Search

SARS-CoV-2 mutation leads to resistance to remdesivir in 2 patients

A report published yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases describes a new SARS-CoV-2 mutation that confers resistance to the COVID-19 antiviral drug remdesivir in two persistently infected kidney transplant recipients treated with immunosuppressive drugs.

Trial supports protocol for reducing antibiotics in suspected sepsis cases

An opt-out protocol for antibiotic de-escalation in patients with suspected sepsis resulted in more antibiotic discontinuations and less exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, with no evidence of harm, according to the results of a randomized controlled trial published today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

High-flow oxygen not better than standard O2 in COVID respiratory failure

High-flow oxygen didn't significantly lower death rates beyond those of standard oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure, according to a multicenter randomized clinical trial published yesterday in JAMA.

COVID Omicron variant shown to spread better in households than Delta

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is much more transmissible among household members than Delta, with an estimated secondary attack rate (SAR) from thrice-vaccinated index patients of 46%, compared with 11% for Delta, finds a study published today in Nature Communications.

The SAR is the percentage of contacts who become infected by an index (initial) patient.

UK report shows rise in resistant, sexually transmitted Shigella

A report yesterday from the United Kingdom's Health Security Agency (HSA) shows sexually transmitted Shigella infections are rising again in England after falling during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wide healthcare transmission of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella noted

A multicenter US study identified widespread nosocomial transmission of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) within and between healthcare settings, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Ebola Sudan infects 4 more in Uganda, 54 total

Uganda's health ministry on Twitter today reported four more lab-confirmed Ebola Sudan cases, as well as one more death in a patient with a confirmed infection. The developments push the country's overall total to 54 cases, 35 of them confirmed and 19 listed as probable. The latest death brings Uganda's fatality count to 25, 7 in confirmed patients and 18 in people who had probable infections.

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

Wide healthcare transmission of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella noted

A multicenter US study identified widespread nosocomial transmission of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) within and between healthcare settings, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Study: Paxlovid effective for COVID-19, not tied to higher risk of rebound

The oral antiviral drug Paxlovid is safe and effective for treating COVID-19 and carries no additional risk of viral rebound beyond other treatments, according to a meta-analysis published late last week in the Journal of Infection.

CDC, FDA investigate multistate Listeria outbreak

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to brie and camembert cheeses.

Stewardship steps help Singapore hospital cut broad-spectrum antibiotics

A study conducted in a hospital with high rates of antibiotic resistance in Singapore found that sequential implementation of two antimicrobial stewardship interventions was associated with reduced use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, researchers reported yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

Neurologic illness may affect 1 in 8 hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Nearly 13% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had serious neurologic illnesses in the first year of the pandemic, suggests an international study published last week in Critical Care Explorations.

Two doses of J&J, Pfizer vaccines effective against Omicron variant

A study of more than 160,000 COVID-19 tests of South African healthcare workers concludes that two doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines are about 71% effective against hospitalization caused by Omicron 1 to 2 months after the second dose, with little waning at 5 months or longer.

DRC announces third Ebola case in Equateur province outbreak

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported one more Ebola case in its latest outbreak in Equateur province in the country's northwest, raising the total to three, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office.

WHO report highlights global toll of healthcare-associated infections

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a report highlighting the threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the role that infection prevention and control (IPC) programs can play in reducing that threat.

Over 40% of COVID patient stool samples had viral RNA but no live virus

Over 40% of 79 stool samples from COVID-19 patients admitted to one of four hospitals in Spain contained SARS-CoV-2 RNA but no live virus, suggesting a negligible ability to replicate in this medium and a very low likelihood of fecal-oral viral transmission, finds a study published yesterday in Scientific Reports.

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

WHO report highlights global toll of healthcare-associated infections

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a report highlighting the threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the role that infection prevention and control (IPC) programs can play in reducing that threat.

Australian coalition to address antibiotic resistance in food, agribusiness

A coalition of 70 organizations in Australia is joining forces to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food and agribusiness industries.

Study: Dogs can sniff out COVID-19 infections with high success rates

In a study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, researchers showed canine olfaction—or dog sniffing—was both highly sensitive and specific when it came to identifying patients with COVID-19, even those who were asymptomatic or presymptomatic.

Study details risk factors for maternal COVID-19 death in Latin America

An observational study using a multinational database of 447 maternal COVID-19 deaths in Latin America reveals that over 90% were attributed to acute respiratory failure after severe infection and that 35% of the women who died were never admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), possibly due to lack of capacity.

High antimicrobial use observed in NYC hospitals in first pandemic year

A study of three hospitals in New York City found that antimicrobial use in COVID-19 patients during the first year of the pandemic far exceeded the incidence of coinfections, researchers reported today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.

Mix-and-match mRNA COVID vaccines may offer more Omicron protection

Researchers in Singapore discovered that a Moderna COVID booster following a two-dose Pfizer vaccine series induced a stronger neutralizing antibody response against the Omicron variant in adults compared with an all-Pfizer series, according to a study today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Study suggests link between diet and antibiotic resistance in gut bacteria

A study published yesterday in mBio suggests a diverse, high-fiber diet is associated with fewer antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in gut bacteria.

Moderna vaccine up to 88% effective against COVID in kids 6 to 11 years

Estimated effectiveness of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine against infection in children 6 to 11 years old was 88% at least 14 days after the first dose amid the Delta variant surge, before the emergence of Omicron, finds an interim analysis from a phase 2/3 clinical trial.

Avian flu infects Minnesota fox kit; more poultry outbreaks in 4 states

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) yesterday announced that a wild fox in Anoka County near Minneapolis has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian flu, which follows similar detections in Canadian foxes that marked the first known wild mammal infections in North America.