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Updated molecular TB test found to be more sensitive, less specific

An international team of researchers has found that a re-engineered rapid molecular test for detection of tuberculosis (TB) is more sensitive than the current test but less specific, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Flu expert says H7N9 viruses are rare 2nd warning of public health threat

The world rarely receives advance notice of a significant public health threat, but the detection of the highly pathogenic form of H7N9 avian influenza in China serves as a second warning, an expert from the World Health Organization's collaborating center in Australia said today in a Cell Research commentary.

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

Updated molecular TB test found to be more sensitive, less specific

An international team of researchers has found that a re-engineered rapid molecular test for detection of tuberculosis (TB) is more sensitive than the current test but less specific, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

PAHO reports 1,100 new chikungunya cases in recent weeks

In the past month the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has reported 1,106 new chikungunya infections, bringing the yearly total to 184,636 confirmed, suspected, and imported cases.

China reports infections from H7N9, H9N2 avian flu viruses

China has detected two new human avian influenza cases, one involving an adult sickened by H7N9 and the other a young child infected with H9N2, according to government reports in the region.

Updated guidance for pandemic flu includes new ways to track cases

For the first time since 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its pandemic influenza guidance, emphasizing the need for better tracking during the human-to-human transmission phase. The new guidance was published yesterday.

The WHO defined and named phases of an influenza pandemic. In the alert phase, when human-to-human transmission begins, the agency said there is no need for case-counting.

New MERS case reported in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new case of MERS-CoV in Sakaka, a city in the northwestern corner of the country.

A 64-year-old Saudi man is in stable condition after presenting with symptoms of MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infection. His source of infection is listed as "primary," meaning it's unlikely he contracted the virus from another person.

Study shows H3N2 vaccine protection drops sharply within 6 months

A new meta-analysis of 14 studies shows that vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza A H3N2 drops 33% within 6 months of immunization, while VE against influenza B declines by 19%. A small VE decline against influenza A H1N1 was not statistically significant.

Boston University lab receives final clearance to begin BSL-4 work

Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories (NEIDL) received final approval from the Boston Public Health Commission to conduct biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) research, clearing the final hurdle to begin work on some of the world's most lethal pathogens, such as Ebola and Marburg virus, BU Today, the campus newspaper, reported.

Inappropriate antibiotics shown costly for Enterobacteriaceae infections

Editors note: This scan was update Dec 7 to note the funding source for the study.

A nationwide study of US patients with Enterobacteriaceae infections suggests that inappropriate empiric therapy (IET) is associated with higher 30-day readmission rates and is costlier than adequate treatment.

New Lyme tests offer faster, more accurate diagnosis, experts say

A new analysis in Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests that new tests can be used to help diagnose Lyme disease, the most prevalent tick-borne illness in North America.

Texas reports more Zika cases, 1 infected locally

Health officials in Hildago County on Dec 7 reported three recent Zika cases, one of which appears to have been transmitted locally by mosquitoes, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) said yesterday in a statement.

Study highlights limits of mandated MRSA surveillance

A 2007 state law in Illinois mandating active surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients failed to reduce MRSA prevalence, according to a study yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Study highlights limits of mandated MRSA surveillance

A 2007 state law in Illinois mandating active surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients failed to reduce MRSA prevalence, according to a study yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Interventions to reduce overtreatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria noted

A paper today in JAMA Internal Medicine proposes an evidence-based implementation guide to help reduce inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB).

Report: Philippines rushed into Dengvaxia immunization program

A new report from Reuters concerning previously unreleased documents shows that the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) implemented a childhood vaccine campaign with Dengvaxia despite warnings from the country's Formulary Executive Council (FEC) that the vaccine did not have enough long-term safety data.

Clinicians call for more inclusive trials for new antibiotics

A letter today in the Journal of Infectious Diseases argues for relaxed criteria for patient exclusion in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for new drugs to treat multidrug-resistant infections.

SIGA requests priority FDA review of its oral smallpox drug

SIGA Technologies of New York City announced yesterday that it has submitted its smallpox drug TPOXX (tecovirimat) for priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

More cases of puppy-linked Campylobacter reported in several states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in an update on an ongoing outbreak of multi-drug resistant Campylobacter infections linked to puppies sold in pet shops today, confirmed 30 new cases reported since the last outbreak update published on Oct 30.

Ebola survivors have antibodies—even neutralizing ones—40 years on

Survivors of the first reported outbreak of Ebola still harbor detectable antibodies to the virus 40 years later, and some of those antibodies can still neutralize live virus, researchers reported today in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Study: No benefit from adding rifampicin to S aureus bacteremia treatment

The results of a large randomized trial show that adjunctive rifampicin provided no overall benefit over standard antibiotic therapy in adults with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, UK researchers reported yesterday in The Lancet.

Canadian E coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce sickens 30, 1 fatally

An Escherichia coli outbreak in Canada linked to romaine lettuce now involves five provinces, with 30 cases reported so far, 1 of them fatal, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said yesterday in an update.

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

Study: No benefit from adding rifampicin to S aureus bacteremia treatment

The results of a large randomized trial show that adjunctive rifampicin provided no overall benefit over standard antibiotic therapy in adults with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, UK researchers reported yesterday in The Lancet.

'America First' strategy outlines measured against biothreats

President Donald Trump today released a new foreign strategy called the "America First" document, outlining his administration's geopolitical goals. In addition to naming Russia and China as America's "rivals," the president dedicates less than 1 page of the 68-page document to the threats posed by biological weapons.

More Candida auris infections recorded in US

According to an updated case count from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are now 174 cases of Candida auris infections in the United States, 17 more than the CDC reported last month.