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Phase 1 trial of first MERS vaccine shows strong immune response

Results from the world's first phase 1 trial of a vaccine against MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) demonstrated a strong immune response after two doses and a good safety profile. The trial involved 75 US Army volunteers and was published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Stewardship initiative linked to lower outpatient prescribing in NYC clinics

An effort to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in New York City hospitals was associated with a modest decrease in prescribing for acute respiratory infections (ARIs), according to a study today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

DRC Ebola cases rise by 10, to 2,630; Saudi Arabia suspends DRC visas

Ebola infections have been reported in 10 more people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) outbreak, raising the total to 2,630, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) online dashboard today. Health officials are still investigating 344 suspected cases.

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

Stewardship initiative linked to lower outpatient prescribing in NYC clinics

An effort to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in New York City hospitals was associated with a modest decrease in prescribing for acute respiratory infections (ARIs), according to a study today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

US measles total grows by 16 cases, to 1,164 total

Sixteen more measles cases were reported to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week, lifting the total for 2019 to 1,164. The number of affected states held steady at 30, according to the CDC's regular weekly update today.

Taco Bell to cut medically important antibiotics in beef supply by 25%

Taco Bell announced yesterday that it aims to reduce the amount of medically important antibiotics used in its US and Canadian beef supply chains by 25% by 2025.

Consumer Reports probe finds Listeria on leafy greens in several stores

Leafy greens from several grocery store chains tested positive for Listeria bacteria, in an experiment conducted by Consumer Reports that's kicked off an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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

Report shows decline in Australian antibiotic use

A report this week from Australian health officials shows a consistent decline in the country's antibiotic use.

More data needed for convalescent plasma COVID treatment, experts say

A review by members of the National Institutes of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel finds insufficient data to recommend for or against convalescent plasma for treating COVID-19.

WHO experts recommend strains for Southern Hemisphere 2021 flu vaccine

World Health Organization (WHO) flu vaccine advisors recently met to recommend the strains to include in vaccines for the Southern Hemisphere's 2021 season, which—when compared with the Northern Hemisphere upcoming-season version—swaps out the 2009 H1N1 strain.

US public sees frontline workers as first priority for COVID vaccine

A JAMA Network Open survey study of US adults' preferences for COVID-19 vaccine allocation in the event of a limited supply ranks frontline medical workers, high-risk children, and high-risk older adults as highest priority for vaccine distribution.

Review shows stewardship apps increase guideline accessibility

A review of studies analyzing use of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) apps found they may increase adherence to antibiotic prescribing guidelines, European researchers reported yesterday in PLOS One.

Cats and dogs susceptible to COVID-19 infection, study finds

Domestic cats and dogs are susceptible to infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a study yesterday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). While both types of animals showed an immune response to the virus, only cats demonstrated viral shedding, and neither animal model showed evidence for a significant role in human infection, the study found.

Dutch group recommends restrictive antibiotic use in COVID patients

Based on available evidence and antibiotic stewardship principles, a committee of Dutch clinicians and researchers is recommending restrictive use of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients, according to guidelines published yesterday in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

Loss of taste or smell accurately predicts COVID-19, study finds

A study shows four out of five people with recent loss of smell and/or taste tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, and 39.8% of those did not have a cough or fever.

Higher risk of COVID-19 death in Parkinson's patients, study finds

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a 30% higher risk of COVID-19 death, according to a University of Iowa news release yesterday and a recent study in Movement Disorders.

Early national study results indicate FMT safe, effective for C diff

Initial results from the FMT (fecal microbiota transplantation) National Registry indicate that FMT is highly effective for treating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), with a good safety profile, US researchers reported yesterday in Gastroenterology.

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

More mental health web searches detailed during NY COVID-19 lockdown

A JAMA study today analyzing trends in internet searches found increased queries for anxiety, panic attack, and insomnia during the New York statewide lockdown in March, with searches for depression and suicide remaining at expected levels.

CARB-X to fund development of novel antibacterial for pneumonia

CARB-X announced today that it is awarding up to $2.5 million to GangaGen Biotechnologies of Bangalore, India, to develop novel antibacterial proteins to treat hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

High rate of neurologic symptoms noted in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A study yesterday found an 82.3% rate of neurologic symptoms among 509 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, with some symptoms associated with increased death rates.

Diagnostic stewardship tied to fewer urine culture orders, hospital UTIs

A diagnostic stewardship program at a large Los Angeles hospital was associated with significantly reduced inpatient urine culture orders and rates of hospital-acquired catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), researchers reported today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients younger, healthier than flu patients

A study yesterday found that US patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are more likely to be male, younger, and have fewer comorbidities and lower medication use than hospitalized flu patients.

Study reveals prolonged COVID-19 symptoms in pregnant women

Most pregnant women with COVID-19 experience mild disease, but many have prolonged symptoms lasting weeks after infection, according to a large nationwide study yesterday in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

WHO advisors propose new vaccine virus strains for pandemic readiness

During recent meetings to recommend the flu strains to include in the Southern Hemisphere's 2021 flu season, the World Health Organization (WHO) advisory group also reviewed the latest developments with zoonotic strains and recommended two new candidate vaccine viruses for pandemic preparedness.