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An expensive type of ultraviolet (UV) light treatment called UVC was associated with a 30% drop in the incidence of infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) but did not affect Clostridium difficile rates when used for cleaning hospital rooms between patients, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet.
Meanwhile, Florida confirms first local case in weeks, and a study explores post-outbreak prevalence.
The infection, which was resistant or non-susceptible to all available antibiotics, caused the death of a 70-year-old woman.
New reports to the OIE involve avian flu outbreaks in 8 countries.
The US reports widespread flu and 3 pediatric deaths, while Europe is being hit hard.
Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans
Originally published by CIDRAP News Jan 12
Five more human H7N9 avian flu illnesses have been reported in China, one from Henan province and four from Anhui province, according to government statements translated and posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
Also, an analysis of H5N2 from a wild Alaskan duck adds more evidence that North American wild birds still harbor the virus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new online tool that will enable users to find out how the agency is financially supporting efforts to combat antibiotic resistance across the country.
China today reported five new H7N9 avian flu cases in humans, most of whom are in critical condition.
According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in Hong Kong, a 50-year-old woman from Nanchang is hospitalized in critical condition in Jiangxi province. And a 59-year-old man from Yiyang who worked with poultry is also listed in critical condition in a Hunan province hospital, the CHP said.
Also, reports highlighted the first local US case and Zika in a man with a vasectomy.
China said today there were four new human cases of H7N9 avian influenza, including one in a child from Hong Kong who had recently traveled to Guangdong province.
The 10-year-old boy is the fourth imported case of H7N9 in Hong Kong this winter. Authorities report that close family contacts and healthcare workers who came in contact with the boy are being treated with Tamiflu prophylactically.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported one new case of MERS today and the death of a previously reported patient.
A 59-year-old Saudi woman is in critical condition after presenting with symptoms of MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infection. The woman is from Riyadh, and is listed as having primary exposure to the virus, meaning she did not contract the disease from another person.
The high-path strain that caused a huge outbreak in 2015 has been found in a Montana mallard.
In other Zika developments, the CDC released new fact sheets for pregnant women about the complexities involved in Zika testing.
Nearly a quarter of Shigella isolates in New York City showed decreased susceptibility or resistance.
President-elect Donald Trump has named Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., an outspoken critic of vaccines, chair of a panel on vaccine safety and scientific integrity, according to the Washington Post today. Trump met with Kennedy at Trump Towers in New York today.
The 128 cases in China and Hong Kong this season top last season's total of 118 infections.
More spread of H5N8 is occurring in Europe, with more nations reporting the virus in poultry.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported a possible hospital outbreak of MERS-CoV in Buraydah, the site of several recently diagnosed cases of the respiratory disease.
