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Study notes postpartum depression in new moms early in pandemic

More than a third of new mothers early in the COVID-19 pandemic had symptoms of postpartum (after-birth) depression—nearly triple pre-pandemic levels—and one in five had major depressive symptoms, with symptoms for both disorders higher in women who fed their babies formula, according to a study yesterday in BMC Research Notes.

Avian flu appears in Nebraska backyard flock

Raising the number of states to report highly pathogenic avian flu in backyard flocks or commercial poultry this year to 15, federal and state officials today announced the first outbreak in Nebraska. In related developments, Missouri reported another outbreak in backyard poultry, and federal officials reported more H5 detections in wild birds, including the first in Ohio and Illinois.

Israeli study points to modest 4-dose vaccine protection against Omicron

Four-dose efficacy of mRNA vaccines against symptomatic Omicron COVID-19 infection is modest, according to a research letter yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine that described a small study in Israel.

Hydrogen peroxide contamination tied to less C difficile infection

Implementation of a touchless hydrogen peroxide decontamination system at an acute care hospital was associated with a significant reduction in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) rates over a 10-year period, researchers reported today in the American Journal of Infection Control.

COVID-19 patients may owe thousands for after-hospital care

Even when insurance companies waived charges for COVID-19 hospitalizations, 10% of patients still had out-of-pocket costs of $2,000 or more for care that took place in the 6 months after they were released, finds a new study in the American Journal of Managed Care.

US flu activity continues slow rebound

Flu activity continued to rise in most of the nation last week, with three more pediatric flu deaths reported, but markers are still below epidemic baselines, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest update.

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

Study finds dramatic drop in antimicrobial use in Japan in 2020

Japan saw a marked reduction in antimicrobial use (AU) in 2020 that's linked to the COVID-19 pandemic but could also reflect increased antimicrobial stewardship, according to a study yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Alcohol deaths increased during first year of COVID-19 pandemic

Alcohol-related deaths increased by 25% in the United States during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study in JAMA based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Fewer antibiotics for non-COVID patients with fever, respiratory symptoms

Researchers at a hospital in China found an 8.3% decline in antibiotic use among patients with non-COVID fever and respiratory symptoms during the pandemic, likely because of heightened awareness of viral pathogens, according to a study published late last week in the Journal of Infection.

Study shows efficient deer-to-deer SARS-CoV-2 transmission

A US study shows that white-tailed deer (WTD) inoculated with COVID-19–causing SARS-CoV-2 shed infectious virus for up to 5 days, resulting in efficient deer-to-deer transmission on day 3, findings the authors say highlight the potential for deer to become a reservoir for the virus.

Project will analyze hospital wastewater for antibiotics, resistant bacteria

The Partnership for European Environmental Research (PEER) yesterday reported the launch of a new project that will use hospital wastewater to assess how antimicrobial stewardship programs are affecting levels of antibiotics and resistant bacteria released into the environment.

Vaccination after COVID-19 hospital stay may protect against long COVID

A study yesterday in Clinical Microbiology and Infection suggests that natural infection, but not immunity acquired from COVID-19 vaccinations, is linked to the development of long COVID-19, or symptoms that persist up to a year after acute infection.

First detection of CWD in new area of Minnesota triggers guidance update

For the first time, a wild white-tailed deer has been found with chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the city limits of Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, triggering the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to update surveillance plans across the state.

South Dakota and Maine report more high-path avian flu outbreaks

South Dakota reported three more highly pathogenic avian flu outbreaks on commercial poultry farms, while Maine reported another detection in a backyard flock, according to the latest updates from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

NFL games didn't contribute to county COVID-19 spread, study suggests

National Football League (NFL) games played with fans in the 2020 season, with mask mandates and physical distancing in place, had no effect on COVID-19 infections in the surrounding county, suggests a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Delta, Omicron COVID-19 variants caused more cases in pregnant women

The highly transmissible Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants caused triple and 10 times the rate of COVID-19 infections in pregnant women compared with other strains, with most cases among unvaccinated mothers and their newborns, finds a prospective study yesterday in JAMA.

Study finds high childhood antibiotic exposure in low-resource countries

A study this week in Clinical Infectious Diseases reveals high levels of childhood antibiotic exposure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

US chikungunya cases reach 1,200

As of Sep 30, 86 new cases of chikungunya were brought into the United States by travelers, most of them visiting or coming from the Caribbean, according to this week's update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This brings the total count of imported cases to 1,200. Additionally, Florida has reported 11 locally acquired cases, a number that held steady since last week.

New guide seeks better collaboration at animal-human health interface

A newly released guide developed by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) aims to strengthen the capacity worldwide for collaboration and coordination between national public health and national animal health authorities.

Saudi Arabia reports 2 new MERS cases, 2 deaths

Two new MERS cases were confirmed in Taif, Saudia Arabia, in recent days, while the country's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported deaths in two other case-patients.

Enterovirus D68 count reaches 628 cases in 44 states

Another 34 patients have tested positive for enterovirus D68 (EV-D68), raising the US total to 628 cases, and Florida has recorded its first confirmed case, according to today's update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Cases have now been confirmed in 44 states, the CDC reported. The only states with no confirmed cases are Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee, Alaska, and Hawaii.

World Bank: Ebola regional impact could soon reach $33 billion

The economic impact of Ebola on West Africa could range from $3.8 billion to $32.6 billion by the end of next year, depending on how quickly it can be contained and how far it spreads in the region, the World Bank reported today in a press release.

EV-D68 associated with another death, as US cases climb

Federal health officials reported today that enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has been detected in another patient who died recently, as the case count rose to 664 and Tennessee joined the list of affected states.

Today's update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put the number of deaths of EV-D68-infected patients at five, one more than before, but it provided no details about the case.

IDWeek study shows antibiotic stewardship tied to shorter hospital stay

Findings presented at a major infectious disease conference in Philadelphia today suggest that hospital antibiotic stewardship programs can pay unexpected benefits in children.

New estimates put price of US foodborne disease at $15.6 billion per year

Costs associated with foodborne illnesses in the United States total more than $15.6 billion annually, according to a data product released Oct 7 by the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Economic Research Service containing updated estimates.