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One new H7N9 avian flu case reported in China

For the third week in a row, China reported just one H7N9 avian influenza case, a sign that the fifth and biggest wave of infections may be drawing to a close.

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

MRSA emerged long before methicillin was introduced, researchers find

Originally published by CIDRAP News Jul 20

A study today in Genome Biology suggests methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged several years before methicillin was used to treat S aureus infections.

Study estimates $800,000 cost of an NDM-1 hospital outbreak

A new study in Emerging Infectious Diseases describes the physical and financial burden of a nosocomial outbreak caused by New Delhi metallo (NDM) beta-lactamase–containing Klebsiella pneumoniae.

CDC updates Zika testing recommendations for pregnant women

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today updated its recommendations for testing pregnant women for Zika virus, mainly because one of the most frequently used tests—which detected immunoglobulin B (IgM) antibodies—is more likely to yield a false positive result, especially as incidence of the disease in the Americas decreases.

Sanofi: Yellow fever vaccine depleted until middle of 2018

The supply of Sanofi Pasteur's yellow fever vaccine YF-Vax is depleted in the United States until the middle of next year, the company said in a press release yesterday. Sanofi said the vaccine would be available again once Sanofi moves production to new "state of the art" facilities.

CARB-X awards $17.6 million to fund new antibiotic development

CARB-X, the international public-private initiative to stimulate new antimicrobial development, today announced the winners of its second round of funding.

New class of antibiotics shows promise against MDR bacteria, plague

An experimental drug that belongs to a new class of antibiotics showed promise in lab tests against multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria, and was protective against the bacterium that causes plague in mice, according to a study yesterday in mBio.

New MERS case reported in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS case today, the first case since Jul 11.

Another MERS case reported in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) today confirmed another MERS case, the second in row after no cases had been reported for most of July.

A 36-year-old Saudi man from Buraydah is in critical condition after being diagnosed as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). He is in critical condition and had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for contracting the virus.

Vaccine candidate for recurrent MDR UTIs fast-tracked by FDA

Sequoia Sciences announced yesterday that it has received fast-track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its investigational vaccine designed to treat recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Fast-track designation expedites the development and review of the vaccine through the US regulatory process.

Avian flu outbreaks hit farms in Italy, Taiwan

In sign of low but ongoing highly pathogenic H5N8 activity in Europe, Italy today reported three more outbreaks in poultry, according to a notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

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

Study: US comprehensive hospital ASP programs grew by 18% in 1 year

A new study from researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed the success of the CDC's core elements of hospital antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs). Using data reported in the 2015 National Healthcare Safety Network's Annual Hospital Survey, the researchers found that uptake of the core elements increased from 40.9% in 2014 to 48.1% in 2015, a 17.6% bump.

Saudi Arabia confirms new MERS case

Over the weekend the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed a new MERS-CoV case in Khamis Mushait.

A 38-year-old male expatriate is in critical condition after being diagnosed as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus), according to a Jul 29 update. The MOH said the man had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for contracting the virus.

Doctors call for diagnostic stewardship to improve antibiotic use

A commentary yesterday in JAMA argues for diagnostic stewardship as an additional strategy to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics.

H5N8 strikes again in South Africa and Italy; H5N1 hits Inner Mongolia

The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 has struck again in South Africa and Italy, while H5N1 has surfaced in China's Inner Mongolia province, according to reports from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and press services.

Feds reopen probe into MDR Salmonella tied to calves, cite 10 new cases

Federal officials today said they have reopened their investigation of a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to raising calves and have reported 10 new cases.

Sexually transmitted Zika case reported in Florida

Florida health officials yesterday reported the first sexually transmitted case of Zika virus this year. There is still no evidence, however, of locally transmitted Zika virus by mosquitoes in the state.

Novel anthrax type causes wildlife deaths

A research letter in Nature yesterday said that up to 40% of all animal deaths in the Ivory Coast's Tai National Park were caused by an unusual strain of the bacteria that causes anthrax. The strain, Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis, could even lead to extinction of the park's chimpanzee population, researchers said.

New H1N2v flu case in Ohio involved swine exposure

Ohio officials have confirmed a case of novel H1N2 influenza (H1N2v), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly FluView update.

New MERS case, death reported in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) identified a new case of MERS-CoV in Jeddah today and said a patient identified earlier this week has died from complications of the virus.

A 44-year-old female expatriate in Jeddah is in stable condition after being diagnosed as having MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). The source of her infection is listed as a secondary household contact.

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

Molecular testing for drug-resistant tuberculosis shows promise

A study yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests that molecular-based diagnostic tests for the detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) may predict treatment response better than traditional drug susceptibility testing (DST) methods.

CDC warns of rise in Cyclospora cases

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today warned health providers about an increase in the number of Cyclospora cases in the United States, with 206 infections in 27 states reported so far in people who were sick on or after May 1.

H5N8 strikes again in Italy, South Africa, UK

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reported three new highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza outbreaks on turkey farms in Italy's Lombardy region.

H5N8 was detected on Aug 4 at three commercial farms in the Medole area, which is in the northwestern part of Italy. The report said 94,700 birds are slated for culling.

Rapid malaria diagnostic tests linked to increased antibiotic prescribing

A review of 10 linked studies yesterday in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene indicates that introduction of rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in Africa and Afghanistan curbed use of anti-malaria drugs but was also linked to increased antibiotic prescribing.