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Study: Standard gonorrhea treatment superior to solithromycin

Solithromycin, a novel fourth-generation macrolide, isn't a suitable alternative to standard therapy of ceftriaxone plus azithromycin for treating gonorrhea, according to a study yesterday by researchers from Australia and the United States in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Canada's public health chief offers prescription for preserving antibiotics

Canada's chief public health officer, Theresa Tam, BMBS, issued a report this week aiming to raise awareness among both the public and healthcare professionals about the needless use of antibiotics and how to preserve the drugs' effectiveness.

Nebraska issues alert about highly resistant Enterobacteriaceae

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) yesterday issued a health alert about an increase in carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE) cases this year. After detecting 7 each year in 2017 and 2018, officials have already confirmed 12 CP-CRE infections so far this year.

T2Bacteria panel shown to accurately detect ESKAPE bacteria in BSIs

A diagnostic accuracy study has determined that the T2Bacteria Panel rapidly and accurately diagnoses bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by five common pathogenic bacteria, according to a study today in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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

Study finds physician education tied to fewer urgent antibiotics

A study involving nine emergency departments and acute care centers in California and Colorado found that educating physicians and patients about safe antibiotic use was tied to a 34% drop in inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, but the absolute reduction was fairly small because levels were already low to begin with.

Joint Commission announces stewardship measures for ambulatory care

The Illinois-based Joint Commission, which accredits healthcare facilities for receipt of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, has created five new performance measures for antimicrobial stewardship requirements in ambulatory care centers, the commission announced yesterday.

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

Joint Commission announces stewardship measures for ambulatory care

The Illinois-based Joint Commission, which accredits healthcare facilities for receipt of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, has created five new performance measures for antimicrobial stewardship requirements in ambulatory care centers, the commission announced yesterday.

Compliance with CDC stewardship elements linked to higher antibiotic use

In a surprise finding, an analysis of US hospitals today in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology has found that meeting all seven of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) core elements of hospital antibiotic stewardship programs is associated with higher use of certain antibiotics than meetings six or fewer elements.

High-level azithromycin-resistant gonorrhea increases in Taiwan

A study yesterday in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy details the emergence of gonorrhea strains with high-level resistance to azithromycin in Taiwan.

Meta-analysis finds little use for procalcitonin in guiding CAP treatment

A meta-analysis of 12 studies indicates that serum procalcitonin levels are unlikely to help clinicians determine whether community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults requires antibiotics, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Dentist survey finds antimicrobial overprescribing may be common

A survey of Japanese dentists indicates that attitudes toward antimicrobial prophylaxis vary widely, with many reporting going against current guidelines, Japanese researchers reported today in a letter in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

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

Dentist survey finds antimicrobial overprescribing may be common

A survey of Japanese dentists indicates that attitudes toward antimicrobial prophylaxis vary widely, with many reporting going against current guidelines, Japanese researchers reported today in a letter in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

Study describes how pandemic, multidrug-resistant E coli clone emerged

A study yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the unique emergence of the pandemic multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli clone ST1193.

Multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella sickens 45

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that it is investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections with suspected links to contact with pig-ear dog treats.

Lyme disease study finds frequent misdiagnosis, unnecessary antibiotics

Data from a single-center study indicate widespread misdiagnosis of Lyme disease and unnecessary antibiotic treatment, particularly among those with unexplained symptoms lasting longer than 3 months, a team of US researchers reported today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

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

Study shows decline in antibiotic prescribing in English primary care

The rate of antibiotic prescribing and the proportion of patients receiving antibiotics in primary care settings in England declined consistently from 2014 through 2017, researchers from King's College London reported yesterday in BMJ Open.

Survey: Few countries have established targets for reducing antibiotic use

A survey of antimicrobial use reduction goals for human medicine in 30 countries has found that, as of 2017, less than a third had established targets, according to an article today in Eurosurveillance.

Staph decolonization before joint replacement could cut costs, infections

A cost-effectiveness analysis indicates a Staphylococcus aureus decolonization protocol for patients undergoing hip and knee replacement could result in cost savings and fewer surgical-site infections (SSIs), Canadian researchers reported yesterday in Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control.

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

CDC tracks 14 more measles cases, outbreaks reduced to 3

For the second week in a row the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 14 new measles cases across the United States, raising this year's total number of cases to 1,123 in 28 states.

It's a sign of slowing transmission in a record-breaking year, which has seen the most cases since 1992 and the most since the US eliminated measles in 2000.

CDC reports uptick in Candida auris cases

The number of confirmed and probable cases of the multidrug-resistant fungus Candida auris in the United States rose to 716 as of May 31, reflecting an increase of 32, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its most recent case-count update.

FDA approves Merck's combination antibacterial

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the approval of Recarbrio, a new three-drug antibacterial product developed by Merck, for treating patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) and complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs) caused by gram-negative pathogens.

SHEA survey finds increasing support for hospital stewardship programs

A survey of hospitals in the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Research Network shows an increase in antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) and more financial support for ASP personnel since 2013, as well as concerns about ASP funding and staffing levels.