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Wild poliovirus is endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Study identifies H7N9 mutations that could ease spread among humans

Researchers looking for mutations that might make H7N9 avian influenza more easily transmissible among people identified three amino acid changes that would make the virus more likely to bind to human airway receptors. A team of researchers from the United States, including those from The Scripps Research Institute, and the Netherlands reported its findings today in PLoS Pathogens.

Three more MERS hospital-cluster cases reported in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia today reported three more MERS-CoV illnesses linked to ongoing hospital-related outbreaks in Riyadh, according to a statement from the country's Ministry of Health (MOH).

Saudi Arabia confirms fatal MERS case in Riyadh

Today the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new case of MERS-CoV related to ongoing outbreaks in three Riyadh hospitals.

A 68-year-old male expatriate who had preexisting disease has died from MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). He acquired the virus as a patient in a hospital.

High rate of antimicrobial resistance found in Vietnam ICU patients

A study of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, showed high rates of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections, according to a report yesterday in BMC Infectious Diseases.

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

High rate of antimicrobial resistance found in Vietnam ICU patients

A study of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, showed high rates of antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections, according to a report yesterday in BMC Infectious Diseases.

Study finds low compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis guidance

Only 10% of surgical procedures in Brazil involved full compliance with surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) guidelines, according to a new study in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Three new MERS cases diagnosed in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed the diagnosis of three new cases of MERS-CoV in recent days, including one case in an asymptomatic healthcare worker at a hospital in Riyadh. At least three hospitals in Riyadh have reported MERS outbreaks this month.

New fluoroquinolone for bacterial skin infections wins FDA approval

A new fluoroquinolone antibiotic, delafloxacin (Baxdela), for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) in adults gained approval yesterday from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to Melinta Therapeutics, the manufacturer.

Fifteen more polio cases reported in Syria

Syria has confirmed 15 additional cases of polio, including 1 case in a child who may have contracted the disease in Raqqa, a city held by the terrorist group ISIS, Reuters reported today.

Two cases were announced in Syria earlier this month, the first since 2014, so the total has now reachaed 17 cases, with symptom onset ranging from Mar 3 to May 23. All 17 cases involve paralysis.

Review identifies factors to boost stewardship in long-term care

A literature review of antimicrobial stewardship activities at long-term care facilities (LTCFs) that focused on workflow systems identified factors that were effective and possibly complementary, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Study suggests prior dengue infection doesn't increase Zika viral load

An analysis of blood samples from Brazilian patients seen in an emergency department for acute febrile illness found no sign of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in those with Zika infection who had previously been exposed to dengue virus.

Highest EU court says no proof needed when ruling on vaccine side effects

Even in the absence of scientific pro, the highest court of the European Union (EU) said yesterday that courts can decide whether a vaccination led to someone developing an illness without definitive scientific proof, the New York Times reported.

Study finds no link between flu in pregnancy, autism in babies

Researchers have found no elevated risk of autism in babies born to woman in Norway infected with influenza during pregnancy, a study yesterday in mSphere reported.

Burger King, Tim Hortons to end use of chicken raised with antibiotics

The company that owns fast-food chains Burger King and Tim Hortons has vowed to stop purchasing chicken raised with antibiotics that are also used in human medicine, according to Reuters.

Restaurant Brands International Inc said its brands, which also include Popeye's Louisiana Chicken, will switch to chicken raised without medically important antibiotics by the end of 2018.

Monkey study shows dengue immunity does not affect Zika infection

A study involving rhesus macaques suggests that pre-existing dengue virus immunity does not result in more severe Zika disease, the second study this week to report this type of finding.

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

Burger King, Tim Hortons to end use of chicken raised with antibiotics

The company that owns fast-food chains Burger King and Tim Hortons has vowed to stop purchasing chicken raised with antibiotics that are also used in human medicine, according to Reuters.

Study finds increase in C difficile in cancer patients

Researchers with the University of Texas at Austin report that the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is increasing among cancer patients, according to a new study in BMC Infectious Diseases.

Two new MERS cases reported in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) updated its MERS-CoV statistics for the first time in more than a week, noting two new cases not related to current hospital outbreaks in Riyadh.

Meta-analysis documents rise in drug-resistant bacteria at the Hajj

A review and meta-analysis of studies on bacterial transmission and antibiotic resistance during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca has found rising rates of resistance among certain gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, researchers report in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease.

WHO notes one more cluster among recent H7N9 cases in China

One more illness cluster has been reported among 21 recent H7N9 avian flu infections reported in China, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in an update today. Its report covers 9 lab-confirmed cases reported to the WHO by China on Jun 2 as well as 12 cases reported on Jun 9.

Letter urges Congress to oppose Trump administration's AMR cuts

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) today sent a letter to members of congressional appropriations committees urging them to reject President Trump's proposed cuts to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) initiatives.

CDC: 2016-17 flu season was long, vaccine protection fairly low

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that the 2016-17 flu season was dominated by influenza A (H3N2), and the flu vaccine was only 34% effective in protecting recipients against that strain and 42% effective against all strains.

Early education boosts students' antibiotic savvy, study finds

A hands-on educational program dramatically increased primary school students' knowledge of antibiotic action and use, according to a study yesterday in the International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents.

Flu vaccine effectiveness study in kids finds modest, consistent benefit

A study in children tested for flu over three seasons at a New Orleans hospital found modest but consistent flu vaccine effectiveness, that a switch from the inactivated trivalent to quadrivalent (four-strain) formulation didn't seem to help or hurt effectiveness, and that the inhaled version of the vaccine didn't perform as well, but improved over successive seasons.