Society is fast losing its battle against emerging and reemerging infections. HIV continues to inflict considerable human and economic damage, and HINI is causing death, overwhelming health services, and threatening to intensify in the fall with a more virulent strain. The tuberculosis bacillus shows signs of resisting conventional treatment, as does the malaria parasite.

Patients harboring methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for long periods of time continue to be at increased risk of MRSA infection and death, according to a new study in the July 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, currently available online.