Top Infectious Disease News Stories Week of March 15 - March 21

Simplifying the Complex: Dalbavancin as an Option for Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) remains a leading bacterial cause of mortality. Randomized clinical trials informing SAB management are limited, and treatment generally consists of prolonged courses of intravenous antibiotics.^1-3 Although outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has shifted the treatment of infections from inpatient to outpatient, clinicians should remain alert to OPAT-associated complications, including vascular access complications, such as vascular occlusion, catheter-associated thrombosis, or line-associated infection.^4,5

Dalbavancin, a long-acting lipoglycopeptide with a terminal half-life of 14 days, is an attractive agent in our arsenal for the treatment of gram-positive infections.⁶ When administered as a 2-dose, 1500-mg weekly regimen, pharmacokinetic modeling reveals plasma therapeutic concentrations above S aureus’ minimum inhibitory concentration sustained for 6 weeks or longer.⁷ Although clinical success with dalbavancin has been demonstrated in skin and soft tissue infections, bone and joint infections, and endocarditis,^8-16 failures have also been reported,^17-19 highlighting the need for quality data.

Understanding the Current ACIP

This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was supposed to convene for the first time since a series of highly controversial vaccine schedule changes; a flurry of relevant personnel changes, including the appointment of Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD; and the recent addition of 2 more voting members to the committee.

This meeting was pushed back after it was initially scheduled for late February. A district court judge blocked the federal government from implementing a series of vaccine-related policy decisions made over the past year by US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) leadership.

By pausing those decisions, the court has effectively prevented the ACIP from holding its scheduled meeting

WHO Releases New Targets to Guide Development of Antibiotics for Drug-Resistant Infections

As antimicrobial resistance continues to threaten global health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released 3 new target product profiles (TPPs) designed to guide the development of next-generation antibacterial therapies for some of the world’s most dangerous drug-resistant infections.

The new TPPs provide detailed guidance on the minimum and preferred characteristics of future antibiotics, helping researchers, pharmaceutical developers, regulators, and funding organizations align innovation with the most urgent clinical needs. The profiles focus on 3 major areas: severe multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections, resistant gram-positive infections in immunosuppressed and critically ill patients, and bacterial meningitis.

Measles Update: March 20, 2026

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported there were 1,487* cases of measles in the US as of March 19, 2026. Week-over week, that is an additional 125 cases and a 9.18% increase. Last week, the federal agency reported there was 1,362* confirmed cases.¹ This marks an increase in the number of cases from the previous week that saw a 6.2% increase in cases the week ending, March 12.

Lawmakers Introduce PrEP Access and Coverage Act to Expand HIV Prevention Nationwide

A group of Democratic lawmakers has introduced the “PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026,” a sweeping proposal designed to significantly expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective tool for preventing HIV. Led by Sens. Tina Smith and Adam Schiff, along with Reps. Mark Takano, Becca Balint, and Mark Pocan, the legislation seeks to remove financial and systemic barriers that have limited PrEP uptake across the United States. The bill would require both private and public insurers to cover all forms of PrEP—including newer long-acting options—without patient cost-sharing or prior authorization requirements. Lawmakers also aim to strengthen federal oversight by mandating enforcement and annual reporting from insurers, addressing ongoing compliance gaps with existing coverage rules.