Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of July 26-August 2

The Value of Individual Instruction in a High-Volume Transplantation Environment

Aaron Mishkin MD, associate professor of medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and director of Transplant Diseases at Temple University Hospital, highlights the pivotal role of the infectious disease team in supporting Temple’s high-volume transplant program, which has performed over 2,500 organ transplants, including more than 1,500 lung or heart-lung procedures. Fellows benefit from one-on-one training with dedicated transplant ID attendings, gaining experience with a wide range of complex infections such as resistant cytomegalovirus, invasive fungal pneumonias, and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections. The program also includes dedicated outpatient clinics and ongoing research into transplant-related infections, including upcoming studies on multidrug-resistant organisms.

Danish Study Finds No Increased Risk from Aluminum-Containing Childhood Vaccines

Anders Peter Hviid MSc, head of epidemiology research at Statens Serum Institute in Denmark, led a nationwide cohort study examining over 1.2 million Danish children and found no evidence that aluminum-containing vaccines increase the risk of chronic autoimmune, allergic, or neurodevelopmental disorders. Published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the study used detailed national health registries to link early-life aluminum exposure from vaccines with later diagnoses and reported hazard ratios close to 1, indicating no meaningful associations. Hviid emphasized the strength of Denmark’s registry system and the importance of distinguishing aluminum’s specific effect from the vaccine itself. Inspired by prior CDC findings, the study adds to global vaccine safety data and will continue with long-term follow-up and further research into cognitive outcomes.

Ordering With Foresight

Mitchell Thelen PharmD BCIDP, infectious diseases clinical pharmacist at Erlanger, summarizes a recent study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center evaluating the impact of requiring antibiotic duration entry at the time of order. The intervention, which applied to all pediatric inpatients, aimed to address the common issue of unnecessarily prolonged antibiotic courses, which occur in about 30% of cases. The study showed a significant reduction in empiric therapy use and hospital-onset antibiotics, along with improved indication accuracy and prescribing behavior. Although days of therapy (DOT) per 1000 patient days showed mixed results due to changes in antibiotic selection, median treatment duration decreased from 6 to 4 days. The antimicrobial stewardship team reported no harm and noted the intervention allowed for earlier identification of inappropriate durations. The study supports incorporating duration entry fields as a proactive strategy to improve antibiotic use.

Pandemics, Pathogens, and the Psychology of Violence

Robert C Bransfield MD, a psychiatrist with expertise in neuropsychiatric infections, explores the connection between infectious diseases and violence in the second episode of an ongoing series. Drawing from clinical experience and historical patterns, he argues that infections like COVID-19 can impair cognition and emotional regulation, contributing to increased aggression and global instability. Bransfield points to post-pandemic rises in domestic violence, substance abuse, and gun-related incidents, as well as a decline in the Global Peace Index, to support his view. He urges a broader investigation into whether other infections might also trigger similar outcomes and proposes that if violence is a pathological process driven in part by infection, it could be understood, treated, and ultimately prevented.

What We Can Learn From Polio and Its Vaccines

Andrea Prinzi PhD MPH SM(ASCP) reflects on the enduring lessons of polio and its vaccines, emphasizing the transformative role of the March of Dimes in funding Jonas Salk MD’s breakthrough vaccine. She highlights how President Franklin D Roosevelt's call for donations united Americans behind a common cause, catalyzing medical progress through grassroots philanthropy. Prinzi also addresses modern challenges such as vaccine-derived polio, particularly from type 2 strains, and how new vaccines are being developed to prevent mutation and spread. Drawing parallels to COVID-19, she underscores the public's unrealistic expectation that science should offer immediate, flawless solutions, instead advocating for adaptability and evolution in scientific response.