Infection Journal of Nursing
The Elusive Lessons of Encephalitis Lethargica
Tags: autoimmune diseases clinical COVID-19 disease infection neurologist
Encephalitis Lethargica (EL) is a disease that presented as a global pandemic during the early 20th century. It is believed that EL was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, with the remaining one third of survivors left permanently disabled. EL has a high level of morbidity and can cause considerable damage to the central nervous system. While a large outbreak of EL has not occurred in over 100 years, sporadic cases still occur. The etiology and pathogenesis of EL remain unknown. What is known is that EL has two forms, dyskinetic and Parkinsonian. Both forms of EL have similar clinical manifestations, but often differ in the affected patient populations. The dyskinetic form of EL is more common among children, while the Parkinsonian form of EL typically affects adults. Researchers have been attempting to find a connection between influenza and EL as both presented as temporally overlapping pandemics in the early 20th century. Furthermore, a connection between COVID-19 and EL may exist. This is important because both EL and COVID-19 are linked to neurological degeneration. EL has few effective treatments, such as Levodopa, a drug commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease. The current lack of understanding of EL creates a vulnerability should the condition reemerge in pandemic proportions. If EL is associated with viral infections, then another viral pandemic may be sufficient for EL to return.
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Pyelonephritis: A Review of Literature
Tags: diagnosis infection kidney kidney infection literature review Pyelonephritis urinary tract infection UTI
Pyelonephritis needs to be diagnosed early so proper treatment can be instituted to prevent further complications. If urinary tract infection is left untreated, it can spread to the blood stream.
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Clinical Considerations for Patients with Active Clostridium difficile Infection
Tags: Active Clostridium difficile Infection infection wound care
This article addresses the probable significant environmental Clostridium difficile (c. difficile) spore contamination that occurs when patients with active C. difficile infection are utilizing low air loss mattress therapy. We site published works that have proven environmental contamination exists in the absence of low air loss therapy. We assert that by virtue of the mechanism of action of low air loss surfaces, significantly increased environmental soiling is inevitable. Therefore, the risk of spreading infection is significantly increased. We are calling for additional research to determine the extent of increased contamination that occurs when low air low therapy is used on patients with active C difficile infection.
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To Gown or Not to Gown? For MRSA Prevention, That Is the Question.
Tags: cdc gown infection mrsa patient room prevention transmission
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that standard precautions should be used for all patients and should be enough to prevent the spread of most MRSA cases. However, in acute-care settings the CDC recommends additional contact precautions be implemented when there are ongoing MRSA transmissions, current infections, previous colonization, and in other special circumstances.
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