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WHO: Brisk flu activity reported in several countries

Flu is rising in several parts of the world, with 2009 H1N1 dominant, but many locations experiencing H3N2 circulation, as well, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in a global flu update, covering activity through Feb 3.

Four new MERS cases recorded in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) today recorded four more MERS-CoV cases for epidemiologic week 8, including three in Wadi ad-Dawasir.

The latest cases raise Saudi Arabia's MERS-CoV  (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) total since the first of the year to 69, with 44 of those cases recorded in Wadi ad-Dawasir.

Nursing home stewardship program focuses on undocumented UTIs

An antimicrobial stewardship intervention targeted to rural nursing homes in Alberta, Canada, significantly decreased the level of urine culture testing and antibiotic prescribing without an increase in hospitalization or mortality, Canadian researchers reported today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

MERS infects 1 more in Saudi Arabian hospital outbreak

Saudi Arabia today reported one more MERS-CoV infection, another apparently linked to an ongoing hospital-related outbreak in Wadi ad-Dawasir, according to a Ministry of Health (MOH) update to its epidemiologic week 8 report.

Genomic analysis shows UK, Australian XDR gonorrhea cases are related

An international team of scientists reported today in Eurosurveillance that the three extensively drug-resistant (XDR) gonorrhea cases identified in Australia and the United Kingdom in 2018 were caused by a single XDR clone.

European interim flu vaccine tracking finds moderate effectiveness

An early look at this season's flu vaccine in Europe shows that protection against influenza A has ranged between  32% and 43% across all patients seen at clinics and hospitals and was 59% in groups targeted for vaccination, according to findings from six European studies published today in Eurosurveillance.

Nursing home survey highlights antibiotic overuse for skin infections

A study today in Epidemiology and Infection reports that less than a third of the residents in Australian nursing homes who were prescribed an antimicrobial for a skin infection had a confirmed bacterial infection.

CDC ends probe of Salmonella raw chicken outbreak after 129 cases

Without being able to pinpoint a specific source of contamination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday declared an end to its investigation of an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Infantis infections after confirming 129 cases in 32 states, including 25 hospitalizations and 1 death.

Nursing home survey highlights antibiotic overuse for skin infections

A study today in Epidemiology and Infection reports that less than a third of the residents in Australian nursing homes who were prescribed an antimicrobial for a skin infection had a confirmed bacterial infection.

Saudi Arabia records 7 new MERS cases, including 3 in Wadi ad-Dawasir

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) announced seven new cases of MERS-CoV over the weekend, recorded in reports for epidemiologic weeks 8 and 9. Three of the cases are in Wadi ad-Dawasir, two of which appear to be part of an ongoing hospital outbreak.  

Patients in the neurologic cohort were more likely to die post-discharge compared to controls.

Ohio and Florida data show more Republican excess COVID-19 deaths

New statistics from Ohio and Florida published by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) show that Republicans have suffered more COVID-related excess deaths than Democrats, adding to the literature that demonstrates the link between political party affiliation, vaccination uptake, and COVID-19 mortality.

Antibiotic eye drops linked to shorter symptom duration for conjunctivitis

A randomized clinical trial and meta-analysis of previous trials found that topical antibiotics were associated with significantly shorter symptom duration in children with acute infective conjunctivitis, researchers reported today in JAMA Network Open.

BARDA to fund development of antibiotic for melioidosis

Venatorx Pharmaceuticals announced this week that it has received a contract from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop the combination antibiotic cefipime-taniborbactam for treatment of melioidosis.

CDC issues Ebola alert for clinicians, officials announce airport screening

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged clinicians to consider Ebola and other viral hemorrhagic fever illness in the workup of people who have symptoms of the diseases and to immediately take a travel history with an eye toward identifying those who have been in parts of Uganda affected by the recent Ebola Sudan outbreak.

Trial supports shorter antibiotic course for Lyme symptoms

The results of a randomized clinical trial in Slovenia suggest that a 7-day course of antibiotics for a rash caused by Lyme disease is noninferior to a 14-day course, researchers reported yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Kids with preexisting illness at highest risk for severe COVID-19, death

Children who had an underlying illness were at greatest risk for severe COVID-19 and death, but those who were vaccinated were fairly well protected, according to an observational study presented this week at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition in Anaheim, California.

Our weekly wrap-up of antimicrobial stewardship & antimicrobial resistance scans

Trial supports shorter antibiotic course for Lyme symptoms

The results of a randomized clinical trial in Slovenia suggest that a 7-day course of antibiotics for a rash caused by Lyme disease is noninferior to a 14-day course, researchers reported yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Non-prescription antibiotic dispensing common in Ethiopian pharmacies

A simulated client study in Ethiopia found a high rate of non-prescription antibiotic dispensing at community pharmacies, researchers reported today in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

Study finds boosters give good protection against Omicron hospital cases

A US study of almost 17,000 patients finds modest two-dose Pfizer COVID vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization and emergency department (ED) admission for Omicron BA.1 (the original Omicron variant) and the BA.2 subvariant, but three-dose VE was 79% and 71% for hospitalization, respectively, and 72% and 21%  for ED visits.

New global estimate suggests 6.2% had long-COVID symptoms

A new global estimate of people who experienced long-COVID symptoms after having symptomatic COVID infection suggests that 6.2% reported one of three long-term symptom clusters, an international research group reported yesterday in JAMA.

Report: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales rose in Latin America

A report today in Emerging Infectious Diseases highlights increased detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) in Latin America and the Caribbean during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccines may help prevent placentitis, stillbirth in pregnancy

COVID-19 vaccination may protect pregnant women and their fetuses against virus-related placentitis (inflammation of the placenta) and stillbirth, concludes a review study published today in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. The research will also be presented next week at ID Week in Washington, DC.

3 of 4 US high school students report bad experiences during COVID

Nearly three of four US high school students report one or more adverse experiences contributing to poor mental health and suicidal behaviors amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

COVID booster halved severe illness, but some groups still at higher risk

A study of 30 million people in the United Kingdom finds that 0.4% of people who completed their primary COVID-19 vaccine series had severe breakthrough infections, compared with 0.2% of booster recipients, during Omicron variant predominance.