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Israeli study finds antibiotics overused in some end-of-life patients

A survey of Israeli physicians and analysis of patient data has found that antibiotics are overused in patients with end-of-life advanced directives, Israeli researchers reported today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

Four European countries lose measles elimination status

As measles cases this year pile up in Europe, four European nations—Albania, the Czech Republic, Greece, and the United Kingdom—have lost their measles elimination status, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe said today.

FDA urges hospitals to start using duodenoscopes with disposable parts

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will now recommend that hospitals move away from using duodenoscopes with reusable parts because of concerns about patient infections that have been linked to cleaning issues.

Pakistan has 5 more polio cases; African countries report more positives

In the latest global polio developments, Pakistan reported five more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, while two African nations—Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—reported more positive circulating vaccine-derived polio type 2 (cVDPV2) detections. The details appear today in the weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

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

FDA urges hospitals to start using duodenoscopes with disposable parts

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will now recommend that hospitals move away from using duodenoscopes with reusable parts because of concerns about patient infections that have been linked to cleaning issues.

CARB-X to fund Group A Strep vaccine candidate

CARB-X today announced an award of more than $1.6 million to biopharmaceutical company SutroVax of Foster City, Calif., to develop a vaccine to prevent infections caused by Group A Streptococcus.

Genentech reports promising findings for baloxavir flu treatment in children

Genentech, part of the Roche Group, yesterday announced promising phase 3 trial findings for the use of one-dose baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza) to safely treat flu in children, according to results presented on Sep 1 during the Options X Congress in Singapore.

DRC confirms 6 more Ebola cases as schools open

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed 6 more Ebola infections, raising the overall outbreak total to 3,049, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) online dashboard today. Also, outbreak responders are still investigating 327 suspected cases.

Ten more people died from their infections, raising the fatality count to 2,045.

Trump administration sued over expanded use of antibiotics on citrus trees

The Center for Biological Diversity today sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for refusing to provide documents related to the EPA's decision to allow expanded use of medically important antibiotics on citrus trees.

Facebook announces new steps to combat vaccine misinformation

Facebook yesterday announced the launch of new features to battle vaccine misinformation on Facebook and Instagram, a move that was applauded by the World Health Organization (WHO).

More wild-type, vaccine-derived polio recorded in 5 countries

Two new cases of wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and several cases of vaccine-derived polio in a handful of other countries were noted today in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's (GPEI's) weekly update. Myanmar, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Ethiopia all recorded vaccine-derived cases.

Study links resistance rates with national income status

A study of antibiotic resistance surveillance systems and gross national income (GNI) in 67 countries suggests that low-income status is linked to higher rates of invasive infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens, German and Italian researchers reported today in The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

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

CDC reports 7 new measles cases, 1,241 total

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today it has received reports of 7 more measles cases last week, lifting the number of confirmed cases this year to 1,241 from 31 states. However, it noted that only 2 of the patients were recently sick and that the other 5 are past cases.

Study: Meropenem could be alternative treatment for bacterial meningitis

New data from a study by Swedish researchers indicates meropenem is an effective alternative empirical treatment option for adults who have community-acquired acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). The findings appeared yesterday in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

California bill toughening medical vaccine exemptions signed into law

California Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday signed two bills that limit medical exemptions for vaccines in schoolchildren.

DRC Ebola total grows by 7 more cases, to 3,091

Seven more confirmed Ebola infections were reported today in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), raising the outbreak's overall total to 3,091, according the World Health Organization (WHO) online Ebola dashboard. Health officials are also investigating 451 suspected cases.

One more person died from Ebola, listing the fatality count to 2,071.

Chick-fil-A reached goal of antibiotic-free chicken in all its restaurants

Chick-fil-A today announced it has reached its goal of serving only chicken raised without the routine use of antibiotics, an ambition it set in 2014, according to a company news release.

New confirmed cases raise DRC Ebola outbreak total to 3,099

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO's) online Ebola dashboard, officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed 8 new cases of the disease today, raising the outbreak's overall total to 3,099. Health officials are also investigating 409 suspected cases.

Three new deaths were also recorded, which moves the fatality count to 2,074, the WHO said.

India joins global effort to spur antibiotic research and development

India announced yesterday that it has joined the Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) Hub, becoming the 16th nation to join the global partnership.

Four countries report 8 new polio cases among them

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) said in its latest update today that four countries reported a total of eight new polio cases in the previous week, including vaccine-derived polio cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic.

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

India joins global effort to spur antibiotic research and development

India announced yesterday that it has joined the Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) Hub, becoming the 16th nation to join the global partnership.

Dengue surges in the Americas as Florida reports more local cases

With about 2.4 million dengue cases reported in the Americas so far, the 2019 total will probably top the number for the last epidemic year, which occurred in 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said its latest update late last week.

Study underscores need for early diagnostic tests in severe sepsis

US and Canadian researchers, writing in the Annals of Internal Medicine today, said they have determined that, among patients with severe manifestations of sepsis, initiation of empirical antimicrobial therapy significantly reduces the sensitivity of blood cultures drawn shortly after treatment began—underscoring the need for early diagnostic blood tests.

Massive DRC measles outbreak picks up more speed

A massive measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) accelerated again over the past few weeks, with spread to new areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office said yesterday in its weekly outbreaks and emergencies report.