The CDC and Spectinomycin

Pfizer discontinued US distribution of spectinomycin (Trobicin®) in November 2005; remaining inventory expired in May 2006 [1]. Nonetheless, at the FDA website we still find a Package Insert for Trobicin updated as late as Aug 2012, a thin 6-page leaflet which Continue reading The CDC and Spectinomycin

GC Therapy –  Shooting for the Stars

Besides ceftriaxone (CTRIAX), cefixime and spectinomycin we have no other highly effective single-dose treatment regimens for urogenital GC. Failures of all 3 drugs have been described but remain rare, can be overcome with higher doses of CTRIAX (1 g instead Continue reading GC Therapy –  Shooting for the Stars

CDC Report on Pan-Resistant NDM Klebsiella in Nevada– A Sad Tale

During the past few weeks the case of a patient with MDR Klebsiella infection has made the news. We are told that this particular pathogen is “resistant to 26 antibiotics”. We were informed that the patient had multiple prior hospitalizations Continue reading CDC Report on Pan-Resistant NDM Klebsiella in Nevada– A Sad Tale

Is LAIV Dead or Just on LAIV-Support?

Very recently we came across several studies in which small differences in design had a major impact on outcomes. A blog is not a good place to dig deeply into the minutiae of study design as the discussion becomes quickly very dry and quite technical. However, readers Continue reading Is LAIV Dead or Just on LAIV-Support?

The Etiology of CAP Remains Elusive – A Call to Change Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns

Once upon a time – not so long ago – we were taught the following: Streptococcus pneumoniae was the cause of 90% of CAP cases. That statement was later modified to mean S. pneumoniae was the underlying pathogen in 90% of bacterial cases Continue reading The Etiology of CAP Remains Elusive – A Call to Change Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns