Respiratory Infections

Spero Therapeutics announced that SPR720, an oral agent being developed for the treatment of lung infections caused by NTM, has received QIDP designation from the FDA.

Mycobacterium avium isolates were detected in household water in 81.1% of households sampled in a new study, suggesting a link to Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease.

A study reports that a respiratory virus infection diagnosis was not linked with a decrease in antibiotic exposure and use of respiratory viral panels did not affect clinical outcomes.

Antibiotic prescription following ventilation in children with RSV-LRTI was associated with a 1.21-day shorter duration of ventilation and a 2.07-day shorter length of hospital stay.

The FDA has approved room temperature stable, premixed vancomycin injections, which will be available in ready-to-use bags.

A computer simulation model developed by NYU investigators uses math to forecast influenza activity.

Lessons from the frontlines of post-hurricane public health response

Japanese researchers find a concerning resistance to a new antiviral flu medication.

Hospital visits for so-called “Victorian-era” diseases are on the rise in the United Kingdom, and experts there believe public health budget cuts may be behind the upswing.

A clinical trial is underway evaluating whether the vaccine candidate ID93 + GLA-SE can induce immune responses to prevent against reinfection and reactivation of TB.

Investigators wanted to know if using linezolid in place of ethambutol in the treatment of pulmonary TB might shorten treatment times. The results of a new study show the swap worked, but not as well as other therapies.

An investigative maternal vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could soon alter the scope of care for the condition, which is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year in the US.

A new analysis reports that 1 in 4 infants with bronchiolitis was given an antibiotic despite the fact that 70% of patients did not meet prescribing recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A large cohort study in South Korea found that human metapneumovirus associated pneumonia cases were strongly associated with older age, current smoking, and underlying disease.

In 2017, lower respiratory tract infections linked with influenza were responsible for an estimated 145,000 deaths worldwide.

Updated guidelines will hopefully spur more clinicians to test for and treat influenza in people with symptoms whether they’re high risk or not.

With early season flu vaccination rates up from 2017-2018 early season rates, new pediatric influenza deaths around the country are prompting health officials to call for even higher vaccination rates.

A new study points to the importance of refugee health.

Invasive aspergillosis affects up to 13% of immunocompromised patients who are in the hospital.

Freeze-drying vaccines enables health officials to get vaccines to remote areas, but until now, it has not been possible for the fragile polio vaccine.

People living with HIV should get a flu shot each year, according to experts.