Salmonella

US detects H5N1 avian flu in wild duck as Europe, Africa note more H5N1

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Jan 14 announced that highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was detected in a wild wigeon in South Carolina, marking the first time the Eurasian strain of the virus has been detected in the United States since 2016.

The finding follows the recent detection of high-path H5N1 in wild birds and poultry in Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador region.

US COVID vaccination may have saved 240,000 lives in first 6 months

The US COVID-19 vaccination program may have averted 14 million infections, saved more than 240,000 lives, and prevented upwards of 1.1 million hospitalizations in the first half of 2021, according to estimates from a modeling study yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

Study finds high level of inappropriate testing for fungal disease

A study conducted at a large teaching hospital in Tokyo found that most tests used to diagnose invasive fungal disease were inappropriate, Japanese researchers reported yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Death rate 68% lower in COVID outpatients sent text message check-ins

An automated text messaging system for adult COVID-19 outpatients developed at Penn Medicine saved two lives a week during the first US pandemic surge, and users were 68% less likely than controls to die, finds a study today in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Large study shows high protection of 3 vs 2 Pfizer COVID vaccine doses

A third Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine dose is 92% more effective in reducing severe COVID-related outcomes than two doses of the same vaccine received at least 5 months previously, according to a large real-world study late last week in The Lancet.

New case in Salmonella outbreak, while probe into another one ends

Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added 1 case and 3 hospitalizations to a multistate Salmonella outbreak—now at 21 cases—tied to salami sticks sold at Trader Joe's and Wegmans, and earlier this week the agency declared its investigation into a Salmonella outbreak tied to Italian-style meats over after 40 cases in 17 states.

First responders may have higher COVID-19 risk than healthcare workers

First responders' risk for COVID-19 infection is about 60% more than other essential workers, including healthcare workers (HCWs), according to a study published late last week in JAMA Health Forum.

Data show low antibiotic prescribing, UTI misdiagnosis on mental health units

A review of antibiotic prescribing at Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) mental health units found that only 1 in 10 patients were exposed to antibiotics, but urinary tract infections (UTIs) appeared to be frequently misdiagnosed, researchers reported today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Overweight, obesity linked to more, longer mild COVID-19 symptoms

COVID-19 outpatients were more likely to have more respiratory symptoms if they were overweight or obese, according to a study published yesterday in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.

Estimate: 1 in 500 US children, 65% of them minorities, orphaned by COVID

More than 140,000 US children lost a parent or other caregiver from COVID-19 during the pandemic, representing one caregiver loss for every four coronavirus deaths, suggests a modeling study today in Pediatrics.