John Parkinson

Highlights from the morning session of the C Diff Foundation Conference included data about Pfizer's investigational vaccine, insights about Seres Therapeutics microbiome therapeutic, and a look at CDI incidence rates around COVID-19.

The development of these programs are being looked at for private practices in the community settings to try to create better prescribing practices and avoid the potential progression to health care associated infections.

Loma Linda University worked with local leaders to help promote equitable delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in Black communities.

The emergency use authorization (EUA) is based on the vaccine data and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommendation.

This recommendation was based off of data showing the vaccine was 90% efficacious in this population, and sets the stage for the first COVID-19 vaccine in the age group.

The committee is meeting today to review the data presented to them, and will vote to either recommend or not an Emergency Use Authorization in this pediatric population.

The White House said it has secured enough of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine supply to offer vaccinations for everyone in this age group.

The company’s current investigational medical device, Sigyn Therapy, is a novel medical device that is being studied for addressing viral pathogens and bacterial toxins to avoid this massive inflammation onslaught and the potential of sepsis.

Merck recently announced results looking at their islatravir implant studied for HIV prevention for 3 months. The long-term goal is to have the implant last 12 months following administration.

This promising class of therapy is an expanding treatment option for people who are looking for HIV prevention offerings.

The filing is for the first oral antiviral therapy, and is based off its phase 3 trial.

Providers offer their insights on this important topic.

A new study shows Medicare-aged patients being treated in hospitals saw more of these types of infections, creating a greater burden on care and costs, and showing an increased mortality rate.

The companies made the request after their recent submission of data to support the emergency use authorization (EUA) in this patient population.

US federal health agencies are recommending an additional shot for this diverse patient population, and here on some insights about vaccine efficacy and breakthrough infections in these groups.

If the company gets approval it would be the first dispersible single tablet regimen containing dolutegravir.

A clinician provides an overview of the data on the microbiota-based live biotherapeutic, RBX2660, which in phase 3 studies has shown safety and reduction in recurrent C difficile infection (rCDI).

Investigators wanted to understand this phenomenon with a group of antiretroviral (ART) naïve people with HIV (PWH).

Investigators examined asymptomatic infection and the duration of viral shedding in symptomatic breakthrough infections in a phase 3 study with the AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccine.

This type of stewardship is a means of reducing unnecessary testing, getting the appropriate diagnosis more efficiently, and getting patients the appropriate therapy in a timely manner.

In a study looking at one urban South Florida hospital, the pandemic negatively impacted testing.

A study’s findings support the use of the therapy earlier in the course of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.

During the pandemic, hospitalists prescribing patterns changed, reflecting new data, clinical experience, and the introduction of new therapies.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America’s (IDSA) 2017 guideline saw an increase in using vancomycin as a first line therapy for Clostridioides difficile (CDI).

A team from a tertiary center in the Middle East used a multidisciplinary approach to increase immunization.

Ferring is presenting data from five studies at this week’s IDWeek about its investigational biotherapeutic, RBX2660, being studied for this problematic bacterium.

The Fenway Institute is hosting its upcoming Advancing Excellence in Transgender Health conference. The program will include education on transgender medical care as well as how clinicians and people within this community can interact and the former can understand the latter’s needs when it comes to preventative and acute care.

The emergence of this fungal infection remains mysterious as the world experiences more outbreaks.

In a departure from the independent APIC advisors, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, has decided to recommend boosters for people in high-risk occupations.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices posed a series of 4 questions related to a potential third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in various populations.