Nina Cosdon

HIV testing is for everyone, explains Dr. Uri Belkind, regardless of sexual orientation, race, or gender.

Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungal pathogen, has become a significant concern in Israel. A recent study reveals a 30-fold increase in C auris cases in 2021, with a strong correlation to COVID-19 surges.

This week's most-read stories included a dive into racial disparities in hepatitis B and increased meningococcal disease in persons with HIV.

Even low levels of air pollution make COVID-19 worse, this study found. Air pollution exposure was associated with more severe disease, longer hospitalization periods, and an increased likelihood of intensive care admission.

Older adults should receive the GSK or Pfizer RSV vaccine this fall, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted yesterday. The recommendation is expected to be finalized by CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

Though the drug is initially more expensive, treating C diff infection with fidaxomicin reduced costs overall by reducing CDI recurrences.

While COVID-19 patients had a higher risk of venous thromboembolic disease compared to influenza and sepsis patients, the risk of other adverse outcomes was comparable.

ABNCoV2, a non-adjuvanted COVID-19 booster vaccine by Bavarian Nordic, demonstrates promising results in phase 2 trials. The vaccine generates strong immune responses, neutralizing multiple variants of concern, including Beta, Delta, and Omicron.

This past weekend, vaccine scientist and physician Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, was stalked outside his home after facing online scrutiny from Twitter CEO Elon Musk and controversial podcaster Joe Rogan. His story is severe, but Hotez is far from the first health advocate to be harassed online since the COVID-19 pandemic.

While African American/Black participants were less likely to meet treatment criteria, treatment receipt did not significantly differ by race, indicating equitable access to treatment.

This week, the FDA’s vaccine advisory committee unanimously voted the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines should be updated to a monovalent XBB strain. Read all about this and other top infectious disease headlines.

The vaccine induced seroprotective chikungunya virus neutralizing antibodies in 98.9% of participants, regardless of age, and levels were maintained for up to 180 days.

The FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) unanimously voted 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines should be updated to a monovalent XBB strain.

This model proposes a risk threshold for recommending rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), potentially reducing unnecessary treatments and associated costs.

So far, the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle has confirmed 33 patients have been infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, 9 of whom have died.

Collaboration and teamwork are essential components in addressing UTI management and antibiotic resistance, explains infectious disease clinical specialist Kim Leuthner, PharmD, FIDSA.

This week's most-read story examined long COVID 2 years after acute infection. Read all about this and other infectious disease news now.

COVID-19 reshaped the landscape of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Explore the prevalence of resistant pathogens, the impact on infection prevention, and the changes in positive pathogens.

After an all-day meeting, the FDA’s Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee has voted to recommend nirsevimab (Beyfortus) for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in infants.

In this mini podcast, Kim Leuthner, PharmD, FIDSA, explores the challenges of choosing empirical therapy for complicated UTIs before culture results are available.

This study compares the mortality rates between Canada's public health care and the US private system, highlighting the complexities of pandemic response.

Recognizing high-risk patients is crucial for effective management of UTIs, explains Kim Leuthner, PharmD, FIDSA.

Following household COVID-19 transmissions for over 3 years, investigators found that 70.4% had a pediatric index case.

By repopulating the gut with healthy and diverse microbiota, Vowst aims to prevent further C diff recurrences and restore patients' quality of life.

Findings indicate that while the severity of health impairment decreases over time, 18% of unvaccinated participants still experience symptoms up to 2 years after infection.

From outbreaks to breakthroughs, these are the biggest infectious disease headlines from the past week.

How does the diagnosis rate of mental health disorders after COVID-19 compare to that of other respiratory infections?

The FDA's decision to approve Abrysvo was based on data from a Phase 3 clinical trial, which demonstrated the RSV vaccine's efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety in adults aged 60 and older.

Neutralizing antibodies were initially lowest among Janssen vaccine recipients, but this all changed 6 months after vaccination.

Sleep as a shield: A new study reveals that sleeping well before COVID-19 infection reduces the risk of post–COVID-19 condition (long COVID).