Research Keyword: Clinical guidelines

The 2025 EQUAL Pneumocystis Score—an ECMM tool to measure QUALity in Pneumocystis pneumonia management

Pneumocystis pneumonia is a serious lung infection that affects people with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV and transplant patients. Doctors use different guidelines to diagnose and treat this infection, but these guidelines are complex and can be hard to follow consistently. Researchers created a new scoring system called the EQUAL Pneumocystis Score that helps doctors follow the best treatment recommendations by assigning points for different diagnostic tests, medications, and follow-up strategies.

Read More »

Emerging Infections Network Survey of Screening for Cryptococcal Antigenemia, United States, 2024

Researchers surveyed infectious disease doctors across the United States about how often they screen HIV patients for cryptococcal infections using a simple blood test. They found that only about one-third to two-thirds of doctors regularly perform this screening despite guidelines recommending it. Many doctors expressed uncertainty about whether the screening is beneficial or weren’t sure about the official recommendations, suggesting a need for better education about this potentially life-saving test.

Read More »

Cracks in the Curriculum: The Hidden Deficiencies in Fungal Disease Coverage in Medical Books

Medical textbooks used to train doctors contain significant gaps in their coverage of fungal infections, which cause millions of deaths annually. While infectious disease textbooks provide better information than general internal medicine textbooks, all of them fall short in covering important topics like diagnosis methods and prevention strategies. The study found that doctors and students relying solely on these textbooks may not have adequate knowledge to properly diagnose and treat fungal infections, which could impact patient care outcomes.

Read More »

Emerging Infections Network Survey of Screening for Cryptococcal Antigenemia, United States, 2024

Researchers surveyed infectious disease doctors across the United States to understand how often they test HIV patients for cryptococcal antigen, a fungal infection that can be serious. The study found that doctors don’t consistently follow recommended screening guidelines, with many uncertain about the benefits of testing. Key barriers included confusion about testing recommendations and concerns about delaying HIV treatment, suggesting that doctors need better education about the importance of early detection.

Read More »

Addressing Patient Requests to Add Dietary Supplements to Their Cancer Care—A Suggested Approach

Cancer patients often want to use dietary supplements alongside their conventional cancer treatments to manage side effects, boost immunity, and feel more in control of their health. Many patients don’t tell their doctors about supplement use because they worry about judgment or think doctors won’t understand their interests. This paper suggests doctors should have open, non-judgmental conversations with patients about supplements, evaluate their safety and effectiveness using reliable information sources, and work together with patients to make informed decisions that keep them safe while respecting their choices.

Read More »
Scroll to Top