Sales data show antibiotic consumption rising in Southeast Asia, Africa

News brief

World map made of pills — Petmal / iStock

An analysis of antibiotic sales data shows substantial shifts in the global pattern of antibiotic consumption over the past decade, researchers reported last week in The Lancet Global Health.

Using the IQVIA MIDAS database, Chinese and US researchers analyzed changes in consumption patterns of World Health Organization (WHO) AWaRe (Access, Watch, and Reserve) and non-recommended antibiotics across 74 countries and regions from 2010 through 2021. The WHO created the AWaRe framework to promote appropriate antibiotic use and assess global antibiotic consumption trends.

"We assessed the appropriateness of global antibiotic consumption based on the WHO AWaRe framework, with particular attention to the WHO-recommended target of more than 60% consumption for Access-group antibiotics," the study authors wrote.

Many countries not hitting Access antibiotic target

From 2010 to 2021, antibiotic consumption decreased in most high-income countries (36 of 40, 90%) but increased in most upper-middle-income countries (16 of 24, 67%) and low- and middle-income countries (8 of 10, 80%). Increases in antibiotic consumption were noted in most countries in the WHO Southeast Asian (4 of 5, 80%) and African (2 of 3, 67%) regions. Declines were observed in most countries in the Western Pacific (9 of 11, 82%) and European (25 of 33, 78%) regions. Consumption increased in about half of the Region of the Americas (7 of 13, 54%), and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (5 of 9, 56%).

The highest annual growth rate of antibiotic consumption was found in the eight countries of west Africa (7%), followed by China (7%) and Algeria (5%). Comparing 2021 to 2010, Access antibiotic consumption rose from less than 60% to higher than 60% in five countries (Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Vietnam, and Italy), while proportions of Access antibiotics in India, China, South Korea, and Japan continued to be lower than 60%.

"Although the proportion of Access drugs within global antibiotic consumption has been increasing, especially in developing countries, it remains below WHO's target of 60% in many countries," the authors wrote. "This gap highlights the urgent need for countries to reassess and strengthen their national antibiotic monitoring and management systems to align with WHO's target."

Minnesota records new measles case in unvaccinated child

News brief

Stephanie Soucheray, MA

sick child — tatyana_tomsickova / iStock

An unvaccinated child from Olmsted County, Minnesota, home to Rochester, has a confirmed case of measles.

"The individual is under the age of five, exhibiting symptoms, and has a recent history of international travel," the Olmsted County Public Health Services said in a press release. Officials said they were working with the state department of health to notify people who may have been exposed to the child. So far, at least four measles case-patients in Minnesota this year were exposed outside of the country.

Officials promote vaccination

County officials also urged residents to check their vaccination status. "The best way to prevent measles is through immunization. Children should receive two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine—the first at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years of age," they said.

The best way to prevent measles is through immunization

The state total is now at least 21 cases, still significantly lower than last year's total of 70 cases. In 2023, Minnesota reported zero cases, but officials confirmed 22 in 2022.

With 3rd case of locally acquired clade 1 mpox in California, officials warn of community spread

News brief

Jim Wappes

Officials with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and local health departments have confirmed a third case in Los Angeles County of the more severe clade 1 mpox infection that was locally acquired, according to a CDPH news release.

Officials say the three recent cases are unrelated. But the fact that all three people had not traveled internationally indicates that local person-to-person spread is likely. The New York Times reports that one patient is from Long Beach and the others are from Los Angeles, which is about 20 miles north.

All 3 patients required hospitalization

All three patients required hospital care and are recovering. "Local health departments and CDPH are conducting enhanced surveillance and contact tracing to identify any additional cases and prevent further transmission," the CDPH said. "At this time, the risk to the general public remains low."

The agency added, "These cases indicate that person-to-person community spread of clade I mpox is occurring in California, primarily impacting communities of gay and bisexual men, and other men who have sex with men, as well as their social networks. Prior cases of clade I mpox in the United States have been associated with international travel to areas where clade I mpox is circulating."

State officials urge people to get both doses of Jynneos mpox vaccine if they or their sex partners may be at risk for mpox.

These cases indicate that person-to-person community spread of clade I mpox is occurring in California, primarily impacting communities of gay and bisexual men.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that six previous US cases of clade 1 mpox involved people who traveled to countries in Central and East Africa that were experiencing clade 1 outbreaks. Those regions have recorded more than 40,000 clade 1 cases. "Both types [clade 1 and clade 2] spread the same way and can be prevented using the same methods," the CDC said.

Shingles vaccine tied to significant reductions in risk of dementia, heart disease, and death

News brief

Mary Van Beusekom, MS

Vaccination against herpes zoster (shingles) may reduce the risk of heart disease, dementia, and death in adults aged 50 and older, according to Case Western University research presented yesterday at IDWeek 2025 in Atlanta.

For the matched cohort study, the researchers analyzed electronic health record data from more than 174,000 patients at 107 US health systems. Follow-up was 3 months to 7 years after vaccination. The study has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster (chickenpox) virus, shingles causes a painful, itchy rash that follows a nerve, often accompanied by fever, headache, fatigue, and light sensitivity.

While the infection isn't life-threatening, it can lead to postherpetic neuralgia (long-term shingles pain), neurologic conditions, skin infections, and vision loss. Older people are at higher risk for shingles and its complications.

Vaccination with the Shingrix vaccine, approved in 2017, is recommended for people aged 50 years and older, regardless of shingles history or previous receipt of the now-discontinued Zostavax vaccine.

Potential 50% reduction in vascular dementia

Relative to pneumococcal vaccination, shingles vaccination was tied to a lower risk of vascular dementia (50%), blood clots (27%), heart attack or stroke (25%), and death (21%). The study authors said that the findings suggest that the shingles vaccine can prevent both infection and its complications.

Shingles is more than just a rash—it can raise the risk of serious problems for the heart and brain.

Ali Dehghani, DO

"Shingles is more than just a rash—it can raise the risk of serious problems for the heart and brain," presenting author Ali Dehghani, DO, doctor of internal medicine, said in the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) news release. "Our study findings show that the shingles vaccine may help lower those risks, especially in people already at higher risk for heart attack or stroke."

IDWeek is the annual meeting of IDSA, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the HIV Medicine Association, the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists.