Antimicrobial Stewardship

Ebola

HCV / Hepatitis

Blood-Borne Diseases

Coronavirus / COVID

E. Coli

Food Safety

Listeria

Salmonella

Food Borne Infection / Food Safety

Candida auris

Fungal Infections

C. Difficile

H. Pylori

Norovirus

Gastrointestinal Infections

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)

Antibiotics

Immunizations

Vaccines

Prevention

Community-Acquired Pneumonia 

Influenza

Measles

Respiratory Infections

HIV / AIDS

PrEP

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

MRSA

Skin & Soft Tissue Diseases

Lyme Disease

ZIKA

Zoonotic & Vector-Borne Diseases

News

Media

Medical World News

Podcasts

Videos

Insights

Peer Exchange

Media Day

News Network

Roundtables

Conference

Conference Coverage

Conference Listing

Publication

CME/CE

Partners

Resources

Interactive Tools

Special Projects

Contribute

Case Studies

Writers and Mentors

Subscribe

Contagion® is a news resource for infectious disease specialists and practitioners, aiding identification, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

About Us

Advertise

Editorial

Contact Us

Do Not Sell My Information

Privacy

Terms & Conditions

Contagion Live - Infectious Disease News & Expert Insights

Facebook

LinkedIn

Spotlight

Bench to Bedside With SIDP

C. difficile 

Clinical Corner

Hepatitis

RSV: A New Era in Prevention

Clinical

COVID-19

Climate Change

Covid Vaccine Race

Food-Borne Infections

Healthcare-Associated Infections

Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Video Series

Peers and Perspectives

1rem

Authors

de la Fuente is a presidential associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

César de la Fuente, PhD, provides insights on the promising work of his lab as they accelerate the speed of finding new antimicrobial molecules.

Potential Game Changer: Using AI for Antibiotic Development

Along with a 1 reported case in Massachusetts, the

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has confirmed a person infected with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has died. The public health agency said the person was hospitalized due to severe central nervous system disease. The last reported human EEEV infection in New Hampshire was in 2014, when DHHS identified 3 human infections, including 2 fatalities. In the same statement, DHHS mentions there has been 1 confirmed case in Vermont this summer.

On August 16, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) released a statement discussing the confirmation of the first human case of EEE in the state this year. The confirmed case was discovered in an 80 year old man who was exposed to the vector borne disease in Worcester County. As a result, the risk level in the local communities of Douglas, Oxford, Sutton, and Webster has been raised to critical, and in Dudley, Northbridge, and Uxbridge the risk is increased to high.

Additionally, the neighboring communities of Auburn, Charlton, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Southbridge, and Upton are now considered at moderate risk according to MDPH.

“This is the first time we have seen a person infected with EEE in Massachusetts since 2020,” Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD, said in a statement. “EEE is a rare but serious disease and a public health concern. We want to remind residents of the need to protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially in areas of the state where we are seeing EEE activity.

Though very rare, EEE is serious and a potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. EEE is generally spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There were 12 human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2019 with 6 deaths, and 5 human cases with 1 death in 2020. There were no human cases of EEE in Massachusetts in 2021, 2022, or 2023.

EEE has a fatality rate of 33% to 70%, with most deaths occurring 2–10 days after the onset of symptoms.

In addition to a high mortality rate, long-term physical and mental complications, including permanent neurological deficits have been identified in many people who survive EEE.

Plymouth is approximately 40 miles south of Boston along the coast, and Worcester County is in the middle of the state, so the 2 areas are not in close proximity, but due to the elevated risk locally, the town of Plymouth decided to take action in response to outdoor parks. As of last Friday, all town public parks and fields are close daily from dusk until dawn.

“As Mass DPH has now elevated Plymouth’s EEE risk status to high, it is important to take extra precautions when outdoors and follow state and local health guidelines to avoid unnecessary risk to exposure to EEE. The health and safety of our community, residents, and visitors remain our priority,” Plymouth’s Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Michelle Bratti, said in a statement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) most people who are infected with the virus do not develop symptoms; however, for those that do, the date from the bite to the onset of the illness is 4 to 10 days. EEE can also result in fever or neurologic disease. The type of illness will depend on the age of the person and other factors. Those who are infected can develop meningitis.

There are no FDA-approved treatments for EEE and for patients who develop severe cases, they can be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment.

Over the weekend, MDPH detailed plans of spraying for mosquitos including aerially in areas of Plymouth County, and truck-mounted spraying in parts of Worcester County. As of Saturday, 10 communities in Massachusetts were raised to high or critical risk for EEE virus.

“The risk from EEE is high in parts of Plymouth County and critical in parts of Worcester County,” State Epidemiologist Catherine M. Brown, DVM, said in a statement. “In addition to recommending that people use mosquito repellent with an EPA-registered active ingredient and clothing to reduce exposed skin, we also recommend that evening outdoor events be rescheduled to avoid the hours between dusk and dawn. The mosquitoes most likely to spread EEE are most active during the dusk to dawn hours.”

There are preventative strategies to avoid EEE, and the MDPH has listed such measures 

For those who live in Massachusetts and want more information on EEE, it can be found 

 or by calling the DPH Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800.

1.NH DHHS Identifies Person Infected with Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in New Hampshire.The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. August 27, 2024. Accessed August 28, 2024.
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/news-and-media/nh-dhhs-identifies-person-infected-eastern-equine-encephalitis-virus-new-hampshire
2. State health officials announce season’s first human case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in Massachusetts. MDPH. August 16, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024.
https://www.mass.gov/news/state-health-officials-announce-seasons-first-human-case-of-eastern-equine-encephalitis-in-massachusetts
3.Plymouth to Close all Public Parks and Fields from Dusk to Dawn. Town of Plymouth. August 23, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. PDF.
4. Eastern Equine Encephalitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment. CDC. May 15, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024.
https://www.cdc.gov/eastern-equine-encephalitis/symptoms-diagnosis-treatment/index.html
5. State officials announce plans to spray for mosquitoes in sections of Worcester and Plymouth counties due to EEE. MDPH. August 24, 2024. Accessed August 27, 2024. 
https://www.mass.gov/news/state-officials-announce-plans-to-spray-for-mosquitoes-in-sections-of-worcester-and-plymouth-counties-due-to-eee



The town of Plymouth decided to prohibit people from using the parks from dusk to dawn due to concerns over eastern equine encephalitis after a man contracted the rare disease in the state.

Concerns Over Mosquito-Borne Illness Causes Massachusetts Town to Create Curfew for Parks, Spraying in Counties

A newer FDA-approved antibiotic, sulopenem (Orlynvah), was found to be noninferior to a long-standing treatment, amoxicillin/clavulanate (Augmentin), in adult women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections (uUTIs), according to data from the REASSURE phase 3 trial. The results were published in the 

“Overall success in the microbiologic-modified intent-to-treat population occurred in 318 of 522 (60.9%) participants treated with sulopenem vs 260 of 468 (55.6%) participants treated with amoxicillin/clavulanate (difference, 5.4 percentage points; 95% CI, −0.8 to 11.5), meeting criteria for noninferiority,” the investigators wrote.

Iterum Therapeutics developed sulopenem—its first compound—which is a novel penem anti-infective compound with an oral formulation and intravenous formulation. “We are very pleased that 

 has published the results from the REASSURE trial,” Iterum CEO Corey Fishman said in a statement. “This article highlights the need for new antibiotics, like Orlynvah, for the treatment of uUTI given the increasing rates of multidrug resistance to the currently available antibiotics. We expect Orlynvah to be available to treat women with hard-to-treat infections in the next quarter.”

The REASSURE trial included 2222 adult women with uUTIs, and the median age was 51 years. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either treatment for 5 days. The trial's primary end point was the overall response rate at the test-of-cure visit. 

In terms of adverse events, there were more in the sulopenem group. “Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred more frequently with sulopenem compared with amoxicillin/clavulanate, including diarrhea (8.1% vs 4.1%), nausea (4.3% vs 2.9%), and headache (2.2% vs 1.5%),” the investigators wrote.

UTIs are among the most common infections encountered. There are approximately 15 million emergency department and office visits for symptoms of UTIs and over 40 million total prescriptions for uUTIs in the US annually, with approximately two-thirds, or 26 million, of those prescriptions written for patients who are at elevated risk for treatment failure, based on market research.

Resistance was also seen in the REASSURE trial. “Ninety-one (9.2%) patients in the primary population (microbiologic-modified intent-to-treat population), the combined population of patients with a positive baseline urine culture and without regard to amoxicillin/clavulanate susceptibility, had a baseline pathogen resistant to 3 or more classes of antibiotics,” the investigators wrote.

Antibiotic Resistance in the Context of UTI Treatment Developments

Oral sulopenem from Iterum Therapeutics was FDA approved last fall for uUTIs in adult women caused by specific bacteria, including 

, when there are limited or no alternative oral antibiotic options.

“As the first oral penem approved in the US, Orlynvah offers an excellent alternative treatment option for appropriate patients in the underserved uUTI market. With FDA approval and a clear label, we will renew our efforts to achieve a strategic transaction involving Orlynvah with the goal of maximizing value for our stakeholders,” Fishman said in a statement at the time of the approval.

Puttagunta S, Aronin SI, Gupta J, Das AF, Gupta K, Dunne MW. Sulopenem versus amoxicillin/clavulanate for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection. 

. 2025;4(7):EVIDoa2400414. doi:10.1056/EVIDoa2400414
2. Iterum Therapeutics announces publication of REASSURE trial in NEJM Evidence. News release. Iterum Therapeutics. June 25, 2025. Accessed June 25, 2025. https://ir.iterumtx.com/press-releases/detail/150/iterum-therapeutics-announces-publication-of-reassure-trial
3. Iterum Therapeutics receives U.S. FDA approval of ORLYNVAH (oral sulopenem) for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections. News release. Iterum Therapeutics. October 25, 2024. Accessed June 25, 2025. 

https://www.iterumtx.com/news/press-releases/detail/136/iterum-therapeutics-receives-u-s-fda-approval-of

Marketed as Orlynvah, oral sulopenem from Iterum Therapeutics was FDA approved last fall for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and has shown efficacy against infections caused by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis.

Sulopenem Is Noninferior to Amoxicillin/Clavulanate for Uncomplicated UTIs

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released its first clinical guidelines for the treatment and management of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for clinicians managing patients with cUTIs in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The new guidelines introduce a stepwise framework for empiric antibiotic selection, emphasize timely de-escalation for targeted therapy based on urine culture results, and update the clinical classification of uncomplicated vs complicated UTIs. Unlike previous frameworks, the updated classification focuses on observable symptoms, such as fever or catheter use, rather than underlying anatomical issues, with the aim of enhancing decision-making at the point of care.

Key recommendations include prioritizing third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems, piperacillin-tazobactam, or fluoroquinolones for patients with sepsis. In patients without sepsis, narrower-spectrum options are preferred to preserve antimicrobial stewardship. A 4-step approach is proposed to guide empiric therapy

Consider patient-specific contraindications

Consult a local antibiogram in cases of sepsis

The guidelines emphasize transitioning to a narrower, definitive antibiotic regimen once urine culture and susceptibility data become available. This de-escalation is encouraged to reduce the risk of resistance and improve treatment precision.

These recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology following a systematic literature review, with endorsement from multiple professional organizations, including the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists, Society of Hospital Medicine, American Society for Microbiology, and ESCMID. They reflect an urgent need to adapt cUTI management to the growing burden of antimicrobial resistance, particularly among aging patients of all genders.

Previous reports support and help contextualize the newly released IDSA guidelines for the treatment and management of cUTIs. Examples include recent findings from both the 

 of cefiderocol, each reinforcing key elements of the IDSA’s structured, evidence-based approach.

For example, as we previously reported, the PIVOT-PO phase 3 trial evaluating oral tebipenem HBr demonstrated noninferiority to intravenous (IV) imipenem-cilastatin in treating hospitalized adults with cUTIs, including pyelonephritis. These data align with the guideline’s focus on appropriate empiric therapy and the timely IV-to-oral switch. The potential FDA approval of tebipenem HBr would offer a much-needed oral carbapenem option, supporting outpatient management and reducing hospital burden, both of which are highlighted in the guidelines as important considerations for therapy duration and route of administration.

Similarly, findings from the PROVE study on cefiderocol reinforce the guidelines’ emphasis on early, targeted therapy based on illness severity and resistance risk. In the European cohort, higher clinical cure rates were observed when cefiderocol was used as empiric or documented therapy compared with salvage use. This supports the IDSA’s 4-step framework for antibiotic selection in cUTI, which urges clinicians to weigh factors such as prior culture data and the likelihood of encountering resistant pathogens when selecting empiric treatment, especially in patients with severe illness or sepsis.

Together, these studies illustrate the real-world relevance of the new IDSA recommendations, particularly the need for flexible, individualized treatment strategies based on infection severity, resistance risk, and patient-specific factors.

Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI): Clinical Guidelines for Treatment and Management

. Infectious Diseases Society of America. July 17, 2025. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/complicated-urinary-tract-infections/ 

2. Spero Therapeutics and GSK announce PIVOT-PO phase 3 study for tebipenem HBr stopped early for efficacy following review by independent data monitoring committee. Press release. Spero Therapeutics Inc. May 28, 2025. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/05/28/3089331/0/en/Spero-Therapeutics-and-GSK-Announce-PIVOT-PO-Phase-3-Study-for-Tebipenem-HBr-Stopped-Early-for-Efficacy-Following-Review-by-Independent-Data-Monitoring-Committee.html

3. ESCMID Global 2025: Shionogi presents real-world data demonstrating better clinical outcomes when Fetcroja /Fetroja (cefiderocol) is used as empiric or documented therapy as compared to salvage therapy for the treatment of gram-negative bacterial infections. Press release. Shionogi. April 9, 2025. Accessed July 18, 2025. https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/news/2025/04/20250408.html

New evidence-based recommendations prioritize timely, targeted therapy and a symptom-focused classification to optimize treatment outcomes and antimicrobial stewardship.

IDSA Releases Clinical Guidelines for Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections

 suggests that current communication strategies about antimicrobial use (AMU) in food-producing animals often fail to employ framing techniques that resonate with key stakeholders, particularly farmers and producers, potentially weakening support for critical 

 (AMR) measures. The study offers not only a novel framework for evaluating AMR policy language but also a call to reframe the narrative in ways that are grounded, inclusive, and actionable across disciplines and regions.

The study, led by Carly Ching, PhD, a research scientist at Boston University, analyzed policy documents issued by international organizations, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Using a combination of inductive and deductive coding, the research team examined how the risks of AMR and rationales for reducing AMU in agriculture were framed across institutional texts.

The most frequently used motivational frame overall was “human health,” making up 20.9% of all frames identified. This was followed by “animal health and welfare” at 18.2% and “food production and security” at 14.5%. Notably, frames appealing to self-interest, those that might directly motivate behavior change among farmers or agricultural workers, were rarely present.

“Pushback from industry stakeholders continues to hinder progress on antimicrobial resistance policies in livestock,” Ching said in our email interview. “Framing and language choices are critical tools to build political legitimacy and end-user support.”

When asked how self-interest framing could be responsibly applied in public health communications, Ching explained, “Public health communicators can operationalize self-interest framing by emphasizing direct benefits to the target audience that align with scientific evidence. Sharing personal stories from other producers who have successfully reduced antimicrobial use can also help build trust and relevance. As such, cocreation with farmers, producers, veterinarians, and other stakeholders is important to improve resonance and accuracy. Importantly, farmers are also part of the wider community and thus act with overlapping agency, so connecting individual benefits to broader core public health outcomes can bolster messaging.”

The analysis also uncovered notable institutional differences in framing priorities. “We analyzed documents published by the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR. In reviewing documents from the FAO and WOAH, we found each organization focused on different priorities,” Ching said. “FAO emphasized ‘food production and security,’ while WOAH focused more on ‘animal health and welfare’ and rarely used the food-related frame. This makes sense to some degree, as it aligns with their respective missions.”

However, the team noted that a dominant use of one animal-related frame often came at the expense of others. “Across all documents, we noticed that when one of these animal-specific frames was used more, the other was used less. Interestingly, both organizations also frequently used the collective ‘human health’ frame more than a second animal-specific one. This suggests a tendency to focus on one main animal-related reason for addressing antimicrobial resistance rather than balancing multiple motivations.”

Ching also discussed the importance of cultural and sector-specific messaging. “In terms of sector or culturally tailored messaging, while human and animal health are connected in a One Health approach, the expectations are often different,” she noted. “In agriculture and farming, there is a push to be voluntarily better than standard practices, while in human health care, clinical guidelines pertaining to antimicrobial use are standard. Therefore, calling normal farm practices ‘misuse’ can confuse or upset farmers, since these are common in their context. Farming norms can also vary by country. To build trust and cooperation, it’s important to use inclusive, nonblaming language that respects different practices and avoids implying one region has superior practices.”

The study concludes with practical recommendations aimed at refining AMR policy communication strategies: increasing the use of self-interest frames, making messaging more accessible, and explicitly addressing underlying assumptions that may not align with agricultural realities.

When asked how these findings could shape future AMR action plans under the One Health framework, Ching emphasized, “From our findings, we recommend creating messages that are more personally relevant to the end user, using clear language, and choosing frames that support global interests and cooperation. Although our focus was on reducing indiscriminate antibiotic use in food-producing animals, we found that One Health messaging still leans heavily toward human health, with less attention to the other sectors, including the environment. Thus, a conscious effort still needs to be made to present and uphold an integrated perspective of all One Health domains. Finally, these recommendations should be adapted to local contexts with input from key stakeholder groups, including end users.”

Reference
Ching C, Zaman MH, Wirtz VJ. Policy discourse on AMR in food-producing animals: examining framing and language for effective communication. 

Analysis by Carly Ching, PhD, reveals that global AMR policies overemphasize human health while neglecting farmer-focused messaging that could improve adoption and impact.

Study Results Find AMR Policy Messaging Misses the Mark With Agricultural Stakeholders

 infections with 4 deaths in Florida, according to the state’s department of health. Single deaths occurred in Bay, Broward, Hillsborough, and St Johns counties. Last year, the state had 82 cases and 19 deaths, and in 2023, there were 46 cases and 11 deaths.

No further information about these cases was made public from the Florida Department of Health.

are bacteria that cause an estimated 80,000 illnesses each year in the United States. Approximately a dozen species of 

 by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Some people are infected when an open wound is exposed to salt water or brackish water containing 

. People can also be infected if an open wound comes in contact with raw or undercooked seafood.

 infections can lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies.

In recent years, there has been an increase in these infections, which are typically rare. Between July and August 2023, there were a total of 11 reported cases of infection with 

 North Carolina (7 cases), Connecticut (2 cases), and New York (2 cases). The average age of the patients was 70 years, with ages ranging from 37 to 84 years, and 7 of the patients were men. Of 10 patients for whom information was available, 9 had at least one preexisting condition. Of the 11 cases, 4 patients developed septic shock and 5 patients died.

Climate change continues to be a factor in the rise of these infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “As coastal water temperatures increase, 

 infections are expected to become more common. This highlights the importance of public awareness and preventive measures, such as avoiding wound contact with brackish or salt water and raw seafood and thoroughly cooking oysters and other seafood before consumption."

In the Aftermath: Post-Hurricane Infections



In addition, when natural disasters occur, there is often a rise in these infections. For example, there have been clusters of 

 infections reported after Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Irma (2017), and more recently after Hurricane Ian (2022).

Aside from last year's 82 cases and 19 deaths, Florida saw its highest number of cases in 2017 (50) and 2022 (74) going back through 2016. On its website, the Florida Department of Health notes that Hurricane Helene (2024) led to an “unusual increase” in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota counties and the aforementioned Hurricane Ian being a factor for an “unusual increase” in Collier and Lee counties in 2022.

infection in patients and taking medical histories, something to consider is exposure to coastal waters, especially in patients at higher risk for infection, such as those with liver disease, diabetes, and immunocompromised health conditions.

In terms of treatment, the CDC lays out potential first lines of treatment, which include the following

"Doxycycline (100 mg orally or intravenously twice a day for 7-14 days) and a third-generation cephalosporin (eg, ceftazidime 1-2 g intravenously or intramuscularly every 8 hours) are recommended. 

Alternate regimens include a third-generation cephalosporin with a fluoroquinolone (eg, 500 mg ciprofloxacin orally twice a day) or a fluoroquinolone given alone.

Children may also be treated with a combination regimen of a third-generation cephalosporin plus doxycycline or ciprofloxacin, or with an alternative regimen of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole plus an aminoglycoside. In selecting a regimen, clinicians should be aware of guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Fluoroquinolones should not be used routinely as first-line agents in children younger than 18 years except when specific indications exist or in specific conditions for which there are no alternative agents (including oral agents) and the drug is known to be effective for the specific situation.

Use of tetracyclines as a class of drugs in pediatric patients historically has been limited because of reports that this class could cause permanent dental discoloration in children younger than 8 years. More recent data suggest that doxycycline can be administered for short durations (ie, 21 days or less) without regard to the patient’s age.

Give careful attention to the wound site. Necrotic tissue should be debrided. Severe cases might require aggressive debridement, fasciotomy, or amputation of the infected limb.”

Although rare, there are considerations for the public in trying to avoid this infection. These include cooking raw oysters and shellfish before eating. For those with an open wound or cut, they should stay out of salt or brackish water. After handling raw shellfish, individuals should wash their hands with soap and water. For individuals who have wounds or cuts and have been in these types of water, they should also wash those areas.

. Florida Health. July 20, 2025. Accessed July 20, 2025.


https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/vibrio-infections/vibrio-vulnificus/index.html

 infections in the United States associated with warming coastal waters. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 1, 2023. Accessed July 20, 2025. 

https://www.cdc.gov/han/2023/han00497.html

3. About Vibrio infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 14, 2024. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/vibrio/about/index.html

4. Abene S. Vibrio vulnificus infections in the US. 

February 26, 2024. Accessed July 20, 2025. 

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/vibrio-vulnificus-infections-in-the-us

5. Chandler E. In the aftermath: post-hurricane infections. 

 September 17, 2023. Accessed July 20, 2025. https://www.contagionlive.com/view/in-the-aftermath-post-hurricane-infections



Cases and deaths in the state are down from the 2 previous years. Here are some clinical considerations, treatment options, and prevention strategies in relation to these infections.

Four Deaths in Florida This Year From Vibrio vulnificus Infections

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerated brain aging in healthy adults, even among those who were never infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to findings from a new longitudinal neuroimaging study published in 

. Using UK Biobank data, researchers found an average increase of 5.5 months in the brain age gap, the difference between predicted brain age and chronological age, among participants scanned before and after the pandemic.

Researchers trained brain age prediction models on MRI data from more than 15,000 healthy individuals. They then compared 2 cohorts: 996 participants who received both scans before the pandemic (control group) and those scanned once before and once after its onset (pandemic group). Despite similar baseline health and brain age markers, the pandemic group showed significantly accelerated brain aging.

The effect was most pronounced in men and individuals from lower-income backgrounds, suggesting that psychosocial stressors such as isolation, financial instability, and disrupted health care access may have contributed. Although accelerated brain aging was observed across the pandemic group, cognitive declines were more common in those who had contracted COVID-19.

Lead author Ali-Reza Mohammadi-Nejad and colleagues stressed that the findings highlight the pandemic’s broader neurological toll. “This goes beyond the virus itself,” they noted, urging greater attention to cognitive health in recovery and public health planning.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking infectious diseases to long-term neurological consequences. Previous research has shown that Lyme disease, a tick-borne bacterial infection, can lead to lasting cognitive and neurological symptoms in some patients, including memory impairment, brain fog, and mood disturbances.

Listen to our past interview with Robert C. Bransfield, MD, on 

"Microbial Infections and Mental Illness: Bridging Psychiatry and Infectious Disease"

New research reveals accelerated brain aging in healthy adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting broader neurological and social effects.

César de la Fuente, PhD

Articles

Latest Updated Articles