Infectious Disease Advisor Contributing Writer

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Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are serious diseases caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Patients should receive five doses of DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, and 4 to 6 years.

Vaccine-Related Viral Shedding Leads to High Rate of Rotavirus Overdiagnosis

February 10, 2020

Over a 2-year period, roughly half of positive cases of rotavirus in infants were the result of vaccine-related viral shedding.

Although sensitivity is an important consideration when deciding among HIV tests, there are other factors to consider, such as test invasiveness, available resources, need for additional studies, and patient adherence.6 Serum- and plasma-based HIV testing is the most invasive and requires the most resources, such as access to a skilled clinician or phlebotomist and access to special equipment (eg, needles, biohazard containers, laboratory). Whole blood testing can be performed by venipuncture or finger-stick. When blood-based tests yield a sufficient specimen sample using venipuncture, additional studies can be undertaken, such as HIV subtyping and assessment for coinfections, including hepatitis or syphilis. In contrast, oral fluid tests do not require special equipment and can be performed in any setting, including at home, providing results in minutes. These tests also eliminate safety and biohazard concerns, such as needlestick injuries and sharps disposal.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)

Toxin Enzyme Immunoassay Identifies Severe Clostridioides difficile Infections

Infectious Disease Advisor Contributing Writer

December 12, 2019

Toxin enzyme immunoassay more accurately identifies severe C difficile infections from strains more likely to cause recurrence, but otherwise had similar results for complications and mortality compared with the standard nucleic acid amplification test.