SPOTLIGHT -
Flu Vaccine Protects Against Death, Recurrent Hospitalizations in Older Patients with CVD
The report showed the protective benefits varied somewhat by cardiovascular disease subtype.
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Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Surge Led to Surge in Hospital Infections, Too
A new analysis from a Massachusetts health system found in-hospital infections occurred at a higher rate when the Omicron variant was present compared to when wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was prevalent.
Against COVID-19, Both Natural and Vaccination-Mediated Protection Wane Over Time
Patients with a history of infection who were also vaccinated had the strongest protection, the data showed.
As Omicron Spreads, Public Health Officials Ponder When to Update COVID-19 Vaccine
Rather than developing vaccines for each new variant, some officials are pushing to follow the flu vaccine model, with annual vaccination.
RBX2660 Prolongs Time to Recurrence in Patients with CDI Infection
Patients who took RBX2660 following antibiotic therapy had lower rates of recurrence and double the time to recurrence, compared to patients taking placebo.
RBX2660 Cuts Risk of Recurrence in Patients with Multiple C Diff Infections
The microbiota-based live therapeutic had a 68.3% success rate when administered following antibiotic treatment, versus a 55% success rate in a placebo group.
In C Diff, New Attention Being Paid to the Role of the Virome
Most of the discussion around fecal microbiota transplantation has focused on bacterial communities, but new advances have shed more light on the role of the virome.
Rifaximin Effective in Majority of Patients Recurrent CDI Who Do Not Respond to Metronidazole
About 65% of patients with metronidazole-resistant recurrent C difficile infection benefitted from taking rifaximin.
Engineered Live Biotherapeutic Could Eliminate Gut Impacts of Antibiotics
In a mouse model, the product protected against C difficile without eliminating the antibiotic’s presence in the blood.
Metabolic Network Analysis Helps Clarify Drivers of Virulence in C Difficile
The technology platform could speed up the development of novel therapeutics to combat virulence.
Continuous Enteral Vancomycin Helpful in Cases of Severe Recurrent CDI
In a small retrospective study, 7 of 11 patients experienced clinical improvement.
Recurrent CDI Therapy RBX2660 Shows Durable Efficacy in Phase 2 Results
Nearly 8 in 10 patients with recurrent C. diff. Infection were successfully treated after up to 2 doses of the microbiota-based therapy.
New Study Suggests Single-Donor FMT Safe and Effective Against Recurrent CDI
In a case series of 18 patients, all but 3 were cured by single-donor fecal microbiota transplantation capsule therapy.
CDI Trial on Hold as FDA Probes SARS-CoV-2 Safety Protocols
Finch Therapeutics said it is providing information to the Food and Drug Administration to explain its testing protocols.
New CDI Therapy Builds Tailored, Standardized Whole Microbiome Therapeutics
The product is designed to eliminate some of the drawbacks of fecal microbiota transplantation.
Vancomycin Nonsusceptibility Common in CDI Cases
A new report based on samples from Texas and Kenya found significant proportions of samples from patients with CDI had nonsusceptible isolates.
In Neurosurgery, CDI Rates Drop When Extended Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Limited
While Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) risk appeared to drop, investigators said the overall risk of infection among patients was not changed in a statistically significant way.
New Antibody Cocktail Shows Promise in Preventing C Diff Infection
A new orally delivered investigational therapy could help curb the costly and often recurring infection.
Cure Rate High, Recurrence Low, in Transplant Patients with CDI
The results of the prospective study diverge from published retrospective studies.
C difficile Sequencing Finds Complex Transmission Routes
The single-center study suggested shoes are a common transmission route, but also hinted at a diverse web of transmission involving humans, animals, and the environment.
Low Body Weight Heightens CDI Risk in Elderly Population
In a study of more than 600 elderly Japanese, being overweight was a protective factor against Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).
Novel Antibiotic Could Be Game-Changer for CDI
The investigational therapy, ibezapolstat, demonstrated promising results in early trials.
CDI Following Liver Transplant Does Not Impact Mortality, Australian Study Finds
The results are likely specific to areas without hypervirulent strains of Clostridioides difficile, such as Australia.
CMS Program Appears to Succeed at Lowering Hospital CDI Rates
Hospital-onset CDI rates dropped by 6% in the first quarter of the program, which launched in 2016.
Racial, Ethnic Disparities Evident in COVID-19 Data
A new report underscores what early data suggested about disparities in the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19.
US Immunity Not High Enough to Contain COVID-19
Only about 60% of Americans have immunity, a number too low to protect the country through “herd immunity,” according to a new report.
Adolescent Vaccination Rates Held Steady in 2020, But Pandemic Could Change That
The data, which reflects pre-pandemic routine vaccination levels, showed human papillomavirus vaccine rates increased among teens ages 13-17.
Prospective Real-World Study Finds Epic Sepsis Model Speeds Antibiotics
The model found patients whose physicians received artificial intelligence-based alerts also spend fewer days in the hospital.
Convalescent Plasma Fails to Stop Progression in High-Risk COVID-19 Outpatients
In a head-to-head randomized controlled trial, 30% of outpatients who received convalescent plasma had disease progression, compared to 31.9% of patients who received placebo.
How Public Health Guidelines Shifted, Conflicted as Pandemic Unfolded
Public health guidance differed between countries in part because of a lack of relevant scientific evidence, resource limitations, and differing strategies, according to a new report.