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H5N8 strikes Spanish poultry; Egypt reports H5N1 outbreaks

Spain reported its first highly pathogenic H5N8 avian flu outbreaks in poultry, following two earlier detections in wild birds, and Egypt noted poultry outbreaks involving both the H5N8 and H5N1 strains, according to the latest reports from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

FDA clears two diagnostic tests for expanded use, marketing

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday cleared the expanded use of a diagnostic test for lower respiratory tract infections and sepsis and allowed marketing for a test that can identify organisms that cause bloodstream infections, according to two agency news releases.

WHO updates Zika vaccine target profile, announces research grants

A World Health Organization (WHO) working group recently updated its Zika vaccine target profile, a document used to inform vaccine developers, regulators, and other stakeholders. The group published the first version of the profile in July 2016, and the revision takes into account new data from the past 6 months.

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

Egypt reports two H5N1 cases, one fatal

Egypt today reported two human H5N1 avian flu cases, one of them fatal, according to notifications from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Few details were reported. One of the cases occurred in Minya governorate and was observed on Feb 1. The fatal case was reported from Faiyum governorate and was observed on Feb 5. Both governorates are in upper Egypt.

WHO calls for R&D into drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment

The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement today reaffirming the need for more research and development on new antibiotics for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Federal ethics panel rejects proposal for human Zika challenge study

A federal ethics committee that reviewed a research proposal to experimentally infect humans with Zika virus to help gauge the best approach to a vaccine has rejected the application, according to a report posted last week and first reported today by Stat.

Study: Prior antibiotic use may raise risk of resistant urinary tract infections

Receiving two or more antibiotic regimens is associated with an increased risk of gram-negative pathogens in patients with hospital-onset urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to a study yesterday in BMC Infectious Diseases.

Review: Influenza drugs pose no risk to newborns

Neuraminidase inhibitors, the antiviral drugs given to fight and prevent influenza, pose no safety risks to fetuses or newborns, according to a new study published today in BMJ. This is the largest study on antiviral use and safety in pregnancy conducted to date.

US study shows Zika-type birth defects rise 20-fold

The incidence type of birth defects seen with congenital Zika infections in the United States rose 20 times higher than it was before the virus started circulating in the Americas region, researchers reported today in the latest issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

GAO urges more FDA guidance on new antibiotic development

A new report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to provide more guidance to drug companies on how to use incentives to develop new antibiotics.

Florida confirms 3 more local Zika cases; CDC reports more birth defects

The Florida Department of Health (Florida Health) yesterday reported three more locally acquired Zika cases, all involving samples collected a few months ago.

Two involve people who were sampled in October as part of an ongoing investigation, and Florida Health recently received confirmation test results back from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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

GAO urges more FDA guidance on new antibiotic development

A new report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to provide more guidance to drug companies on how to use incentives to develop new antibiotics.

Study makes case for 'watchful waiting' approach to kids' ear infections

Appropriate use of the "watchful waiting" strategy for management of acute otitis media (AOM) in children could reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes, according to a new study in Pediatrics.

Zika complications in Canadian travelers higher than thought

A study today of Zika infections in Canadian travelers who visited destinations in the Americas revealed they were just as common as other mosquito-borne diseases, with complications more severe than expected. A team from Canada reported its findings in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

China and Hong Kong report three more H7N9 infections

Two more H7N9 avian influenza cases have been reported from China's mainland, and one new imported infection has been detected in Hong Kong, according to separate announcements today from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP).

Blood donor screening finds 13% Zika rate in Puerto Rico last year

In a study that expands on an earlier analysis, screening of blood donations in Puerto Rico last spring and summer found a 13% incidence of Zika virus, according to a study yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Study: Most kids not getting first-line antibiotics for pneumonia

Despite guidelines that recommend amoxicillin as a first-line therapy for children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), most kids diagnosed with CAP are receiving macrolides and broad-spectrum antibiotics, according to a study yesterday in Pediatrics.

Multistate nut butter outbreak expands to 16 cases; more product recalled

Three more children and one more adult have been infected by harmful Escherichia coli linked to an Illinois company's soy nut butter products, bringing to 16 the number of confirmed cases in an expanding national outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday in an update as the company expanded its recall.

H5N1 strikes 2 more Vietnamese provinces as Romania notes H5N8

Vietnam today reported two more highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu outbreaks, raising the number of affected provinces this year to seven, according to a report from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

WHO: Saudi MERS this year higher than same period a year ago

In an epidemiologic update on MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia today, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that there were more cases in the first 2 months of 2017 than during the same period last year. The WHO also said its scientists are seeing younger women with the coronavirus, but that much of the disease's demographics haven't changed.

China's H7N9 total grew by 22 cases last week, 3 deaths

Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) in a regular update today said the mainland from Mar 3 to Mar 9 reported 22 more H7N9 avian influenza cases, 3 of them fatal. The pace of infections in China's fifth and biggest wave has slowed some since illnesses peaked in February, but the country continues to report a steady stream of cases.

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

IDSA report highlights patients' struggle with antibiotic-resistant disease

Originally published by CIDRAP News Mar 9

Seven Saudi MERS cases reported, 6 tied to suspected hospital outbreak

Over the past few days Saudi Arabia reported seven new MERS-CoV infections, including six that appear to be linked to a hospital outbreak in Wadi ad-Dawasir in the south central part of the country.

Australian parent survey finds misconceptions about antibiotics

A large survey of Australian parents has found significant misconceptions about antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections.