Progress Report: New Antibacterials In the Fight against MDR Bacteria

Since the beginning of this millennium we have seen antibiotic R&D dwindle year after year. There are many reasons for this; while economics are often cited for this decline, the FDA and the ‘Guideline Wars’, i.e., those never ending discussions Continue reading Progress Report: New Antibacterials In the Fight against MDR Bacteria

Lung Ultrasound has Come a Long Way

The old-fashioned portable chest X-ray is still the preferred way of documenting pneumonia at the bedside. Although more cumbersome, CT scans are also frequently employed for more definitive diagnosis, esp. in the ER or the ICU setting. Historically, ultrasound of the Continue reading Lung Ultrasound has Come a Long Way

Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance – A European Report Recommends Deja-Vu Action

Sometimes one comes across a particularly well-written policy document which summarizes the status quo of antimicrobial resistance by connecting and synthesizing data from all kinds of sources into a coherent framework. The 2015 OECD Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in G7 Continue reading Overcoming Antimicrobial Resistance – A European Report Recommends Deja-Vu Action

New Treatment Guidelines for Candidiasis – A Major Document to Study

In a much-quoted analysis, Lee found that most IDSA Guidelines were supported only by Level III quality data, the lowest category of evidence-based support[1]. The article concludes that more well-designed trials were needed, and clinical judgement should ultimately guide patient Continue reading New Treatment Guidelines for Candidiasis – A Major Document to Study

The FDA AMDAC on Fluoroquinolones (Part 2): Where Were the FQ Advocates?

Any FDA meeting is a high-stakes game for industry:  One never knows how the discussions will go. Some oddball issue may take center stage and usurp much time, creating an unbalanced perspective.  At other times, simple issues seem to create Continue reading The FDA AMDAC on Fluoroquinolones (Part 2): Where Were the FQ Advocates?