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A Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts from Nebraska-based SunSprout Enterprises has so far sickened 15 people.

Forty-four states reported very high (25) or high (19) flu activity, down from 48 the week before.

The case-fatality rate among confirmed cases was high, at 11% and 12% for 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Unvaccinated, infected inmates had an estimated 36% risk of spreading the virus, compared with 28% among infected vaccinees.

Nonspecific symptoms affected well-being the most: fatigue, confusion or lack of concentration, and sleep disorders.

The CDC is testing the Canadian samples to see if they are genetically related to poliovirus samples from New York.

Vaccination rates among US children aged 5 to 17 years varied widely by race as of August 2022.

The new cases are from Algeria, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The patient is from Hunan province's capital city, and the report didn't detail any poultry exposure.

One study looked at BA.5 infection after vaccination, while another examined vaccine effectiveness in children and adolescents.

Though many indicators declined, a 3-week-long drop in hospitalizations leveled off.

A high proportion of broad-spectrum antibiotic use could be replaced by narrower-spectrum or no antibiotic use, researchers report.

Second H1N2v flu case of 2017 reported in Ohio

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today confirmed a new case of variant H1N2 flu (H1N2v) in a child in Ohio, the second US case this year caused by that strain, and the 20th variant flu case of the year.

Another asymptomatic MERS case reported in a Saudi household contact

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) today reported another MERS-CoV case involving contact with another patient in Dumah Al Jandal.

It's not known if the new case is related to a hospital outbreak in that city first reported a month ago. The MOH on Aug 30 confirmed two similar MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases in the same city.

Study: CTX-M-27 gene emerging in clinical E coli isolates in Germany

German researchers have found a significant increase in strains of Escherichia coli carrying a gene linked to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production, according to a study yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

New case of MERS in Saudi Arabia linked to camels

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) noted a new case of MERS-CoV over the weekend in a person who had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for the virus.

A 57-year-old Saudi man from Hail was diagnosed as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) after presenting with symptoms of the virus. He is in critical condition.

Working group calls for better research for maternal influenza

The results of a World Health Organization (WHO) working group investigation into pregnancy and influenza research from 2014 to 2017 showed mixed results when it came to the extent that maternal vaccine protected pregnant women and infants up the age of 6 months from influenza.

Precision antimicrobial drug candidate has added benefits, study finds

A team of scientists in the United States and the United Kingdom have identified additional benefits in a new class of antibacterial compounds that specifically kill Clostridium difficile strains without disrupting beneficial bacteria in the gut, according to a study today in Science Translational Medicine.

Two new Saudi MERS cases announced as WHO details household cluster

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two new cases of MERS-CoV yesterday and today.

Yesterday, a 37-year-old Saudi man from Al Hofuf was diagnosed as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). He is in critical condition. The MOH said the source of his infection was primary, meaning he likely did not contract the disease from another person.

H5N8-H5N1 avian flu combo virus shows increased virulence in mice

In the latest gain-of-function (GOF) study, South Korean researchers have substituted genes from H5N1 avian influenza onto an H5N8 avian flu virus and found that it caused greater pathogenicity and up to a 1,000-fold greater virulence in mice.

Saudi Arabia reports new MERS case in Riyadh

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported another new case of MERS-CoV in Riyadh today.

A 48-year-old male expatriate from the capital city was diagnosed as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) after presenting with symptoms of the virus. He is in critical condition. The man's source of infection is listed as "pimary," meaning it's unlikely he contracted the virus from another person.

Study finds no link between flu vaccination, venous thromboembolism

Flu vaccination in adults ages 50 and older doesn't appear to raise the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a new study published in Vaccine that examined the connection between the two factors.

Study: ESBL-E present in 17% of pregnant, postpartum women in Africa

A systematic review by South African experts yesterday of 10 studies estimates the prevalence of colonization with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) at 17% in pregnant or postpartum African women, higher than women in middle- to high-income settings.

The results represent a risk for colonization of neonates with ESBL-E.

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

Study: ESBL-E present in 17% of pregnant, postpartum women in Africa

A systematic review by South African experts yesterday of 10 studies estimates the prevalence of colonization with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) at 17% in pregnant or postpartum African women, higher than women in middle- to high-income settings.

More children with asthma getting unnecessary antibiotics, study finds

New research presented today at the annual meeting of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) indicates that children with asthma are more likely to be prescribed antibiotics than those without a diagnosis of asthma, even though antibiotics are not recommended for asthma treatment.