SPOTLIGHT -
Tweetorials: An Open Forum for Medical Education
An intensive care physician offers some insights looking at fluoroquinolone-associated tendinopathy and using this social media platform to provide education and an open discussion around it.
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) Low Among Covid-19 Patients
Risk factors for VTE among COVID-19 patients included age greater than 55 years, male gender, a history of thrombophilia, and obesity.
COVID-19 Linked to Long-Term Gastrointestinal Disorders
Data from the US Veterans Affairs found a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders were more likely among patients who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 within a year after the acute phase of the disease.
A Meat Link to UTIs, Sepsis
Using a novel approach to identify E coli, investigators find approximately 8% of the bacterium’s isolates were foodborne zoonotic strains.
5 Different Infectious Diseases That Made Headlines This Week
This week's hottest topics included the risks of proton pump inhibitors, rare tickborne disease, HIV vaccination, COVID-19 immunity from a common cold, and hydrocortisone for pneumonia.
World Tuberculosis Day 2023: The State of the Infectious Disease Today
March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day. Here’s a brief history of the second deadliest infectious disease, and how it affects the world today.
Which States Saw Greatest COVID-19 Mortality?
A new study reveals how US states fared, and some of the underlying reasons why the pandemic has played out in vastly different ways.
HIV and Zika Vaccination Produces Robust Immune Response in Mothers and Newborns
Using a pregnant rabbit model, investigators found a robust antigen-specific antibody response in pregnant rabbits against HIV and Zika virus.
Who is Most Vulnerable for Long COVID and Can These Factors be Mitigated?
A new study shows vaccination decreased the chances of developing the debilitating condition by nearly half.
Impact of Inpatient Pharmacist Review of Discharge Antibiotics
A food for thought as an ambulatory antibiotic stewardship initiative.
First Mixed-Race Woman Experiences Possible HIV Cure After Stem Cell Transplant
The patient, referred to as the “New York patient,” was treated with stem cells from cord blood, and has remained HIV-free in her blood since her transplant in 2017.
FDA Approves Antifungal Rezafungin to Treat Candidemia and Invasive Candidiasis
With yesterday’s FDA decision, Cidara’s injectable antifungal rezafungin become the first new drug approved to treat candidemia and invasive candidiasis in over a decade.
Drug-Resistant Candida auris Cases Are Rapidly Rising in the US
Candida auris fungal infections increased 95% in 2021, and drug-resistant cases are continuing to spread across the US.
The Harms of Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing
A study demonstrated patients were frequently prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics when more narrowly tailored antibiotics were considered the optimal choice.
Catching a Common Cold Gives Children COVID-19 Immunity
Exposure to a common seasonal coronavirus stimulates a memory T cell response that protects children against COVID-19. However, this immune response peaks at age 6.
Hydrocortisone Lowers Risk of Death in Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia
After 28 days, hydrocortisone reduced the risk of mortality by 5.7% in severe community-acquired pneumonia patients.
Single Dose of Smallpox Vaccine Highly Effective Against Mpox
A new study suggests prioritizing administering the first dose a smallpox vaccine against mpox in cases where vaccine supplies are limited.
How Molnupiravir Affects COVID-19 Recovery Time, Risk of Hospitalization and Death
Despite failing to meet primary trial endpoints, molnupiravir reduced the length of COVID-19 infection by 4.2 days in vaccinated patients.
Using Proton-Pump Inhibitors Increased Risk of Acquiring Drug-Resistant Enterobacterales
A third to a half of PPIs are overprescribed, potentially leading to an increased risk of the colonization with drug-resistant microorganisms.
Frozen Fruit Recall Out of Abundance of Caution for Concerns of Hepatitis A
It affects strawberry products that were sold at Costco and Trader Joe’s.
Rare Tickborne Disease Increases Significantly in 3 Northeast States
The incidence rate of babesiosis in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire saw a dramatic increase over a multiyear period and saw an increase overall in other states where the disease is endemic.
Using Bile Salt Hydrolases to Restrict C difficile Colonization
The findings of this study could pave the way for new, disease-targeted probiotics.
COVID-19 News Update: The Top 5 Stories This Week
Yesterday, the FDA took a major step toward officially approving Paxlovid. Catch up on this story and the other top COVID-19 news updates from the past week.
Raising Awareness About RSV in Older Adults
Former NBA star Magic Johnson has partnered with GSK to educate the public about this virus, specifically in seniors and those at high-risk for contracting a severe form of RSV.
Diet of Mother’s Milk Versus Formula Has No Effect on Preterm Infant Microbiome
For preterm infants, clinical outcomes from microbial mechanisms are not affected by a diet of only human milk compared to bovine milk formulas or fortifiers.