Kenneth Bender, PharmD, MA

Compared to culture/sensitivity results (C/S) results, ICU-based PCR testing of hospital-acquired pneumonia was associated with lower treatment costs and better antibiotic stewardship, but not higher cure rates.

Study ranks antibiotic classes by risk for rare, life-threatening cutaneous reactions of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis.

The 2024-2029 5-year UK national action plan for antimicrobial resistance is the second to emerge from the 20-year strategy announced in 2019.

Spare use of carbapenem-sparing regimens reflects practice lagging behind guidance, among the challenges in implementing antimicrobial stewardship.

S salivarius probiotic reduces relative abundance of nasopharyngeal otopathogens but not incidence of acute otitis media in children.

Screening for Clostridioides difficile in all admissions to ICU identified asymptomatic carriers and their risk for developing and/or transmitting infection.

The TRUNCATE-TB trial demonstrated 8 week regimen with bedaquiline and linezolid for rifampin-susceptible TB noninferior to standard 6-month treatment.

Phase 2 trial with bepirovirsen demonstrates possibility of a functional cure of chronic hepatitis B infection that is sustained after treatment is discontinued.

Cancer increased risk of COVID-19 among the vaccinated, with subsequent "significant and substantial" hospitalizations and mortality.

Surveillance of N meningitidis finds that resistance is rare, with intermediate susceptibility to penicillin consistent year-to-year.

Study of Heartland virus in lone star ticks in Georgia adds to evidence of how it evolves, spreads geographically, and causes disease.

Few patients hospitalized for COVID-19 developed concurrent infectious diseases or required antibiotics.

Evidence for using antibody-rich convalescent plasma in early, outpatient treatment of COVID-19 is described as "solid."

Extended findings from blinded mRNA-1273 vaccine pivotal trial include efficacy across subgroups, including elderly and with coexisting conditions.

Large cohort study quantifies risk for hospital admission for COVID-19 among healthcare workers and members of their households.

Antibiotics are compared to surgery for appendicitis in light of patient concerns about hospitalization and hospital concerns about resources during COVID-19.

Virologists have taken marketed drugs from in-vitro screening for potential to repurpose for SARS-CoV-2 to in-vivo results in animal model.