My son was born with a congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection. Unless you specialize in prenatal care, infectious disease, or pediatric audiology, you’ve probably never heard of it. That’s the first part of the problem. And, even if yo…
Category: Infectious disease
How collaboration across medical disciplines and patient advocacy cured a rare disease [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Patient advocate Tami Burdick discusses her article, “How collaboration saved my life from a rare disease doctors couldn’t diagnose.” Tami shares her per…
Measles is back: Why vaccination is more vital than ever
As an infectious disease fellow years ago, I was called to the hospital in the middle of the night for a possible case of measles. I reviewed the clinical basics, as I was not quite sure what to expect, not previously having seen a case of measles. The…
Bird flu’s deadly return: Are we flying blind into the next pandemic?
Scientists have known about bird flu (H5N1) for decades as a virus that primarily affects birds. Until suddenly, one day, it didn’t. In March 2024, H5N1 showed up somewhere very unexpected—in dairy cows in Texas (and their milk). And then, the vi…
Antimicrobial resistance: a public health crisis that needs your voice [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Health care public relations leader Melanie Doupé Gaiser discusses her article, “Antimicrobial resistance needs a publicist.” She highlights antimicrobial resi…
Why ruling out sepsis in emergency departments can be lifesaving
It’s a common scenario in the emergency department (ED). Peak cold and flu season brings in patients complaining of fever and chills, with increased heart rates and elevated white blood cell counts. Too many patients, not enough beds. As emergenc…
When America sneezes, the world catches a cold: Trump’s freeze on HIV/AIDS funding
On the 20th of January 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that initiated a freeze on foreign aid, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This abrupt suspension of funding has triggered a global heal…
The heartbreaking pandemic story I will never forget
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the world five years ago, and the world seems to be contemplating that history lately. Numerous articles reflect on that time now that we are passing that first major milestone. In many ways, we are still struggling with the f…
Antimicrobial resistance needs a publicist
The mass layoffs at federal health agencies, combined with the recent flurry of federal government announcements—paused communications, stop-work orders, and canceled meetings—have the health care and life sciences communities on edge. One announcement…
Why hand washing isn’t enough to stop infections in hospitals [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Emergency physician W. Frank Peacock discusses his article, “What if a doctor didn’t wash their hands between patients?” He explores the critical role of…
