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

Increased sepsis risk found in patients previously treated with antibiotics

Originally published by CIDRAP News Nov 9

HHS report notes stewardship, resistance progress in the US

Almost two thirds of US hospitals now have full-scale antibiotic stewardship programs and the incidence of several antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections are declining in the country, according to a progress report on 2 years of US efforts to combat AMR, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said today.

MERS sickens 2 more in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two new cases of MERS-CoV infection today.

FDA launches Resistome Tracker to monitor antibiotic resistance

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today launched an interactive research tool called Resistome Tracker to track antibiotic-resistance genes.

ECDC publishes guidance on reducing CRE infections

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today published guidelines on screening for and prevention of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that include hospital stay, chemotherapy treatment, and link to a CRE carrier as risk factors.

More AFM cases in Illinois, Washington, Texas, New Jersey, New York

The health departments of Illinois and Washington state have reported nine and five cases of acute flaccid myelitis, respectively, and local media in Texas, New Jersey, and New York are also highlighting cases of the polio-like illness.

Study examines shorter IV antibiotics for group B strep bacteremia

A study yesterday in Pediatrics has found that, contrary to national guidelines, a portion of infants with uncomplicated, late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia are being treated with shortened intravenous (IV) antibiotic courses, with low rates of recurrence and treatment failure.

More vaccine-derived polio cases reported in Africa, Papua New Guinea

Four countries reported more vaccine-derived polio cases in ongoing outbreaks, according to the latest weekly update today from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) today.

Study examines shorter IV antibiotics for group B strep bacteremia

A study yesterday in Pediatrics has found that, contrary to national guidelines, a portion of infants with uncomplicated, late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia are being treated with shortened intravenous (IV) antibiotic courses, with low rates of recurrence and treatment failure.

New MERS case recorded in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded a new case of MERS-CoV over the weekend, the second case in epidemiologic week 41 (last week).

A 64-year-old man from Dawadmi, Riyadh region is hospitalized with a MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infection. The man had camel contact, one of the most common risk factors for MERS.

Study finds standard washing doesn't remove C diff from hospital sheets

A team of researchers from the United Kingdom report that Clostridioides difficile spores can survive on hospital sheets even after being washed with high-temperature water and industrial detergents, and that those spores could be contributing to outbreaks of C difficile infection (CDI) in hospitals.

Five more Ebola cases recorded in Beni, DRC

Late yesterday afternoon and today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced five more cases of Ebola virus disease in Beni and Butembo, the current epicenter of outbreak activity.

All three cases announced yesterday resulted in community deaths that involved safe and dignified burials in Beni, the country's health ministry said. Today two cases, one each in Beni and Butembo, were reported.

Almost 100 sick with multidrug-resistant Salmonella tied to raw chicken

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today announced a new outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Infantis infections tied to raw chicken products.

MERS superspreader study highlights risk in cardiac, renal patients

Difficulty distinguishing pneumonia from volume overload in a patient with renal failure delayed a MERS-CoV diagnosis at a Riyadh hospital last year, which led to a superspreading event that sickened 44 people at three health facilities, Saudi researchers reported in the American Journal of Infection Control.

USDA study finds several factors fueling rise in food recalls

The average yearly number of food recalls increased from 2004 to 2013, probably because of several factors, including an increase in food volume sold and improvements in pathogen detection technology, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service reported yesterday.

New MERS cases, deaths reported in Saudi Arabia

After several days without updates, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed three new cases of MERS-CoV today and one death. The MOH has issued only sporadic updates this month; this is the first update since Apr 9.

New colistin resistance gene identified in Chinese poultry

Chinese scientists have discovered another colistin resistance gene in bacteria isolated from chickens, according to a study yesterday in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

WHO: Pockets of activity remain at end of flu season  

Flu is dropping to off-season levels in most of the Northern Hemisphere, except Eastern Europe, according to the latest global flu update from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Romaine-linked E coli outbreak expands to 5 more states as cases rise to 53

An Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to chopped romaine lettuce has sickened 18 more people, with five more states reporting illnesses, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday in an update.

WHO identifies international cities most at risk for yellow fever

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new assessment of international cities most at risk for yellow fever transmission, and Miami made the cut.

The study used flight data from 2016 to track cities that play host to both the Aedes aegypti mosquito (the vector that carries yellow fever) and visitors from yellow fever–endemic areas.

Good news about UK 'super gonorrhea' case—but 2 new infections noted

UK officials today report good news on the outcome of the man treated for a highly resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, but they also note two similar cases in Australia.

CDC expands E coli warning to all Yuma-grown romaine lettuce

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today expanded its warning to consumers to include all types of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Ariz., growing area, based on new information from Alaska that sick people ate lettuce from whole heads of romaine.

Eastern sub-Saharan Africa experienced the largest increase in life expectancy, 10.7 years.

Four dead in multistate Listeria outbreak tied to mushrooms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday announced a deadly Listeria outbreak today linked to enoki mushrooms distributed by Sun Hong Foods, Inc.

MDR Klebsiella cluster detected in Arizona nursing home

A paper today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes a small cluster of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae detected at an Arizona nursing home.