Antimicrobial Stewardship

Ebola

HCV / Hepatitis

Blood-Borne Diseases

Climate Change

Coronavirus

Covid Vaccine Race

E. Coli

Food Safety

Listeria

Salmonella

Food Borne Infection / Food Safety

C. Difficile

H. Pylori

Norovirus

Gastrointestinal Infections

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)

Antibiotics

Immunizations

Vaccines

Prevention

Community-Acquired Pneumonia 

HAP / VAP

Influenza

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

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 fully integrated news resource for practitioners and specialists to assist with the identification, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases.

About Us

Advertise

Editorial

Contact Us

Do Not Sell My Information

Privacy

Terms & Conditions

Contagion Live | Infectious Disease News & Expert Insights

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Spotlight

Bench to Bedside With SIDP

C. difficile 

Clinical Corner

Gastrointestinal infections

Hepatitis

RSV: A New Era in Prevention

Clinical

COVID-19

Food-Borne Infections

Healthcare-Associated Infections

Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Video Series

Peers and Perspectives

1rem

Authors

A review of the data and circumstances that led to authorization in children ages 5 to 11 years.

Sticking It to COVID-19: The Expansion of the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine EUA

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

On September 6th, the CDC confirmed a new human case of avian influenza A(H5), known as bird flu, in Missouri. This is the 14th case reported in the US this year and the first without documented occupational exposure to infected animals. The case was identified through Missouri's seasonal flu surveillance system and confirmed by CDC testing on September 5th. The patient, who had underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized, treated with antiviral medications, and has since recovered.

Unlike the previous human cases this year, which involved direct contact with infected poultry or dairy cattle, this case does not have an obvious link to animal exposure. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is investigating potential alternative transmission routes.

The national flu surveillance system has previously detected other novel flu cases, but this is the first instance of H5 detection. The patient's specimen initially tested positive for flu A but negative for seasonal flu A subtypes, leading to further testing.

The FDA confirms that properly handled and cooked poultry, meat, and eggs are safe to eat. Proper cooking kills avian flu viruses, and the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply remains unaffected as milk is pasteurized before reaching the market. No consumers of poultry, eggs, or meat have been reported sickened.

It is also important to note that no poultry, eggs, or meat consumers have gotten sick,

The CDC monitors avian influenza cases across the US and investigating potential spread among people and animals. Sequencing of the neuraminidase (the "N") in the patient’s specimen is pending, and genome sequencing of the virus is ongoing. Current assessments indicate that the risk to the general public remains low due to the lack of sustained human-to-human transmission and limited virus spread.

“CDC is actively looking at multiple flu indicators during the current situation to monitor for influenza A(H5N1) viruses, including looking for spread of the virus to, or among people, in jurisdictions where the virus has been identified in people or animals,” the federal agency writes.

CDC recommendations related to H5 remain unchanged, but findings from the ongoing investigation may lead to updates in guidance.

CDC Confirms Human H5 Bird Flu Case in Missouri. CDC. September 6, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. 

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0906-birdflu-case-missouri.html

Questions and Answers Regarding Milk Safety During Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreaks. FDA. April 24, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024. 

https://www.fda.gov/food/milk-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/questions-and-answers-regarding-milk-safety-during-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai-outbreaks

How CDC is monitoring influenza data among people to better understand the current avian influenza A (H5N1) situation. CDC. July 12, 2024. Accessed September 9, 2024.


https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5-monitoring/index.html

First case this year without a documented occupational exposure to infected animals.


CDC Reports Confirmed Human Case of H5 Bird Flu 

Vaxcyte, Inc has announced positive topline results from its Phase 1/2 study of VAX-31, a 31-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) candidate. The study, which involved 1,015 adults aged 50 and older, found that VAX-31 was well tolerated and elicited strong opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) immune responses for all 31 serotypes evaluated. Notably, VAX-31 met or exceeded regulatory immunogenicity standards for all 31 serotypes at middle and high doses, showing significant improvements over Prevnar 20 (PCV20) for several serotypes.

“We are exceptionally proud to share these results, which we believe validate VAX-31’s potential as a best-in-class pneumococcal vaccine capable of raising the bar for immunogenicity standards,” said Jim Wassil, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vaxcyte. “The public health community continues to highlight the need for broader-protection vaccines to prevent IPD, which is associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance and meningitis. To address this need, VAX-31 was designed to increase coverage to more than 95% of IPD circulating in adults 50 and older in the United States, with the potential to provide significantly greater coverage relative to today’s standard-of-care adult PCVs.”

The randomized, observer-blind, dose-finding study compared three dosage levels of VAX-31 to PCV20, assessing its safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity over six months. Results showed that VAX-31 at the high and middle doses met non-inferiority criteria for all 20 common serotypes with PCV20, and demonstrated statistically superior immune responses for several serotypes. The vaccine also met superiority criteria for 11 additional serotypes unique to VAX-31.

, Vaxcyte completed enrollment for the Phase 1/2 trial of VAX-31, a 31-valent PCV designed to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The randomized, observer-blind, dose-finding study, which involves 1,015 participants, is evaluating three dosage levels of VAX-31 compared to PCV20.

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes PD, leads to severe infections such as meningitis, bacteremia, and pneumonia. It results in around 150,000 hospitalizations annually in the US The World Health Organization and the CDC classify Streptococcus pneumoniae as a top antibiotic-resistant threat. It is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths in children under five and causes over 50% of bacterial meningitis cases in the US The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains highlights the urgent need for a more effective vaccine.

Looking ahead, Vaxcyte plans to advance VAX-31 into a Phase 3 program, with a pivotal non-inferiority study set to begin by mid-2025. Additionally, a Phase 2 study of VAX-31 in infants is planned for early 2025. VAX-31 aims to provide broader protection against pneumococcal disease, potentially covering more than 95% of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) strains in adults. As a novel 31-valent PCV, it represents a significant advancement in pneumococcal vaccination, seeking to enhance coverage and efficacy beyond current standard vaccines.

Vaxcyte Reports Positive Topline Data from Phase 1/2 Study of VAX-31, its 31-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Candidate, in Adults Aged 50 and Older. 

September 3, 2024. Accessed September 4, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/09/03/2939548/0/en/Vaxcyte-Reports-Positive-Topline-Data-from-Phase-1-2-Study-of-VAX-31-its-31-Valent-Pneumococcal-Conjugate-Vaccine-Candidate-in-Adults-Aged-50-and-Older.html

Inc V. Vaxcyte completes enrollment of phase 1/2 study evaluating vax-31 for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (Ipd) in adults aged 50 and older. 

 News Room. January 29, 2024. Accessed September 4, 2024. 

https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/01/29/2818922/0/en/Vaxcyte-Completes-Enrollment-of-Phase-1-2-Study-Evaluating-VAX-31-for-the-Prevention-of-Invasive-Pneumococcal-Disease-IPD-in-Adults-Aged-50-and-Older.html

The Phase 1/2 study of VAX-31 demonstrated that the vaccine was well tolerated and elicited strong opsonophagocytic activity immune responses across all 31 evaluated serotypes.

Vaxcyte Announces Positive Results For Pneumococcal Vaccine

James Graham, CEO discussed the company's progress in developing a new antibiotic for sepsis and diabetic foot ulcers.

Reece Pharmaceuticals Advances Antibiotic Development to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

At the World AMR Congress, Recce Pharmaceuticals contributes by making strides with a synthetic compound designed to target bacterial mutations, underscoring the need for innovation in addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). “Our compound is entirely synthetic,” Graham said. “We started with first principles, designing a compound that remains effective with repeated use.”

The new antibiotic functions as a broad-spectrum solution, targeting bacteria across various infections without distinguishing between 'good' and 'bad' bacteria. “Bacteria mutate continuously, but our compound remains effective regardless of these mutations. It functions as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, targeting bacteria across various infections, such as UTIs, without distinguishing between 'good' and 'bad' bacteria. This allows us to work faster and more effectively than other antibiotics. Our compound empowers clinicians to treat patients quickly and reliably, even with repeated use.”

Graham addressed current gaps in AMR awareness, noting that the industry often repeats existing strategies while expecting different results. “We have approached this challenge differently by exploring polymeric chemistry, creating a compound that remains effective and soluble across various pH levels, including those found in the blood and stomach. The industry must innovate rather than reiterate existing methods. The market recognizes and rewards genuine innovation that delivers substantial value.”

On market adoption, Graham highlighted the challenges of introducing novel treatments and strategies to bring new antimicrobial treatments to market to become broadly adopted. “Bringing anything new to market is challenging, especially with novel compounds. The more innovative a product, the more hesitant the industry can be.”

The development process includes identifying and patenting the optimal compound, navigating regulatory cycles from preclinical to clinical trials, and achieving real-world clinical outcomes.

Graham discusses the stages of product development:

Identifying and patenting the optimal compound,

Navigating the regulatory cycle from preclinical to clinical trials

Successfully completing these stages drives investor and commercial interest. Reece Pharmaceuticals’ efforts significantly advance AMR treatment, aiming to provide effective solutions for critical infections.

Conferences

World Anti-Microbial Resistance Congress

Recce Pharmaceuticals Advances Antibiotic Development to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Diane Shader Smith discusses her daughter and AMR advocacy.

Honoring Her Daughter’s Legacy After a Long-Standing Battle With Antimicrobial Resistance

Mallory Smith was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) when she was 3 years old, explained her mother, Diane Shader Smith, but it did not become problematic until the pathogen 

 was found in her lungs when she was 12 years old.

When people with CF become colonized with a bacteria such as 

, they are often put in a situation where it becomes a revolving door of medical encounters including hospitalizations, lung treatments, and antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, antibiotic treatment can see diminishing returns as previously effective therapies are no longer working against the bacteria and a greater antimicrobial resistance is seen against a pathogen that never leaves the lungs.

“Over time, they told us that the antibiotics would stop working. And they started with single ones, and then they did synergistic connections to try to put different drugs together, and the cocktails eventually stopped working,” Smith said.

Through the years, Mallory had been hospitalized to treat infections and, eventually, she became a candidate for a double-lung transplant. She had a successful surgery, but even with new lungs, the pathogen was back and sadly, Mallory succumbed to AMR at the age of 25. 

Diane is a publicist by profession, and wanted to give the general public more information about AMR. Although her family lived through it for years, she didn’t realize the magnitude of AMR until after Mallory’s death.

“The most important thing that I try to communicate is that we have global health leaders all over the world working on this problem, but lay people and the mainstream public don't understand it,” Diane said. “I consider myself a bridge between those who are working in the silos, the inner sanctums, really seriously addressing the problem and getting the information out to people.”

Since getting involved in advocacy, she has given hundreds of presentations to different walks of life to everyone—from high school kids to grandparents—to let them know the scope and severity of the problem. Along with her talks, she has been involved in getting Mallory’s memoir, 

, published after her death, and a documentary with the same name about her daughter’s experience.

, which allows people to tell their individual medical stories about AMR.

Despite a growing spotlight around AMR, she says it is hard for everyone to see this as one major issue. “We're trying to push the global AMR diary as a way to get people to engage with the stories—to connect. But, it's challenging because it's an amorphous problem that people don't really understand,” Smith said.

In the first part of this interview, Smith discusses her mission for building AMR awareness, her daughter’s battle with cystic fibrosis, and her advocacy initiatives. 

 will be running the second part of this interview in the coming days.

After Diane Shader Smith lost her daughter, Mallory, to a multidrug resistant infection, she turned her personal tragedy into a mission designed to inform people about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and have the public coalesce around this expanding medical issue.  

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)’s Amanda Jezek offers some insights on the prospective bill in Congress as well as other AMR initiatives the organization is involved in.

A Pasteur Act Update

The Pasteur Act has been in Congress for a few years now, seemingly in a holding pattern. This bill authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enter into subscription contracts for critical-need antimicrobial drugs, provides $6 billion in appropriations for activities under the bill, and contains other related provisions.

 Last year, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) and Representatives Drew Ferguson (R-GA) and Scott Peters (D-CA), 

reintroduced the Pasteur Act in Congress.

 The bill was initially introduced in Congress by Bennet and Young in September 2020; the pair, along with Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Ferguson, then reintroduced the bill in June 2021.

After the bill’s reintroduction last year, 5 national organizations—the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Partnership to Fight Infectious Disease, and The Pew Charitable Trusts—issued a statement on the topic. “Antimicrobial resistance is not a partisan issue. It is an increasingly challenging public health emergency that reverberates far beyond just health care settings. Every 15 minutes, a person in the United States dies from an infection resistant to treatment with existing antimicrobial drugs. This means that since PASTEUR’s last introduction on June 16, 2021, more than 64,000 Americans have died because they did not have adequate medications to treat their infections,” part of the statement read.

, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Amanda Jezek, the senior vice president for Public Policy and Government Relations at IDSA, is participating in sessions, serving as chairperson of Impact, Policy, and Awareness, as well as participating on a panel around antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

In between activities at the meeting, Jezek sat down with 

 to offer some Washington insider updates on the prospective bill, as well as provide feedback about ongoing AMR initiatives that IDSA is working on.

Jezek does believe the Pasteur Act will pass and says it is better to do so now than deal with the consequences of increased mortality rates and the inability to perform procedures due to concerns over AMR. “I think it has to; the stakes are too high,” Jezek said. “Right now we are trying to convince Congress to do the right thing, and pass this while we have a little bit of lead time to protect modern medicine.” 

Jezek says that along with being a major supporter of the Congressional bill, IDSA is involved in other AMR-related activities including the US national plan to address AMR, and the United Nation’s meeting at the end of this month looking at AMR and a One Health approach. “IDSA has been really excited to have multiple opportunities to be able to brief UN leaders and other experts who are involved in this process.” 

Reference
1. Summary: S.1355 — 118th Congress (2023-2024). Congress.gov. Accessed September 5, 2024. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/1355

Amanda Jezek, of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), offers some insight on the prospective bill in Congress, as well as other AMR initiatives the organization is involved in.

Jaclyn O’Connor, PharmD

Articles

Latest Updated Articles