Infectious Diseases News CME/CE

• Long-Term Use of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole May Reduce UTIs in At-Risk Children CME In a randomized trial, long-term, low-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole shows a consistent but modest treatment effect across subgroups of children with urinary tract infections.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Three-Day Course of Antibiotics May Be Effective After Pediatric Tonsillectomy CME In a small, randomized trial, a 3-day course of antibiotics was as effective as a 7-day course in terms of postoperative analgesic use and resumption of normal diet and activity.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: DepoDur, Neoral, Lexiva CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for morphine sulfate extended-release liposome injection, cyclosporine capsules and oral solution, and fosamprenavir calcium tablets and oral suspension.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• Drinking Coffee Daily Linked to Lower Risk for Progression of Chronic Hepatitis C CME In a large prospective study, regular coffee drinking consumption was associated with lower rates of progression of advanced hepatitis C–related liver disease.
  Medscape Medical News CME, November 2009
• CDC Issues Guidelines for Early Empiric Antiviral Treatment in Persons With Suspected Influenza CME/CE The new recommendations aim to assist clinicians in prioritizing use of antiviral medications for hospitalized patients and those at higher risk for influenza-related complications.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Elitek, Fluarix, Votrient CME/CE The FDA has approved an expanded indication for rasburicase intravenous infusion, a pediatric use of a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine, and pazopanib tablets for advanced renal cell carcinoma.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Ultram, Ultracet, Sustiva, Kayexalate CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for tramadol HCl tablets, tramadol plus acetaminophen tablets, efavirenz capsules and tablets, and sodium polystyrene sulfonate powder.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Prophylactic Acetaminophen Before Vaccination in Infants Reduces Vaccine Response CME A new study shows that the antipyretic acetaminophen may interfere with the efficacy of vaccines and suggests that their use should not be routinely recommended.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Can Statins Prevent and Treat Infection? CME Results from a new meta-analysis show the pleiotropic effects of statins are useful in the treatment and prevention of different infections, including bacteremia, pneumonia, and sepsis.
  Heartwire CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Gardasil, Cervarix, Micardis CME/CE The FDA has approved a vaccine for the prevention of genital warts in males, a human papillomavirus vaccine for cervical cancer prevention, and an expanded indication for telmisartan.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Hepatitis B Foundation Issues Guidelines for Pediatric Screening, Monitoring, and Referral CME The recommendations are for practitioners regarding what additional tests to conduct, how often to monitor, and when to refer to a pediatric liver specialist for chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Herpes Zoster Attacks Increase Stroke Risk By 30% CME A new epidemiologic study shows that the risk for stroke increases after a zoster attack (shingles) by 30% and by up to 4-fold when the attack involves the eye.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Most Patients With Vaccine Allergy May Be Safely Vaccinated CME A practice parameter also recommends that patients with suspected allergy to vaccines or vaccine components be evaluated by an allergist or immunologist.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Tamiflu, Stelara, Folotyn CME/CE The FDA has approved use of oseltamivir phosphate 12-mg/mL oral suspension, ustekinumab subcutaneous injection, and accelerated approval and orphan drug status for pralatrexate injection.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Arixtra, Sulfonylureas, Tobramycin CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for fondaparinux sodium, glipizide and glipizide extended-release tablets, micronized glyburide, glipizide/metformin, glyburide, and tobramycin.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Surgical Mask May Be Comparable to N95 Respirator in Halting Flu Transmission CME/CE In a randomized controlled trial, use of a surgical mask compared with an N95 respirator was associated with noninferior rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza in healthcare workers.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• FDA Approvals: Zirgan, Prism HIV, Valturna CME/CE The FDA has approved ganciclovir ophthalmic gel to treat herpetic keratitis, a screening test for HIV types 1 and 2, and a single-pill combination of aliskiren and valsartan to treat hypertension.
  Medscape Medical News CME, October 2009
• Live Attenuated Flu Vaccine May Be Less Effective Than Inactivated Flu Vaccine CME In the 2007-2008 flu season, the inactivated vaccine was more effective than the live attenuated vaccine in preventing laboratory-confirmed symptomatic influenza A (mostly H3N2) in healthy adults.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• FDA Safety Changes: Zyprexa, Geodon, Lariam, Merrem IV, Primaxin CME/CE The FDA has approved safety labeling revisions for olanzapine, ziprasidone, mefloquine HCl tablets, meropenem, and imipenem/cilastatin.
  Medscape Medical News CME, September 2009
• Flu Vaccine May Protect Against MI CME A protective effect was seen in patients with established cardiovascular disease. Whether vaccination is protective in people with no vascular disease is less clear, a new review suggests.
  Heartwire CME, September 2009