Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of August 23-30

No Shortcuts With C difficile: What Electronic Hand Hygiene Reminders Tell Us About Hand Washing Prevention

Clostridioides difficile (C diff) remains a leading healthcare-associated infection, but a case study from a 400-bed US hospital demonstrated that electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems (EHHMS) with real-time reminders can significantly improve compliance and reduce infection rates. Between 2017 and 2020, the system tracked more than 20,000 handwashing events in C diff rooms: 58.7% were performed correctly without prompting, 28.9% initially attempted sanitizer use but were redirected to soap and water, and 12.4% required timed reminders to wash. Implementation was associated with a >50% reduction in C diff cases within one year and an 84% reduction over four years, earning the hospital safety and innovation awards. While the study was limited to a single facility and long-term behavior change remains uncertain without monitoring, the findings underscore the importance of room-specific prompts and electronic reinforcement in closing persistent gaps between hand hygiene policy and practice.

UNC’s Global Laboratory Attracts Researchers, Leads to Discoveries Around HIV Prevention and Treatment

The University of North Carolina’s Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID) continues to play a leading role in HIV prevention and treatment research through its Global Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), which operates across the southeastern United States, Malawi, and Vietnam. Joseph Eron, MD, codirector of UNC’s CTU and division chief of infectious diseases, highlighted the unit’s involvement in the landmark PURPOSE 2 and 3 trials of lenacapavir for HIV preexposure prophylaxis, which demonstrated near-perfect protection and contributed to the drug’s FDA approval earlier this summer. PURPOSE 2, conducted in the US and South America, and PURPOSE 3, conducted exclusively in the US among women at risk, transgender individuals, and men who have sex with men, showed only a handful of infections among thousands of participants; trials in Africa reported no transmissions. Lenacapavir currently provides protection for up to 6 months, with studies under way to extend efficacy to 12 months. Eron emphasized the global-to-local impact of CTU’s work, noting that lessons learned abroad inform care in North Carolina, while also attracting top infectious disease recruits who seek to blend clinical practice with research.

FDA Approves Moderna’s Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Targeting LP.8.1 Variant for Fall 2025

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Moderna’s updated COVID-19 vaccines, Spikevax® and mNEXSPIKE®, for the 2025–2026 respiratory virus season, authorizing protection against the LP.8.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2. Spikevax is indicated for adults ≥65 years and for individuals aged 6 months–64 years with at least one high-risk condition, while mNEXSPIKE is approved for adults ≥65 years and for those aged 12–64 with high-risk conditions. The approval, announced August 27, 2025, follows data showing COVID-19 caused nearly 500,000 US hospitalizations last year, with experts emphasizing the updated vaccines as the most effective strategy to prevent severe outcomes in older and immunocompromised patients. Moderna reports that ongoing strain monitoring supports strong cross-neutralization against circulating variants, with clinical data expected soon, and additional regulatory approvals already granted in Canada, Europe, Japan, and Switzerland.

Biopreparedness Exercises Look to Contain High-Consequence Infectious Disease Outbreaks

The University of North Carolina’s Special Pathogens Response Center (SPARC), one of 13 federally designated centers for high-consequence infectious diseases (HCID), is leading national preparedness exercises to strengthen the US response to threats such as Ebola, Lassa fever, and novel coronaviruses. William A. Fischer II, MD, director of emerging pathogens at UNC, explained that HCIDs are defined by high transmissibility, limited countermeasures, and high mortality, requiring rapid isolation and specialized infection control. Recent training initiatives, including the federal “Tranquil Passport” exercise and UNC’s interdisciplinary biocontainment simulations, tested readiness for patient transport, quarantine, and emergency interventions. These efforts demonstrated improved coordination among pediatric specialists, infectious disease experts, and surgical teams, with David Wohl, MD, noting the US is now “in much better shape” to handle HCID threats. Both Fischer and Wohl drew on experience from West Africa Ebola responses to stress that emerging pathogens are becoming more frequent and larger in scope, underscoring the need for specialized regional networks and continuous hospital preparedness.

Protecting Older Adults From Severe COVID-19

Older adults remain at the highest risk for severe COVID-19, accounting for approximately 70% of hospitalizations and 90% of deaths in the United States, according to Juanita Mora, MD, an allergist and immunologist in Chicago. Mora emphasized vaccination as the most important defense, with masking as an added layer of protection, and highlighted that half of older adults hospitalized with COVID-19 develop long-term complications including respiratory, neurological, or cardiac sequelae. To address misinformation and increase uptake, she has engaged in bilingual outreach, social media advocacy, and community partnerships, including a free vaccine clinic with Walgreens and the American Lung Association in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Mora urged clinicians to encourage vaccination against COVID-19, influenza, and RSV ahead of the holiday season to protect vulnerable populations, particularly grandparents and multigenerational households.