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Contagious SARS-CoV-2 isolated from air in hospital patients' room

Live SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was isolated from air samples collected 2 to 4.8 meters (6.6 to 15.7 feet) away from two coronavirus patients—one recently released and one newly admitted—in a single hospital room, according to a study published yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Phase 3 trial shows some promise for bacteriophages for UTI treatment

The results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial show that intravesical bacteriophage treatment was non-inferior to standard-of-care antibiotic treatment and safe for treating urinary tract infection (UTI) patients, but it was not superior to placebo in terms of efficacy or safety, researchers reported yesterday in the Lancet Infectious Diseases.

High COVID-19 viral load in hospital patients tied to higher risk for death

High SARS-CoV-2 viral load at hospital admission may place patients with and without cancer at higher risk for death, a new multicenter observational study published in Cancer Cell suggests.

Wisconsin officials to collect deer heads to track chronic wasting disease

To better track the neurologic chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking hunters for deer heads from harvested deer and will have a digital option for entering CWD testing information, according to a DNR news release yesterday.

Certain underlying conditions stand out as COVID-19 hospitalization risk factors

Increased age, male sex, non-Hispanic black ethnicity, and certain underlying health conditions are associated with a greater risk of hospitalization from COVID-19, according to an analysis of data from more than 5,000 hospitalized adults. A group based at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported its findings today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

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

Report highlights ideas to improve UK government's AMR response

A report today from a British think tank says critical gaps remain in the United Kingdom's efforts to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and it calls for more focus on vaccines, diagnostic, and public awareness.

COVID-19 pandemic tied to worse stress, depression among US adults

Acute stress and depression rates rose in US adults as COVID-19 cases and deaths accumulated from mid-March to mid-April, largely related to preexisting mental and physical conditions and stressors such as job and wage loss, according to a study of 6,514 people from three large, nationally representative cohorts.

CARB-X to fund development of drug for E coli urinary infections

CARB-X announced today that it will award drug maker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) up to $7.51 million to develop a drug to treat and prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by Escherichia coli.

Massachusetts reports fifth EEE case of the year

Health officials in Massachusetts recently reported the state's fifth eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) case of the year, involving a woman in her 60s who was exposed in Plymouth County, where a similar was detected earlier this month in an area known to be at higher risk.

Asymptomatic COVID in healthcare workers points to risk of silent spread 

A study released this week shows a 40% asymptomatic rate among healthcare workers (HCW) testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at the time of screening—meaning they had no symptoms compatible with a COVID-19 diagnosis—raising concerns about silent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings. 

Florida reports more dengue cases in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties

The Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) this week announced that a second local dengue case has been reported from Miami-Dade County, and last week it confirmed another local dengue case in Monroe County, raising the total in the county, which includes the Florida Keys, to 56.

Inflammation linked to higher death risk, could shed light on COVID in men

A large study of German patients presented online at this week's European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Conference on Coronavirus Disease found that men have a 62% higher risk of death from COVID-19, possibly due to higher levels of inflammation.

Demographics, underlying conditions tied to worse COVID in health workers

Today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) provides updated information from voluntary reports on 100,570 healthcare personnel (HCP) with COVID-19 from February to July that shows variations in risk, including higher death rates in minority workers.

Salmonella outbreak tied to dried mushrooms sickens 41 in 10 states

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday announced a Salmonella Stanley outbreak linked to dried mushrooms in dishes served at ramen restaurants that has so far sickened 41 people in 10 states.

H1N2v flu case reported in Canada

Health Canada yesterday announced that a rare variant H1N2 (H1N2v) influenza case has been confirmed in Alberta, marking the province's only flu case reported so far this season.

COVID-19 jail outbreak curbed using network-informed steps, CDC says

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Chicago area analyzed movement networks during a COVID-19 outbreak at the Cook County Jail in Chicago, finding that medical isolation and contact interventions were effective at reducing transmission.

Study finds greater severity, disability in COVID-19 strokes

A University College London (UCL) and UCL Hospital study this week found that COVID-19–associated ischemic strokes—caused by an obstruction of blood vessels in the brain—are more severe and more likely to result in disability or death than non-COVID strokes are, and Asian people are especially hard-hit.

UK study finds CRP tests tied to lower antibiotic prescribing for cough

The use of point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) tests in primary care practices reduced the odds of prescribing antibiotics for cough by 21%, a non-significant but clinically relevant reduction, researchers reported yesterday in Eurosurveillance.

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

UK study finds CRP tests tied to lower antibiotic prescribing for cough

The use of point-of-care C-reactive protein (CRP) tests in primary care practices reduced the odds of prescribing antibiotics for cough by 21%, a non-significant but clinically relevant reduction, researchers reported yesterday in Eurosurveillance.

At least 9% of COVID-19 patients readmitted within 2 months, study finds

In a Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (MMWR) study today, data from the Premier Healthcare Database showed that, of 106,543 patients who survived after being admitted for COVID-19 from March through July, 9,504 (8.9%) were readmitted to the same hospital within 2 months of discharge for any condition, infectious disease–related or not.

Italian study finds daily ID consults linked to reduced hospital antibiotics

Daily infectious disease (ID) consultation in an Italian hospital was associated with reduced antibiotic consumption compared with weekly ID consultation, Italian researchers reported late last week in BMC Infectious Diseases.

Study finds 46% of high-risk adults endangered by workplace exposure

A study yesterday found that employment-related exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, endangers workers and their household members.

CARB-X supports bacteriophage therapy for recurrent urinary infections

CARB-X announced today that it is awarding up to $2.05 million to Locus Biosciences of Morrisville, North Carolina, to develop a CRISPR-Cas3-enhaced bacteriophage for treating recurring urinary tract infections caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Older people more likely to embrace COVID prevention steps, study finds

A PLOS One study yesterday showed that behavioral responses to the pandemic differ by age and change over time, with older people more likely to practice pandemic-mitigating behaviors—hygiene, quarantining, and physical distancing—and all age-groups demonstrating greater likelihood of engaging in risky behavior over time.  

Study finds frequent use of key antibiotics in 4 low-resource nations

A study of community-level antibiotic use in patients in four low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) found frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics considered at risk of becoming ineffective owing to rising antibiotic resistance, an international team of researchers reported today in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.