Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

New Omicron subvariant mutation tied to kids' neurologic complications

Researchers in Taiwan have discovered a new mutation in the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.3.7 subvariant that they suggest may be responsible for severe neurologic complications observed in young children on the island. Their study was published yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Vaccinated medical conference attendees had low rates of COVID-19

Today JAMA Network Open published a study showing a 1.8% COVID-19 infection rate among in-person attendees at a February 2022 Academic Surgical Congress conference in Florida in which 100% of participants were vaccinated and 92% were boosted.

CDC director endorses updated COVID booster recommendation

Soon after vaccine advisors to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday voted to recommend updated COVID boosters that target the original virus plus the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendation, paving the way for immunization to begin.

CDC urges providers to watch for variant flu infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday urged health providers to ask patients with suspected flu infections outside of the regular flu season to ask about any recent exposure to pigs.

Algorithm may aid appropriate antibiotic prescribing for kids with diarrhea

A randomized trial of children with diarrhea in two low-income countries found that use of an algorithm to predict the likelihood of viral etiology resulted in reduced antibiotic use in children who had a higher likelihood of viral illness, researchers reported today in JAMA Pediatrics.

Long COVID relatively rare in children and teens, study suggests

A study published yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that long COVID is uncommon in children and teens and that risk factors include severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, younger age, and complex underlying chronic diseases.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines long COVID as continuous, relapsing, or new symptoms or conditions persisting at least 1 month after the initial infection.

Danish study supports shorter antibiotics course for pneumonia

A study of hospitalized pneumonia patients in Denmark found similar outcomes between short-course and prolonged-course antibiotic therapy, Danish researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

Adults with vision and hearing disabilities had lower COVID vaccination rates

Adults with blindness and deafness were less likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a large study of adults published today in an early online edition of JAMA Ophthalmology.

Canada's border closures may have stemmed COVID-19 variant imports

Dynamic restrictions on nonessential foreign travel into Canada helped slow COVID-19 variant introductions in early 2020 and 2021, allowing the government more time to scale up vaccination, testing, and contact tracing programs, according to a study published yesterday in eLife.

Non-restrictive stewardship intervention tied to less fluoroquinolone use

A non-restrictive antibiotic stewardship intervention was associated with reduced fluoroquinolone prescribing at two community hospitals in Los Angeles, researchers reported yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.