Incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) has declined across all age groups, although rates of IPD caused by nonvaccine strains, while still low overall, have increased modestly. Medscape Medical News
Monitoring the level of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) allows early intervention in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease, according to a report in the March issue of the Journal of Medical Virology. Reuters Health Information
European semiconductor maker, STMicroelectronics, said it has developed a portable chip to detect influenza viruses including bird flu in humans. The device can screen and identify multiple classes of pathogens and genes in a single diagnostic test within two hours. Reuters Health Information
The presence of pneumococcal bacteremia does not appear to significantly influence the clinical course of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), researchers report in the March issue of Chest. Reuters Health Information
A vaccination campaign has rid Somalia of polio, encouraging hopes that the virus can be halted in other insecure regions, the World Health Organisation said on Tuesday. Reuters Health Information
A repeat course of IV antibiotic therapy can improve cognition in patients with Lyme encephalopathy that persists after an initial course of therapy, new research shows. However, the improvement disappears after the treatment is stopped, leading the researchers to conclude that therapies offering more durable benefits are needed. Reuters Health Information
For initial cervical cancer screening, testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) is more sensitive than conventional cytology, according to an Italian study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute for April 2. However, HPV-positive lesions often resolve among women below 35 years of age. Reuters Health Information
In young children, viral upper respiratory infection and otitis media are closely related, a new study confirms, suggesting that one strategy to reduce the incidence of otitis media is to prevent viral upper respiratory infection in young children, the researchers say. Reuters Health Information
Mother-child transmission of chikungunya virus infection is associated with significant morbidity and occurs predominantly during delivery, according to results of a study from the Indian Ocean islands of La Reunion. Reuters Health Information
Adjuvant corticosteroid therapy is of benefit in children and adults with chronic disseminated candidiasis resistant to antifungals, French researchers report in the March issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. Reuters Health Information
