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High levels of drug resistance found in Eastern Mediterranean region

An analysis of data on bloodstream infections (BSIs) from countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region shows a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the region and limited capacity to prevent the emergence and spread of resistant pathogens, WHO researchers reported yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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

Joint European report calls for more action on antimicrobial resistance

A new joint report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in European Union/European Economic Activity (EU/EEA) countries is calling for concerted action to address the problem from a One Health perspective.

Study: 3% of adults with COVID pneumonia develop new-onset dementia

Three percent of 10,403 adults with COVID-19 pneumonia were diagnosed as having new-onset dementia after a median of 182 days, a significantly higher proportion than that observed with other types of pneumonia, finds a study yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Study: Young kids with simple pneumonia fare well without antibiotics

A study of children 3 years old or younger who were hospitalized for uncomplicated community-associated pneumonia (CAP) found that a significant proportion did well without a full course of antibiotics, researchers reported yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Candidate antibiotic combo shows promise for resistant urinary infections

Venatorx Pharmaceuticals of Malvern, Pennsylvania, yesterday released promising data from a phase 3 trial of its investigational new drug for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs).

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

Candidate antibiotic combo shows promise for resistant urinary infections

Venatorx Pharmaceuticals of Malvern, Pennsylvania, yesterday released promising data from a phase 3 trial of its investigational new drug for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs).

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

Study finds high childhood antibiotic exposure in low-resource countries

A study this week in Clinical Infectious Diseases reveals high levels of childhood antibiotic exposure in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Contact tracing may have averted 1.4 million US COVID cases in 2 months

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) modeling study used data from 59 US case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) programs to estimate that the programs prevented 1.11 to 1.36 million COVID-19 cases, and 27,000 to 34,000 hospitalizations over 60 days in winter 2020-21, well before the Delta and Omicron variant surges. 

Study details poor outcomes tied to long COVID-19

Results of a new survey of 436 Americans with long COVID reveal that the condition is significantly associated with poorer long-term health status, worse quality of life, and psychological distress. The results were published yesterday in Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses.

GARDP announces new North American branch

The Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP), based in Geneva, Switzerland, this week announced the formation of a new sister organization in the United States.

Molnupiravir reduces COVID-19 symptoms, virus by day 3, data show

Three new studies to be presented at the upcoming European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) conference at the end of the month demonstrate benefits of the antiviral molnupiravir against COVID-19 infections, including evidence that Merck's pill reduces symptoms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by day 3 of administration.

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

Study finds high rates of resistant E coli in young Kenyan children

A study of Escherichia coli isolates from young hospitalized children in western Kenya found high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), researchers reported yesterday in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Study highlights economic impact of inappropriate antibiotic use

An analysis of antibiotic use for upper respiratory infections (URIs) in Ghana reveals the considerable economic impact of inappropriate prescribing can have on low-resource settings, researchers reported last week in Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control.

Study: Dogs, cats share resistant bacteria, resistance genes with owners

Observational research set to be presented later this month at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) suggests close contact with pets could result in sharing of multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistance genes.

Study finds antibiotic use in Iowa hospitals wasn't affected by COVID-19

A study of hospitals in Iowa that employ three different antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) models found that core stewardship activities were maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers reported today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.

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

Study finds antibiotic use in Iowa hospitals wasn't affected by COVID-19

A study of hospitals in Iowa that employ three different antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) models found that core stewardship activities were maintained during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers reported today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.

Study: Medicare outpatients frequently received antibiotics for COVID-19

A review of data on Medicare beneficiaries during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic found that nearly a third of outpatient COVID-19 visits were linked to an antibiotic prescription, mainly for azithromycin, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers reported late last week in JAMA.

Trial supports shorter antimicrobial prophylaxis for orthopedic surgery

A randomized clinical trial found that a shorter antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) duration for "clean" orthopedic surgery (scheduled procedures not involving complications like open wounds) was non-inferior to a longer duration in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), Japanese researchers reported today in JAMA Network Open.

Study finds antibiotic resistance in US, UK Campylobacter holding steady

A large-scale analysis reveals that the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has remained stable for Campylobacter in the United States and United Kingdom in recent years, suggesting that antibiotic stewardship efforts have not made a large impact, according to a new study in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Survey data link suspicion of vaccines with low antibiotic knowledge

Data from the Wellcome Monitor survey of UK citizens reveal that negative views of vaccination are tied to having poor knowledge about the role of antibiotics for treating infections, according to a study today in Vaccine.

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

Survey data link suspicion of vaccines with low antibiotic knowledge

Data from the Wellcome Monitor survey of UK citizens reveal that negative views of vaccination are tied to having poor knowledge about the role of antibiotics for treating infections, according to a study today in Vaccine.

Androgen suppression not tied to better COVID-19 outcomes in men

A randomized controlled trial found that suppressing androgen hormones in male COVID-19 patients hospitalized with the virus did not improve outcomes. The study was published yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

Patient contracted Omicron just 20 days after Delta strain of COVID-19

A 31-year-old woman from Spain contracted COVID-19 twice within 3 weeks, despite being fully vaccinated and recently receiving a booster shot, according to a case report that will be presented at the upcoming European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) meeting. The case provides evidence that the Omicron strain is able to evade previous immunity.

Study finds MRSA, other resistant pathogens in Finnish hedgehogs

Testing conducted on hedgehogs in Helsinki, Finland, revealed the presence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and genes known to cause human infections, according to a paper to be presented at the upcoming European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID).