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UK study details 118 cases of high-level antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea

In what appears to be an underreported outbreak, officials with Public Health England (PHE) yesterday in Eurosurveillance detailed 118 laboratory-confirmed cases of high-level azithromycin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, noting that cases emerged among heterosexuals in Leeds but then spread across England and into networks of men who have sex with men (MSM).

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

Study: Vancomycin alone insufficient for pediatric influenza-MRSA

A small study in Clinical Infectious Diseases has found that coinfection with influenza and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with high mortality in critically ill children, and that mortality was more than five times higher in children who received vancomycin monotherapy, a finding the authors say supports treatment with additional antibiotics in severe cases.

Ebola cases drop to 55 as more suspected cases ruled out

After officials received more test results from suspected cases, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dropped their Ebola case count to 55, including 28 deaths. There are now 38 confirmed cases, 14 probable cases, and 3 suspected cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an update.

Study links lower hospital antibiotic use with ASP components

An observational study of Canadian hospitals found that certain structural and strategic components of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are associated with lower antibiotic use, a team of Canadian researchers reported yesterday in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

Minnesota officials describe CRE caused by uncommon pathogens

Although carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE) involving Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter cause the most mortality and other clinical impact, CRE associated with less common genera may also cause detrimental infections, researchers with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Study finds nurses are overlooked in stewardship programs

Research presented at the 45th annual conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) suggests that nurses should play a bigger role in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs).

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

Study finds nurses are overlooked in stewardship programs

Research presented at the 45th annual conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) suggests that nurses should play a bigger role in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs).

Study shows how antibiotic regimen affects resistance in urinary E coli

A retrospective multicenter study showed a dose-response relationship between antimicrobial use and resistance in uropathogens in older adults, Belgian researchers reported yesterday in Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control.

Senators introduce bill to bolster oversight of antibiotics in food animals

Today Democratic US Senators Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) introduced the Strengthening Antibiotic Oversight Act to strengthen regulation of medically important antibiotics administered to food-producing animals.

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

Letter from chief medical officer cuts antibiotic prescribing

The Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government, in partnership with Australia's Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Department of Health, released a new report showing that targeting high-prescribing physicians with a letter from the CMO helped lower the number of antibiotic prescriptions within 6 months.

Financial incentives helped curb unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in NHS doctors

A financial incentive program for United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) local groups reduced antibiotic prescribing by general practitioners for common respiratory infections by 3%, a research team based at Imperial College London reported today in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

FDA issues antimicrobial sales reporting guidance for animal-drug makers

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday released guidance to help animal-drug makers meet requirements for reporting antimicrobial sales. The step follows the 2016 implementation of a final rule that revised annual reporting requirements for companies that sell or distribute antibiotics for use in food-producing animals.

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

Study: Stewardship module increases antimicrobial reviews, interventions

A new study by researchers with the University of Chicago Medical Center has found that use of a clinical decision support system at the hospital significantly increased the number of antimicrobial reviews and interventions while maintaining a sustained impact on antimicrobial utilization.

ECDC report shows rising resistance in gram-negative bacteria

A new European surveillance report shows rising resistance to key antibiotics, and increasing trends in multidrug resistance, in invasive gram-negative bacteria.

Investigation suggests carbapenemase-producing E coli passed from humans to dogs

Finnish researchers are reporting the first transmission of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli between humans and dogs.

Global review finds antibiotics frequently supplied without prescription

About three in four antibiotic requests and three in five consultations in community pharmacies around the world result in the sale of antibiotics without a prescription, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published yesterday in the Journal of Infection.

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

Global review finds antibiotics frequently supplied without prescription

About three in four antibiotic requests and three in five consultations in community pharmacies around the world result in the sale of antibiotics without a prescription, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published yesterday in the Journal of Infection.

Israeli program sees CRE rates cut in half during 7-year period

Israeli long-term care facilities (LTCFs) saw a 50% reduction in carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) during a 7-year national intervention program, according to a study today in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

UK launches research competition for AMR innovation

The UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) yesterday announced the launch of a £10 million ($13 million) research competition to fund innovative efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

FDA updates safety labels for fluoroquinolones

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday announced that it is updating the labels for fluoroquinolone antibiotics to strengthen warnings about the risk of mental health side effects and reduced blood sugar.

Carbapenemase-producing K pneumoniae in Greece now more resistant

An analysis of carbapenem-nonsusceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Greece has found increasing resistance to last-line antibiotics.

FDA issues azithromycin warning for cancer patients receiving stem cells

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued a warning about long-term azithromycin use in cancer patients who've undergone a donor stem cell transplant.