Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of May 10 to May 17

Microbiota-Based Therapy Improves Mental Quality of Life in rCDI Trial

A phase 3b trial presented at Digestive Disease Week 2025 showed that colonoscopic administration of fecal microbiota live-jslm (Rebyota or RBL) is a safe and effective method for preventing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in adults. In the open-label CDI-SCOPE study involving 41 participants across 12 US sites, 95.1 percent achieved treatment success with minimal adverse events. Most reported side effects were mild and gastrointestinal. Physician feedback was highly positive, with over 90 percent reporting satisfaction with the procedure and patient outcomes. Paul Feuerstadt, MD, highlighted how this method improves upon older fecal transplant approaches by offering a more structured and accessible microbiota restoration technique.

Global Study Reports 98.9% SVR with SOF/VEL in Over 7,000 Hepatitis C Patients

A global real-world study of 7,027 patients treated with sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL) for hepatitis C reported a sustained virologic response rate of 98.9% across diverse geographic regions, genotypes, and patient populations, including those with HIV and mental health disorders. Conducted in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the US, the study showed consistent efficacy even in cases with genotype 3 or cirrhosis. The median patient age was 55 years, and 65% were male. Despite high cure rates, only 24% of patients began treatment within 30 days of diagnosis, with females initiating treatment sooner than males. Anu Osinusi, MD, MPH emphasized the need to reduce time to treatment initiation to improve outcomes and minimize liver-related complications.

Peptide-Decorated Liposomes Enhance Drug Delivery Against Candida auris and Candida albicans

Researchers developed liposomes loaded with the antifungal drug posaconazole and decorated with the peptide penetratin, resulting in significantly improved drug delivery against Candida albicans and Candida auris. These peptide-decorated liposomes increased fungal binding from 50% to over 80% and allowed for biofilm inhibition at drug concentrations up to 1300 times lower than free posaconazole. In a murine infection model, the modified liposomes reduced fungal burden by 60% compared to non-targeted formulations. This study addresses the urgent need for improved antifungal strategies, especially in light of C auris’s global spread and drug resistance, as emphasized in recent editorials and by the WHO’s classification of C auris as a critical priority pathogen.

Handwashing: An Infection Prevention Method That We Forget?

A new survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) revealed that nearly half of US adults admit to forgetting or choosing not to wash their hands at key times such as after visiting public places or healthcare settings, even though handwashing can prevent up to 80 percent of infectious diseases. The 2025 State of Handwashing Report found that 62 percent of respondents knew the correct duration of 20 seconds for effective handwashing, but only 30 percent reported washing hands after coughing or sneezing. Gender differences also emerged as 34 percent of men were more likely to forget handwashing, while 34 percent of women were more likely to use hand sanitizers. Robert H Hopkins Jr, MD, NFID medical director, emphasized that handwashing remains a critical component of infection prevention alongside vaccination and other measures. To promote awareness, NFID launched the Hands In For Handwashing campaign and is traveling with a mobile Clean Hands Caravan, stopping at major public events to provide handwashing access and education.

Greater Incidence of Antimicrobial Resistant Infections in Cancer Outpatients

A large retrospective cohort study published in The Lancet Oncology found that outpatients with cancer have a significantly higher incidence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) infections compared to those without cancer. The study, which analyzed over 1.6 million pathogen isolates from 198 US outpatient healthcare settings between 2018 and 2022, showed elevated resistance across key pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacterales, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus spp. For example, vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus was 18.6 percent in cancer patients versus 9.1 percent in non-cancer patients. The odds of encountering multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing pathogens were nearly double or more for cancer patients. The authors emphasized the need for improved surveillance, diagnostic stewardship, and tailored infection prevention efforts in oncology outpatient care to address this higher burden of AMR and improve patient outcomes.