John Parkinson

Last year’s historic RSV season left many wondering if this was going to become a recurring trend. Physicians weigh in on what they are seeing at their institutions in terms of infection rates.

This week's news looked at the medical and economic burden of AMR, why the implementation of new College of American Pathologists rules presents an opportunity for collaboration between microbiology labs and ID providers, which specific antibiotics showed the greatest associations with adverse drug reaction case reports related to C diff, and how infants with HIV could be spared from requiring lifetime ART if treated within hours of birth.

A clinician discusses the vaccines' efficacy, which risk factors may rank higher for disease severity, and offers insights on counseling patients.

As of last Friday, 117 people have been sickened, 61 hospitalized, and 2 people have died.

A study offers a glimpse into what populations may be more likely to suffer a prolonged infection and may need to be prospectively followed for surveillance and monitoring.

The emergency use listing (EUL) now provides another option for those who are in World Health Organization (WHO) member states.

This week's news includes a Massachusetts hospital facing a lawsuit for potential HIV and hepatitis exposure, a study shows reduced mortality rates in combining vancomycin and cefazolin in patients with bloodstream infections, a PCR-based rapid test can de-escalate antibiotic therapy quicker for bloodstream infections, and how the implementation of new College of American Pathologists rules presents an opportunity for collaboration between clinical microbiology laboratories and infectious disease pharmacists and physicians.

Therapy development, management improvements, and public health initiatives have all helped to change the trajectory of health outcomes for many, but still millions of people remain behind and are not in the continuum of care.

A recent novel study found reduced mortality rates in combining these therapies in patients being treated for this specific bacteremia.

A study showed utilizing a PCR-based test can narrow therapy quicker and help in resolving these infections sooner.

Topline data results from the company’s phase 3 trial, STRIDE-3, were announced and will be presented at the World Vaccine Congress West Coast.

A small study showed high efficacy for the same strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Biopharmaceutical company, Barinthus Biotherapeutics, studied its investigational immunization candidate, VTP-300, together with Arbutus Biopharma’s hepatitis B (HBV) therapeutic, imdusiran.

In this week's news, we covered the HCV elimination program, recent food recalls, live biotherapeutic products for recurrent C diff, and the availability of a monoclonal antibody for RSV prevention in infants.

The FDA says the recall being performed by Wilcox Ice Cream is doing this out of concern for listeria contamination in the products.

A study demonstrates the microbiome changes and how restoration of the gut flora is warranted when patients are dealing with recurrent bouts of the health care-associated infection.

Shionogi’s therapy, ensitrelvir, was found to reduce and prevent these issues.

This week we covered antibiotic de-escalation, the approved fecal microbiota options for prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile, the CDC's recommendations for HCV testing in the pediatric populations, and examining pragmatic approaches to skin and soft tissue Infections.

At the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) meeting held last week, Barinthus Biotherapeutics announced the presentation of data from its hepatitis B clinical trials.

Seres Therapeutics reported its financials recently including the performance of it therapy, Vowst, as well as updates on its business and one of its investigational therapies.

The investigational agent, afabicin, was developed by private company, Debiopharm, and a clinician offers some insights on the therapy in these 2 therapeutic areas.

With the FDA approval of 2 of these products, which are indicated for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), a study reviewed which types of clinicians are prescribing them and the protocols in using them.

Although the current reimbursement model makes it difficult for pharmaceutical companies to recoup their investments, a subscription model like the prospective congressional bill, the Pasteur Act, may help change that paradigm. In addition, there are international measures being carried out that may bring about changes.

The companies announced a licensing agreement on cefepime-taniborbactam.

The Leapfrog Group finds there were improved health care-associated infection (HAIs) rates following an earlier spike during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With these infections being problematic, a newer antiviral offers an alternative option for these patients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at outbreak-related deaths and found a majority of decedents had existing preexisting conditions.

This week's stories include study data on 2 RSV vaccines for seniors; an update on C diff therapies; looking at Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative; and a study on Paxlovid and Long COVID.

The patient advocacy organization has events in place and is ready to launch its annual C diff awareness campaign.

In this week's news, CDC sent out a health advisory to change the prescribing recommendations for the newer preventative respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody; a clinician discusses the ongoing challenges presented with critically ill patients and the timing and scope of antibiotic prescribing practices; and antidepressants were associated with a greater risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).