At a glance: targeted interventions aimed at reducing infection at high-risk sites is more cost-effective than universal screening of elective inpatients in reducing MRSA bacteraemia rates.

At a glance: a new tetravalent vaccine against dengue virus has been found to provide protection against all four dengue virus serotypes in rhesus macaques.

At a glance: procalcitonin and C-reactive protein do not appear to be diagnostically useful in the diagnosis of VAP.

At a glance: TTP in peripheral blood is a sensitive but nonspecific marker for catheter related candidaemia.

At a glance: despite theoretical advantages, this study shows that G-CSF does not improve outcomes in patients with septic shock.

At a glance: there is no evidence that acyclovir as HSV suppressive therapy decreases the incidence of infection with HIV.

At a glance: this study identifies the main causative pathogens of otitis externa and suggests topical preparations for first line treatment.

At a glance: in this study involving H. pylori-infected transgenic INS-GAS mice, H. pylori eradication prevented gastric cancer to the greatest extent when antibiotics were given at an early point of infection.

At a glance: this study found no evidence that the introduction of a rapid test for MRSA led to a significant reduction in MRSA acquisition.