Volume 17, Number 10—October 2011

This parasite may be transmitted from macaques to humans.

Monitoring of antiviral resistance is strongly recommended for immunocompromised patients.

Borreliae bacteria cause rash and flu-like illnesses, including Lyme disease, and relapsing fever. Recently, a new type of Borrelia (Borrelia miyamotoi) was found to cause relapsing fever in persons in Russia. Because the ticks that carry this new type of bacteria are found around the world (including the tick that transmits Lyme disease and babesiosis) the infection could become widespread. Disease caused by this new Borrelia species may cause repeated bouts of fever and is costly in terms of medical bills and lost wages. Although effective treatment is available, diagnosis and treatment are complicated by lack of awareness of this infection, limited availability of diagnostic tests, and nonspecific symptoms.

The attack rate was low, and having contact with an ill household member and younger age were the major risk factors.

Early detection, effective treatment, and infection control measures are needed to reduce transmission.

Most infections were caused by non–7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine serotypes.

Antifungal drug resistance is associated with high death rates among patients with invasive aspergillosis.

Got a cut? Reach for the triple antimicrobial-drug ointment? Not so fast. In the United States, common use of over-the-counter triple antimicrobial-drug ointments may be leading to emergence of a new, antimicrobial-drug resistant MRSA strain. This resistant strain (USA300) is common in the United States, where these ointments are used often, but less common in Japan, where they are not used as often. This finding supports more cautious use of topical antimicrobial drugs.

Infection with Clostridium difficile (C. diff) causes diarrhea in hospitalized patients, usually when antimicrobial-drug treatment disrupts their normal intestinal balance. Recently, concerns have been raised that this infection is increasing in the community, outside hospitals. This study found that most outpatients either had a known risk factor (other medical condition, recent hospitalization, antimicrobial-drug treatment) or were also infected with other diarrhea-causing bacteria. This finding tempers concern that C. diff infections are becoming common in the community among outpatients with no risk factors.

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is spread by rodents, particularly the common house mouse, and is found throughout the world. The virus, which usually causes mild illness with nonspecific symptoms, can at times cause severe disease. Two patients in Missouri, who reported seeing mice in their homes before becoming ill, came down with serious nervous system disease. Although both patients recovered, these cases provide a reminder of the potential severity of this virus. Patients with nervous system disease of unknown cause, especially those who have had contact with wild or pet rodents, should be tested for this virus.