How Can Pharmacists Aid in Controlling the Spread of the Zika virus?

With a significant increase in rabies exposures this year, Rodney Rohde, PhD, talks about seeking medical attention after animal interactions as well as clinical treatment when people have been bit or scratched.

After 2 adults died of West Nile virus in central North Carolina this month, this FAQ explains how the mosquito-borne virus spreads, who faces the greatest risk of severe neuroinvasive disease, and how clinicians can diagnose, manage, and help prevent infection when no vaccine or antiviral treatment exists.

North Carolina health officials confirmed two West Nile virus deaths among adults in the central part of the state, where CDC data show 11 human cases this season.

UTI guidelines are moving away from complicated or uncomplicated infections to localized or systemic classification terminologies. Guidelines author Zachary Nelson, PharmD, MPH, BCIDP, provides further insights on the changes including applying antibiograms, potential costs, and whether clinicians will embrace these new classifications.

Kenya reported its first imported Bundibugyo Ebola death as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) outbreak surpassed 8,600 confirmed cases and 4,148 deaths, with 896 patients hospitalized in isolation. Here is a report on the latest numbers as well as vaccine and therapeutic study updates.

FDA-cleared single-step immunoblot tests built on recombinant antigens from multiple Borrelia species detected nearly twice as many early Lyme disease cases as standard 2-tier testing. Joseph J. Burrascano Jr, MD, offers insights into what the new tests mean for clinicians.

Lori Handy, MD, provides guidance in these areas, including presentation before rash onset, when patients should be considered for the inpatient setting, and what treatment looks like.

Jason Pogue, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, contextualizes preliminary data looking at this trial and other extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) studies, which reopens the debate around carbapenem-sparing treatment options.