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CDC, FDA investigate multistate Listeria outbreak

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate Listeria outbreak linked to brie and camembert cheeses.

Stewardship steps help Singapore hospital cut broad-spectrum antibiotics

A study conducted in a hospital with high rates of antibiotic resistance in Singapore found that sequential implementation of two antimicrobial stewardship interventions was associated with reduced use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, researchers reported yesterday in JAMA Network Open.

DRC announces third Ebola case in Equateur province outbreak

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported one more Ebola case in its latest outbreak in Equateur province in the country's northwest, raising the total to three, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office.

WHO report highlights global toll of healthcare-associated infections

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a report highlighting the threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the role that infection prevention and control (IPC) programs can play in reducing that threat.

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

WHO report highlights global toll of healthcare-associated infections

The World Health Organization (WHO) today issued a report highlighting the threat of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the role that infection prevention and control (IPC) programs can play in reducing that threat.

Australian coalition to address antibiotic resistance in food, agribusiness

A coalition of 70 organizations in Australia is joining forces to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the food and agribusiness industries.

High antimicrobial use observed in NYC hospitals in first pandemic year

A study of three hospitals in New York City found that antimicrobial use in COVID-19 patients during the first year of the pandemic far exceeded the incidence of coinfections, researchers reported today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.

Study suggests link between diet and antibiotic resistance in gut bacteria

A study published yesterday in mBio suggests a diverse, high-fiber diet is associated with fewer antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in gut bacteria.

Avian flu infects Minnesota fox kit; more poultry outbreaks in 4 states

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) yesterday announced that a wild fox in Anoka County near Minneapolis has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian flu, which follows similar detections in Canadian foxes that marked the first known wild mammal infections in North America.

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

Team effort linked to significant C diff reductions at community hospital

Originally published by CIDRAP News May 12

Study finds MRSA and VRE can linger in nursing homes

Environmental screening of single-occupancy rooms in a nursing home found high levels of circulation and persistence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), according to a study published today in Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology.

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

High empiric antibiotic use noted for gram-negative infections in US

A study of adults discharged from more than 900 US hospitals in 2019 found that more than one-third received empiric gram-negative antibiotic therapy, with more than 1 in 5 receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Study: In most young adults, COVID-19 infectious period lasts only 5 days

A new study from researchers at Boston University (BU) shows that, for all but 17% of healthy, vaccinated young adults, the infectious period for COVID-19 from the Delta and Omicron variants was 5 days. The study was recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Antimicrobial use in animals on the decline globally, new report finds

A new report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE) shows global use of antimicrobials in animals fell by 27% from 2016 through 2018.

UK report finds low level of resistant E coli in beef, pork

A report yesterday from the United Kingdom's Food Standards Agency (FSA) shows that that the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in retail beef and pork samples remains low.

Study highlights antibiotic stewardship targets in kids with pneumonia

A study of children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) suggests that antibiotic decisions made in the emergency department (ED) have a significant impact on inpatient antibiotic use, researchers reported today in Pediatrics.

The study also found that nearly a third of children without radiographic evidence of pneumonia received antibiotics, suggesting that overuse is common.

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

Study highlights antibiotic stewardship targets in kids with pneumonia

A study of children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) suggests that antibiotic decisions made in the emergency department (ED) have a significant impact on inpatient antibiotic use, researchers reported today in Pediatrics.

Study finds low rate of bacterial, fungal co-infections in US COVID patients

A study of US hospital data found that fewer than 10% of COVID-19 patients had bacterial or fungal co-infections, but they had a higher risk of antibiotic-resistant, healthcare-associated infections than flu patients, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers reported late last week in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Fourth vaccine dose protects against Omicron in nursing home residents

A study in Ontario suggests that, compared with a third dose of mRNA COVID vaccine, a fourth dose improved protection against infection and severe outcomes among long-term care residents during the Omicron wave. The study was published today in The BMJ.

Report describes UK outbreak of extensively drug-resistant Shigella

A study yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases describes an ongoing outbreak of sexually transmitted, extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Shigella sonnei in the United Kingdom.

New guidelines aim to promote judicious antibiotic use in pets

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) yesterday released new joint recommendations for judicious antibiotic use in cats and dogs.

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

New guidelines aim to promote judicious antibiotic use in pets

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) yesterday released new joint recommendations for judicious antibiotic use in cats and dogs.

99.1% of close contacts of Omicron-infected patients diagnosed by 10 days

Late last week in Emerging Infectious Diseases, South Korean researchers reported that average time from exposure to COVID-19 diagnosis was 3.7 days in quarantined close contacts of patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and that 99.1% of diagnoses occurred by day 10, supporting a 10-day quarantine.

Avian flu appears in Nebraska backyard flock

Raising the number of states to report highly pathogenic avian flu in backyard flocks or commercial poultry this year to 15, federal and state officials today announced the first outbreak in Nebraska. In related developments, Missouri reported another outbreak in backyard poultry, and federal officials reported more H5 detections in wild birds, including the first in Ohio and Illinois.

Hydrogen peroxide contamination tied to less C difficile infection

Implementation of a touchless hydrogen peroxide decontamination system at an acute care hospital was associated with a significant reduction in Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) rates over a 10-year period, researchers reported today in the American Journal of Infection Control.