inflam... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098719 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098719 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098718&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136435%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Crough T, Khanna R Summary: Following primary infection, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) establishes lifelong latency and periodically reactivates without causing symptoms in healthy individuals. In the absence of an adequate host-derived immune response, this fine balance of permitting viral reactivation without causing pathogenesis is disrupted, and HCMV can subsequently cause invasive disease and an array of damaging indirect immunological effects. Over the last decade, our knowledge of the immune response to HCMV infection in healthy virus carriers and diseased individuals has allowed us to translate these findings to develop better diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. The application of these emerging technologies in the clinical setting is likely to provide opportun... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098718 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098718 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098717&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136436%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cheeran MC, Lokensgard JR, Schleiss MR Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading infectious cause of mental retardation and hearing loss in the developed world. In recent years, there has been an improved understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and long-term disabilities associated with CMV infection. In this review, current concepts regarding the pathogenesis of neurological injury caused by CMV infections acquired by the developing fetus are summarized. The pathogenesis of CMV-induced disabilities is considered in the context of the epidemiology of CMV infection in pregnant women and newborn infants, and the clinical manifestations of brain injury are reviewed. The prospects for intervention, including antiviral therapies and vaccines, are summarized... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098717 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098716&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136437%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gottstein B, Pozio E, Nöckler K Summary: Throughout much of the world, Trichinella spp. are found to be the causative agents of human trichinellosis, a disease that not only is a public health hazard by affecting human patients but also represents an economic problem in porcine animal production and food safety. Due to the predominantly zoonotic importance of infection, the main efforts in many countries have focused on the control of Trichinella or the elimination of Trichinella from the food chain. The most important source of human infection worldwide is the domestic pig, but, e.g., in Europe, meats of horses and wild boars have played a significant role during outbreaks within the past 3 decades. Infection of humans occurs with the ingestion of Trichinella larvae that... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098716 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098715&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136438%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scholz T, Garcia HH, Kuchta R, Wicht B Summary: Tapeworms (Cestoda) continue to be an important cause of morbidity in humans worldwide. Diphyllobothriosis, a human disease caused by tapeworms of the genus Diphyllobothrium, is the most important fish-borne zoonosis caused by a cestode parasite. Up to 20 million humans are estimated to be infected worldwide. Besides humans, definitive hosts of Diphyllobothrium include piscivorous birds and mammals, which represent a significant zoonotic reservoir. The second intermediate hosts include both freshwater and marine fish, especially anadromous species such as salmonids. The zoonosis occurs most commonly in countries where the consumption of raw or marinated fish is a frequent practice. Due to the increasing popularity of dishes utili... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098715 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2098714&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19136439%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jacoby GA Summary: AmpC beta-lactamases are clinically important cephalosporinases encoded on the chromosomes of many of the Enterobacteriaceae and a few other organisms, where they mediate resistance to cephalothin, cefazolin, cefoxitin, most penicillins, and beta-lactamase inhibitor-beta-lactam combinations. In many bacteria, AmpC enzymes are inducible and can be expressed at high levels by mutation. Overexpression confers resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins including cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and ceftriaxone and is a problem especially in infections due to Enterobacter aerogenes and Enterobacter cloacae, where an isolate initially susceptible to these agents may become resistant upon therapy. Transmissible plasmids have acquired genes for AmpC enzymes, which conseque... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2098714 Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100 2098714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881415&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854481%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Daya S, Berns KI Summary: The unique life cycle of adeno-associated virus (AAV) and its ability to infect both nondividing and dividing cells with persistent expression have made it an attractive vector. An additional attractive feature of the wild-type virus is the lack of apparent pathogenicity. Gene transfer studies using AAV have shown significant progress at the level of animal models; clinical trials have been noteworthy with respect to the safety of AAV vectors. No proven efficacy has been observed, although in some instances, there have been promising observations. In this review, topics in AAV biology are supplemented with a section on AAV clinical trials with emphasis on the need for a deeper understanding of AAV biology and the development of efficient AAV vectors. ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881415 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881414&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854482%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Harrison LH, Simonsen V, Waldman EA Summary: In 1984, children presented to the emergency department of a hospital in the small town of Promissão, São Paulo State, Brazil, with an acute febrile illness that rapidly progressed to death. Local clinicians and public health officials recognized that these children had an unusual illness, which led to outbreak investigations conducted by Brazilian health officials in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The studies that followed are an excellent example of the coordinated and parallel studies that are used to investigate outbreaks of a new disease, which became known as Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF). In the first outbreak investigation, a case-control study confirmed an association betw... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881414 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881413&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854483%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Trofa D, Gácser A, Nosanchuk JD Summary: Candida parapsilosis is an emerging major human pathogen that has dramatically increased in significance and prevalence over the past 2 decades, such that C. parapsilosis is now one of the leading causes of invasive candidal disease. Individuals at the highest risk for severe infection include neonates and patients in intensive care units. C. parapsilosis infections are especially associated with hyperalimentation solutions, prosthetic devices, and indwelling catheters, as well as the nosocomial spread of disease through the hands of health care workers. Factors involved in disease pathogenesis include the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, adhesion to prosthetics, and biofilm formation. New molecular genetic tools are providing addi... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881413 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881412&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854484%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schuster FL, Ramirez-Avila L Balantidium coli is a cosmopolitan parasitic-opportunistic pathogen that can be found throughout the world. Pigs are its reservoir hosts, and humans become infected through direct or indirect contact with pigs. In rural areas and in some developing countries where pig and human fecal matter contaminates the water supply, there is a greater likelihood that balantidiosis may develop in humans. The infection may be subclinical in humans, as it mostly is in pigs, or may develop as a fulminant infection with bloody and mucus-containing diarrhea; this can lead to perforation of the colon. The disease responds to treatment with tetracycline or metronidazole. Balantidiosis is a disease that need never exist given access to clean water and a public health i... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881412 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881411&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854485%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tan KS Summary: Blastocystis is an unusual enteric protozoan parasite of humans and many animals. It has a worldwide distribution and is often the most commonly isolated organism in parasitological surveys. The parasite has been described since the early 1900s, but only in the last decade or so have there been significant advances in our understanding of Blastocystis biology. However, the pleomorphic nature of the parasite and the lack of standardization in techniques have led to confusion and, in some cases, misinterpretation of data. This has hindered laboratory diagnosis and efforts to understand its mode of reproduction, life cycle, prevalence, and pathogenesis. Accumulating epidemiological, in vivo, and in vitro data strongly suggest that Blastocystis is a pathogen. Many ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881411 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881410&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854486%26dopt%3DAbstract This article reviews both historical and innovative laboratory pneumococcal animal models that have vastly added to knowledge of (i) mechanisms of infection, pathogenesis, and immunity; (ii) efficacies of antimicrobials; and (iii) screening of vaccine candidates. A comprehensive description of the techniques applied to induce disease is provided, the advantages and limitations of mouse, rat, and rabbit models used to mimic pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis are discussed, and a section on otitis media models is also included. The choice of appropriate animal models for in vivo studies is a key element for improved understanding of pneumococcal disease. PMID: 18854486 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881410 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881409&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854487%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miyairi I, Devincenzo JP Summary: To explain the wide spectrum of disease severity caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and because of the limitations of animal models to fully parallel human RSV disease, study of genetic influences on human RSV disease severity has begun. Candidate gene approaches have demonstrated associations of severe RSV in healthy infants with genetic polymorphisms that may alter the innate ability of humans to control RSV (surfactants, Toll-like receptor 4, cell surface adhesion molecules, and others) and those that may control differences in proinflammatory responses or enhanced immunopathology (specific cytokines and their receptors). These studies are reviewed. They are valuable since an understanding of the direction of a polymorphism's effec... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881409 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881408&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854488%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Echavarría M Summary: The number of patients with acquired immunodeficiency has grown steadily as a result of both a larger number of patients receiving solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplants and their longer survival times. The use of newer, more potent immunosuppressive regimens has increased the frequency of severe adenovirus infections. Human adenoviruses are a large group of viruses, represented by at least 52 serotypes with various genotypes divided into genomic clusters, and these may cause a broad variety of clinical manifestations. The development of molecular methods has increased the sensitivity and rapidity of adenovirus infection diagnosis. The implementation of PCR assays has significantly contributed to the identification of patients with disse... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881408 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1881407&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18854489%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mahony JB Summary: Clinical laboratories historically diagnose seven or eight respiratory virus infections using a combination of techniques including enzyme immunoassay, direct fluorescent antibody staining, cell culture, and nucleic acid amplification tests. With the discovery of six new respiratory viruses since 2000, laboratories are faced with the challenge of detecting up to 19 different viruses that cause acute respiratory disease of both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The application of nucleic acid amplification technology, particularly multiplex PCR coupled with fluidic or fixed microarrays, provides an important new approach for the detection of multiple respiratory viruses in a single test. These multiplex amplification tests provide a sensitive and compre... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1881407 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1881407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818106&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625678%26dopt%3DAbstract We examined the available evidence on the effectiveness of measures aimed at protecting humans and the environment against the risks of working with genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs) and with non-GMO pathogenic microorganisms. A few principles and methods underlie the current biosafety practice: risk assessment, biological containment, concentration and enclosure, exposure minimization, physical containment, and hazard minimization. Many of the current practices are based on experience and expert judgment. The effectiveness of biosafety measures may be evaluated at the level of single containment equipment items and procedures, at the level of the laboratory as a whole, or at the clinical-epidemiological level. Data on the containment effectiveness of equipment and laboratories ar... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818106 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818105&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625679%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sandora TJ, Gidengil CA, Lee GM Pertussis, an acute respiratory infection caused by Bordetella pertussis, classically manifests as a protracted cough illness. The incidence of pertussis in the United States has been increasing in recent years. Immunity wanes after childhood vaccination, leaving adolescents and adults susceptible to infection. The transmission of pertussis in health care settings has important medical and economic consequences. Acellular pertussis booster vaccines are now available for use and have been recommended for all adolescents and adults. These vaccines are safe, immunogenic, and effective. Health care workers are a priority group for vaccination because of their increased risk of acquiring infection and the potential to transmit pertussis to high-risk ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818105 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818104&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625680%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Matin A, Siddiqui R, Jayasekera S, Khan NA Balamuthia mandrillaris is an emerging protozoan parasite, an agent of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis involving the central nervous system, with a case fatality rate of >98%. This review presents our current understanding of Balamuthia infections, their pathogenesis and pathophysiology, and molecular mechanisms associated with the disease, as well as virulence traits of Balamuthia that may be potential targets for therapeutic interventions and/or for the development of preventative measures. PMID: 18625680 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818104 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818103&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625681%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Landman D, Georgescu C, Martin DA, Quale J The global emergence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli has spurred a renewed interest in polymyxins. Once discarded due to concerns regarding nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity, polymyxins now hold an important role in the antibiotic armamentarium. However, more reliable information is needed to determine the optimal dosing of these agents. Also, unanswered questions regarding in vitro testing remain, including questions regarding the reliability of automated systems and the establishment of appropriate breakpoints for defining susceptibility. Most contemporary clinical studies examining the use of these agents have involved patients with infections due to multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818103 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818102&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625682%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schlagenhauf P, Petersen E The risk of malaria for travelers varies from region to region and depends on the intensity of transmission, the duration of the stay in the area of endemicity, the style of travel, and the efficacy of preventive measures. The decision to recommend chemoprophylaxis to travelers to areas with a low risk of malarial infection is especially difficult because the risk of infection must be balanced with the risk of experiencing side effects. If the risk of side effects by far exceeds the risk of infection, the traveler needs information on measures against mosquito bites and advice on prompt diagnosis and self-treatment. The risk is difficult to quantify, and the absolute risk for travelers to most areas is not known, especially because the populations at... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818102 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818101&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625683%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Crum-Cianflone NF Infectious myositis may be caused by a broad range of bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral agents. Infectious myositis is overall uncommon given the relative resistance of the musculature to infection. For example, inciting events, including trauma, surgery, or the presence of foreign bodies or devitalized tissue, are often present in cases of bacterial myositis. Bacterial causes are categorized by clinical presentation, anatomic location, and causative organisms into the categories of pyomyositis, psoas abscess, Staphylococcus aureus myositis, group A streptococcal necrotizing myositis, group B streptococcal myositis, clostridial gas gangrene, and nonclostridial myositis. Fungal myositis is rare and usually occurs among immunocompromised hosts. Parasitic ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818101 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818101 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818100&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625684%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mohapatra SS, Boyapalle S Virtually all children experience respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection at least once during the first 2 years of life, but only a few develop bronchiolitis and more severe disease requiring hospitalization, usually in the first 6 months of life. Children who recover from RSV-induced bronchiolitis are at increased risk for the development of recurrent wheeze and asthma in later childhood. Recent studies suggest that there is an association between RSV-induced bronchiolitis and asthma within the first decade of life but that this association is not significant after age 13. Despite the considerable progress made in our understanding of several aspects of respiratory viral infections, further work needs to be done to clarify the molecular mechanis... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818100 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818099&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625685%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was aimed at summarizing the current understanding of host mechanisms involved in the defense against Campylobacter by evaluating data available from three sources: (i) epidemiological observations, (ii) observations of patients, and (iii) experimental observations including observations of animal models and human volunteer studies. Analysis of available data clearly indicates that an effective immune system is crucial for the host defense against Campylobacter infection. Innate, cell-mediated, and humoral immune responses are induced during Campylobacter infection, but the relative importance of these mechanisms in conferring protective immunity against reinfection is unclear. Frequent exposure to Campylobacter does lead to the induction of short-term protection against disease... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818099 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818098&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625686%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tebruegge M, Curtis N Recurrent bacterial meningitis is a rare phenomenon and generally poses a considerable diagnostic challenge to the clinician. Ultimately, a structured approach and early diagnosis of any underlying pathology are crucial to prevent further episodes and improve the overall outcome for the affected individual. In this article, we are reviewing the existing literature on this topic over the last two decades, encompassing 363 cases of recurrent bacterial meningitis described in 144 publications. Of these cases, 214 (59%) were related to anatomical problems, 132 (36%) were related to immunodeficiencies, and 17 (5%) were related to parameningeal infections. The review includes a detailed discussion of the underlying pathologies and microbiological aspects as wel... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818098 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818097&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18625687%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Peleg AY, Seifert H, Paterson DL Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a highly troublesome pathogen for many institutions globally. As a consequence of its immense ability to acquire or upregulate antibiotic drug resistance determinants, it has justifiably been propelled to the forefront of scientific attention. Apart from its predilection for the seriously ill within intensive care units, A. baumannii has more recently caused a range of infectious syndromes in military personnel injured in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. This review details the significant advances that have been made in our understanding of this remarkable organism over the last 10 years, including current taxonomy and species identification, issues with susceptibility testing, mechanisms of antibiotic... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818097 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818114&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400795%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rock RB, Olin M, Baker CA, Molitor TW, Peterson PK Tuberculosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a highly devastating form of tuberculosis, which, even in the setting of appropriate antitubercular therapy, leads to unacceptable levels of morbidity and mortality. Despite the development of promising molecular diagnostic techniques, diagnosis of CNS tuberculosis relies largely on microbiological methods that are insensitive, and as such, CNS tuberculosis remains a formidable diagnostic challenge. Insights into the basic neuropathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the development of an appropriate animal model are desperately needed. The optimal regimen and length of treatment are largely unknown, and with the rising incidence of multidrug-resistant strains of M. tu... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818114 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818113&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400796%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bouchet V, Huot H, Goldstein R Nearly 2,000 ribotyping-based studies exist, ranging from epidemiology to phylogeny and taxonomy. None precisely reveals the molecular genetic basis, with many incorrectly attributing detected polymorphisms to rRNA gene sequences. Based on in silico genomics, we demonstrate that ribotype polymorphisms result from sequence variability in neutral housekeeping genes flanking rRNA operons, with rRNA gene sequences serving solely as conserved, flank-linked tags. We also reveal that from such an informatics perspective, it is readily feasible a priori to design an interpretable ribotyping scheme for a genomically sequenced microbial species, and we discuss limitations to the basic restriction fragment length polymorphism-based method as well as alterna... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818113 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818113 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818112&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400797%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nichols WG, Peck Campbell AJ, Boeckh M Though several antivirals have been developed and marketed to treat influenza virus infections, the development of antiviral agents with clinical activity against other respiratory viruses has been more problematic. Here we review the epidemiology of respiratory viral infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts, examine the evidence surrounding the currently available antivirals for respiratory viral infections other than influenza, highlight those that are in the pipeline, and discuss the hurdles for development of such agents. PMID: 18400797 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818112 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818111&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400798%26dopt%3DAbstract We present a model incorporating these somewhat contradictory findings and suggest that primary HBoV infection causes respiratory tract symptoms which can be followed by prolonged low-level virus shedding in the respiratory tract. Detection of the virus in this phase will be facilitated by other infections, either simply via increased sample cell count or via reactivation of HBoV, leading to an increased detection frequency of HBoV during other virus infections. We conclude that the majority of available HBoV studies are limited by the sole use of PCR diagnostics on respiratory tract secretions, addressing virus prevalence but not disease association. The ability to detect primary infection through the development of improved diagnostic methods will be of great importance for future studie... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818111 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818110&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400799%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gadkowski LB, Stout JE A pulmonary cavity is a gas-filled area of the lung in the center of a nodule or area of consolidation and may be clinically observed by use of plain chest radiography or computed tomography. Cavities are present in a wide variety of infectious and noninfectious processes. This review discusses the differential diagnosis of pathological processes associated with lung cavities, focusing on infections associated with lung cavities. The goal is to provide the clinician and clinical microbiologist with an overview of the diseases most commonly associated with lung cavities, with attention to the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the host. PMID: 18400799 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Clinical Microbiology Reviews) Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818110 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818109&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400800%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alvar J, Aparicio P, Aseffa A, Den Boer M, Cañavate C, Dedet JP, Gradoni L, Ter Horst R, López-Vélez R, Moreno J To date, most Leishmania and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection cases reported to WHO come from Southern Europe. Up to the year 2001, nearly 2,000 cases of coinfection were identified, of which 90% were from Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. However, these figures are misleading because they do not account for the large proportion of cases in many African and Asian countries that are missed due to a lack of diagnostic facilities and poor reporting systems. Most cases of coinfection in the Americas are reported in Brazil, where the incidence of leishmaniasis has spread in recent years due to overlap with major areas of HIV transmission. I... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818109 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818108&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400801%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Audicana MT, Kennedy MW Infection of humans with the nematode worm parasite Anisakis simplex was first described in the 1960s in association with the consumption of raw or undercooked fish. During the 1990s it was realized that even the ingestion of dead worms in food fish can cause severe hypersensitivity reactions, that these may be more prevalent than infection itself, and that this outcome could be associated with food preparations previously considered safe. Not only may allergic symptoms arise from infection by the parasites ("gastroallergic anisakiasis"), but true anaphylactic reactions can also occur following exposure to allergens from dead worms by food-borne, airborne, or skin contact routes. This review discusses A. simplex pathogenesis in humans, covering immune h... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818108 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818107&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18400802%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: D'Alessandro A, Rausch RL Of the four species of the genus Echinococcus (Cestoda) distinguished by biological and morphological characteristics, two species, E. vogeli and E. oligarthrus, occur widely in the Neotropics. Approximately 200 cases of polycystic echinococcosis (PE) have been recorded from 12 countries in South America. Following early proliferation of E. vogeli in the human host, typically in the liver, the metacestode usually spreads in the peritoneal and pleural cavities, and numerous organs may be invaded. The clinical characteristics of PE in 81 patients with sufficient information are reviewed. Type I disease consists of polycysts in the liver and abdominal cavity (37% of the patients had this characteristic); type II is similar to type I but also includes hep... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818107 Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1818107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818124&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202435%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vercammen E, Staal J, Beyaert R Toll-like receptors (TLRs) form a major group of transmembrane receptors that are involved in the detection of invading pathogens. Double-stranded RNA is a marker for viral infection that is recognized by TLR3. TLR3 triggering activates specific signaling pathways that culminate in the activation of NF-kappaB and IRF3 transcription factors, as well as apoptosis, enabling the host to mount an effective innate immune response through the induction of cytokines, chemokines, and other proinflammatory mediators. In this review, we describe the paradoxical role of TLR3 in innate immunity against different viruses and in viral pathogenesis but also the evidence for TLR3 as a "danger" receptor in nonviral diseases. We also discuss the structure and cell... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818124 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818124 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818123&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202436%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jacobsen SM, Stickler DJ, Mobley HL, Shirtliff ME Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) represent the most common type of nosocomial infection and are a major health concern due to the complications and frequent recurrence. These infections are often caused by Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. Gram-negative bacterial species that cause CAUTIs express a number of virulence factors associated with adhesion, motility, biofilm formation, immunoavoidance, and nutrient acquisition as well as factors that cause damage to the host. These infections can be reduced by limiting catheter usage and ensuring that health care professionals correctly use closed-system Foley catheters. A number of novel approaches such as condom and suprapubic catheters, intermittent cath... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818123 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818122&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202437%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martín-Dávila P, Fortún J, López-Vélez R, Norman F, Montes de Oca M, Zamarrón P, González MI, Moreno A, Pumarola T, Garrido G, Candela A, Moreno S In recent years, the increasing number of donors from different regions of the world is providing a new challenge for the management and selection of suitable donors. This is a worldwide problem in most countries with transplantation programs, especially due to the increase in immigration and international travel. This paper elaborates recommendations regarding the selection criteria for donors from foreign countries who could potentially transmit tropical or geographically restricted infections to solid-organ transplant recipients. For this purpose, an extensive review of the medical literature fo... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818122 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818121&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202438%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Murray CK, Gasser RA, Magill AJ, Miller RS To help mitigate the expanding global impact of malaria, with its associated increasing drug resistance, implementation of prompt and accurate diagnosis is needed. Malaria is diagnosed predominantly by using clinical criteria, with microscopy as the current gold standard for detecting parasitemia, even though it is clearly inadequate in many health care settings. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been recognized as an ideal method for diagnosing infectious diseases, including malaria, in recent years. There have been a number of RDTs developed and evaluated widely for malaria diagnosis, but a number of issues related to these products have arisen. This review highlights RDTs, including challenges in assessing their performance, inter... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818121 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818120&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202439%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Frank KL, Del Pozo JL, Patel R Staphylococcus lugdunensis has gained recognition as an atypically virulent pathogen with a unique microbiological and clinical profile. S. lugdunensis is coagulase negative due to the lack of production of secreted coagulase, but a membrane-bound form of the enzyme present in some isolates can result in misidentification of the organism as Staphylococcus aureus in the clinical microbiology laboratory. S. lugdunensis is a skin commensal and an infrequent pathogen compared to S. aureus and S. epidermidis, but clinically, infections caused by this organism resemble those caused by S. aureus rather than those caused by other coagulase-negative staphylococci. S. lugdunensis can cause acute and highly destructive cases of native valve endocarditis tha... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818120 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818120 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818119&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202440%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schroeder GN, Hilbi H Shigella spp. are gram-negative pathogenic bacteria that evolved from harmless enterobacterial relatives and may cause devastating diarrhea upon ingestion. Research performed over the last 25 years revealed that a type III secretion system (T3SS) encoded on a large plasmid is a key virulence factor of Shigella flexneri. The T3SS determines the interactions of S. flexneri with intestinal cells by consecutively translocating two sets of effector proteins into the target cells. Thus, S. flexneri controls invasion into EC, intra- and intercellular spread, macrophage cell death, as well as host inflammatory responses. Some of the translocated effector proteins show novel biochemical activities by which they intercept host cell signal transduction pathways. An ... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818119 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818118&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202441%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cortez KJ, Roilides E, Quiroz-Telles F, Meletiadis J, Antachopoulos C, Knudsen T, Buchanan W, Milanovich J, Sutton DA, Fothergill A, Rinaldi MG, Shea YR, Zaoutis T, Kottilil S, Walsh TJ Scedosporium spp. are increasingly recognized as causes of resistant life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. Scedosporium spp. also cause a wide spectrum of conditions, including mycetoma, saprobic involvement and colonization of the airways, sinopulmonary infections, extrapulmonary localized infections, and disseminated infections. Invasive scedosporium infections are also associated with central nervous infection following near-drowning accidents. The most common sites of infection are the lungs, sinuses, bones, joints, eyes, and brain. Scedosporium apiospermum and Scedospo... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818118 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818118 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818117&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202442%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dennehy PH Rotavirus infection is the most common cause of severe diarrhea disease in infants and young children worldwide and continues to have a major global impact on childhood morbidity and mortality. Vaccination is the only control measure likely to have a significant impact on the incidence of severe dehydrating rotavirus disease. In 1999, a highly efficacious rotavirus vaccine licensed in the United States, RotaShield, was withdrawn from the market after 14 months because of its association with intussusception. Two new live, oral, attenuated rotavirus vaccines were licensed in 2006: the pentavalent bovine-human reassortant vaccine (RotaTeq) and the monovalent human rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix). Both vaccines have demonstrated very good safety and efficacy profiles in la... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818117 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818116&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202443%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kumar R, Basu S, Torigian D, Anand V, Zhuang H, Alavi A During the past several years, it has become quite evident that positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging can play a major role in the management of patients with suspected infection. Particularly, several groups have demonstrated that this powerful imaging methodology is very effective in the evaluation of osteomyelitis, infected prostheses, fever of unknown origin, and AIDS. In view of its extraordinary sensitivity in detecting disease activity and the ability to quantitate the degree of FDG uptake, PET might prove to be an appropriate modality for monitoring disease activity and evaluating response to therapy. FDG-PET has many advantages over existing imaging techniques for the diagno... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818116 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1818115&cid=s_38089_77_f&fid=38089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D18202444%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McManus DP, Loukas A Schistosomiasis, caused by trematode blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma, is recognized as the most important human helminth infection in terms of morbidity and mortality. Infection follows direct contact with freshwater harboring free-swimming larval (cercaria) forms of the parasite. Despite the existence of the highly effective antischistosome drug praziquantel (PZQ), schistosomiasis is spreading into new areas, and although it is the cornerstone of current control programs, PZQ chemotherapy does have limitations. In particular, mass treatment does not prevent reinfection. Furthermore, there is increasing concern about the development of parasite resistance to PZQ. Consequently, vaccine strategies represent an essential component for the future control... Clinical Microbiology Reviews journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1818115 Tue, 01 Jan 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1818115