Antimicrobial Stewardship

Ebola

HCV / Hepatitis

Blood-Borne Diseases

Climate Change

Coronavirus

Covid Vaccine Race

E. Coli

Food Safety

Listeria

Salmonella

Food Borne Infection / Food Safety

Fungal Infections

C. Difficile

H. Pylori

Norovirus

Gastrointestinal Infections

Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI)

Antibiotics

Immunizations

Vaccines

Prevention

Community-Acquired Pneumonia 

HAP / VAP

Influenza

Respiratory Infections

HIV / AIDS

PrEP

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

MRSA

Skin & Soft Tissue Diseases

Lyme Disease

ZIKA

Zoonotic & Vector-Borne Diseases

News

Media

Medical World News

Podcasts

Videos

Insights

Peer Exchange

Media Day

News Network

Roundtables

Conference

Conference Coverage

Conference Listing

Publication

CME/CE

Partners

Resources

Interactive Tools

Special Projects

Contribute

Case Studies

Writers and Mentors

Subscribe

Contagion® is a news resource for infectious disease specialists and practitioners, aiding identification, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.

About Us

Advertise

Editorial

Contact Us

Do Not Sell My Information

Privacy

Terms & Conditions

Contagion Live | Infectious Disease News & Expert Insights

Facebook

LinkedIn

Spotlight

Bench to Bedside With SIDP

C. difficile 

Clinical Corner

Hepatitis

RSV: A New Era in Prevention

Clinical

COVID-19

Food-Borne Infections

Healthcare-Associated Infections

Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Video Series

Peers and Perspectives

1rem

MeMed CEO Eran Eden, PhD, discusses the MeMed BV test and how it can help make the distinction between the types of infections, 

From Pathogen to Infectious Disease Diagnosis: 

One of the ongoing treatment challenges for providers is the ability to determine if infections are either bacterial or viral. Their presentation can be similar, and traditional testing can be time consuming. Of course, clinicians want to be sure patients are getting some type of intervention, so broad-spectrum antibiotics can often be prescribed in these cases.

“It [the MeMed BV test] tries to solve the following seemingly simple problem: a patient, a kid or adult comes to urgent care or to an ED [emergency department] with a suspected acute infection. Broadly, we're trying to discern the etiologies of a bacterial or viral infection. Do we treat or not treat with antibiotics?” said MeMed's co-founder and CEO Eran Eden, PhD.

Eden’s company developed a novel assay, the MeMed BV test, that can distinguish between bacterial and viral infections in 15 minutes. The test received a FDA 510(k) clearance in 2023 and also has the European CE Mark.



Eden says the test itself is a blood test that measures three proteins, and integrates them into a score. “They are measured and then computationally integrated into a score between zero and 100; the higher the score, the higher the likelihood of a bacterial infection.” 

MeMed shared results of 3 studies of the MeMed BV test which demonstrated the following:

63% reduction in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions (real-world study of 3,920 patients)

70% of previously missed bacterial infections correctly identified, leading to significantly fewer hospitalizations (7.8% vs. 30.3%)

Outperformed standard biomarkers like procalcitonin (PCT) in distinguishing bacterial vs. viral infections

Lower healthcare costs, especially in managing community-acquired pneumonia


Eden mentions the multiple challenges of pathogen testing. “The first is that even if you use a multiplex PCR, you're only going to put your hands on a microorganism on 30 to 40% of the cases; 60% of the cases there is no microorganism, and you still have to treat so that's 1 gap we're trying to solve,” Eden said. “The second thing is inaccessible infections. So you can apply, say, a SARS-CoV-2 or strep test in cases of pharyngitis. But what about otitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia? The immune system circulates throughout the entire body, so it allows you to identify these infections or the source of infection in these inaccessible infection sites. Third is the issue of colonization. So let's say you identify a virus or bacteria, some of them have very high prevalence, especially in kids, so mere detection does not apply causality, which is confusing, leading to overuse and underuse of antibiotics. Another element here is the element of super infections. So you identify an influenza, there's about 10% to 20% probability of bacterial super infection on top of that. So all these elements and obviously time—you want to get results fast—it's taking this simple problem and making it really hard to discern in real time.” 

He says these factors lead to uncertainty about the nature of the infection and they are trying to reduce that with the use of these newer generation of screening tools. He says screening can greatly aid in antibiotic stewardship and address the global issue of antimicrobial resistance.

“When you talk about reduction of overuse, I would like to maybe broaden the discussion to say it's both…depending on the over prescribed or nonbacterial infection for which it does not provide any benefit,” Eden said. “But there's also an element of underuse where you should prescribe and you're not prescribing…The BV test has started to show utility in reducing this uncertainty, both reducing overuse of antibiotics, but at the same time doing it in a safe manner, but also reducing cases where there's missed bacterial infections.”



References
1. 1.MeMed BV Test Demonstrates Antibiotic Overuse Reduction in First US Interventional Trial. MeMed. September 30, 2024. Accessed September 30, 2024. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/memed-bv-test-demonstrates-antibiotic-overuse-reduction-in-first-us-interventional-trial-302260001.html


2. MeMed BV Proven to Optimize Antibiotic Use, Outperform Standard Care, and Cut Costs in New Studies. February 27, 2025. Accessed April 11, 2025.
https://www.me-med.com/press_release/memed-bv-proven-to-optimize-antibiotic-use-outperform-standard-care-and-cut-costs-in-new-studies/



MeMed CEO Eran Eden, PhD, discusses the MeMed BV test and how it can help make the distinction between the types of infections, aid in patient management, and reduce antimicrobial resistance.

From Pathogen to Infectious Disease Diagnosis: Test Determines Between Bacterial and Viral Infections in 15 Minutes

Whole-genome sequencing may represent a significant advancement in case management for this population.

Identifying Invasive Pneumococci in Pediatric Infections Through Whole Genome Sequencing

 (pneumococcus) is a major cause of infections, including pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis, which can severely impact young children. According to the World Health Organization, pneumococcal pneumonia caused 1,189,937 deaths and 197.05 million incidents in 2016, globally. In looking at the mortality, nearly a third—341,029 of these deaths—occurred in children under 5 years of age.¹

Identifying this bacterium in children can be especially challenging. “Microbiological identification is challenging, since collecting respiratory samples in children is more problematic compared to adults,” Rueda et al. write. “Some microbiological tests have low sensitivities in children. Previous research has shown different etiologic attributions depending on the anatomical origin of collected specimens (induced sputum, nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal aspirate or swab, blood, and/or urine) and the diagnostic tests employed (PCR, acute or convalescent serology, cultures, direct or indirect immunofluorescence).”

Jose Alexander, MD, ABMM, ABAIM, FCCM, CIC, ASCP, BCMAS, medical director of the microbiology laboratory at AdventHealth in Orlando, FL, points out that there is even a greater burden in low- and middle-income countries as they have limited access to screening.

“Low-income countries have no access to specialized microbiology laboratories. Isolation, identification, and even basic imaging or testing can be really challenging,” Alexander said.

Having experience both as a practicing physician and now as a laboratorian, Alexander is able to utilize his clinical and diagnostic expertise in patient care. He recently authored an article, 

Genotyping Invasive Pneumococci: A Game-Changer in Pediatric Infection Management

In his piece, he notes that vaccines have led to a sharp decline in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Still, he explains, IPD evolves—especially as unvaccinated serotypes quickly fill the void. While newer vaccines are being developed to address these emerging serotypes, the importance of robust testing cannot be overlooked.

He sees WGS as a game-changer because it provides a complete genetic blueprint of the bacterium, helping to identify antimicrobial resistance.

Alexander emphasizes that this level of specificity can provide real-time, more precise information, leading to better patient outcomes. “We don’t want the patient to get these reports 2 or 3 months later,” Alexander said. “We want to be able to provide this result while the patient is still in the hospital.”

Alexander asked clinicians at his institution what it would mean if they could receive WGS results while the patient was still hospitalized. His clinical team responded that they could, “use this information to adjust, improve, escalate, or optimize treatment.”

1.Al-Jumaili A, Dawood HN, Ikram D, Al-Jabban A. Pneumococcal Disease: Global Disease Prevention Strategies with a Focus on the Challenges in Iraq. 

. 2023;16:2095-2110. Published 2023 May 29. doi:10.2147/IJGM.S409476
2.Rueda, Z.V., Aguilar, Y., Maya, M.A. 

 Etiology and the challenge of diagnostic testing of community-acquired pneumonia in children and adolescents. 

, 169 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03235-z

This method represents a significant advancement in case management for this population. In our latest From Pathogen to Infectious Disease Diagnosis Podcast, Jose Alexander, MD, ABMM, ABAIM, FCCM, CIC, ASCP, BCMAS, provides insights on its capabilities and how it can potentially aid clinicians in reducing antimicrobial resistance. 

Identifying Invasive Pneumococci in Pediatric Infections Utilizing Whole Genome Sequencing

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are an ongoing challenge that, like many 

 efforts, were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bruce M. Jones, PharmD, FIDSA, BCPS, is an infectious diseases clinical pharmacy specialist at St. Joseph's/Candler Health System in Savannah, GA, and a self-proclaimed antimicrobial steward.

“When we talk about some of these newer novel agents, it’s how do we use them but use them for appropriateness, use them for the right patients, so that we maintain that stewardship type of mindset.”

Jones works primarily in the inpatient setting, and spoke frankly about the common problem of patients initially receiving unnecessary antibiotics. “A lot of what we see from a challenge standpoint is these patients come in, they’re on IV 

, it’s usually the main reason why they’re there,” he explained. “How do we transition them to the outpatient side?”

In this mini podcast, Jones breaks down the “very straightforward criteria” he uses to decide whether an SSTI patient should be inpatient or outpatient.

However, there is some nuance. “I always say, sometimes it’s things beyond the infection that will buy that ticket to admission,” Jones noted. “What we’ve found from our research is the number 1 reason why patients get admitted for these infections is failure of outpatient oral therapy.”

Jones emphasized the importance of including patients in the decision of whether they should be inpatient or outpatient. He strives to work with a patient, including them in their own treatment. Jones said, “We find that about 23-26% of the time, just by speaking to them, we can remove that allergy.”

Overall, Jones spoke positively about recent developments in antibiotics and efforts to use them vigilantly. “I feel optimistic about the agents that are out there and where we are with the science. The biggest barrier, I would say, is how do we get that information to the general clinician?”

Tune in to learn more about Jones’s methods and successes with antimicrobial stewardship, as well as a thorough explanation of the daily and overarching challenges he faces as a clinical pharmacist treating SSTI patients.

In this mini-podcast, infectious diseases clinical pharmacy specialist Bruce M. Jones, PharmD, FIDSA, BCPS, breaks down the “very straightforward criteria” he uses to decide whether a skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) patient should be inpatient or outpatient.

How Do We Transition Patients on Heavy Antibiotics to Outpatient?

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reverberate across other areas of health and medicine.

Notably, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported 

 worsened by at least 15% during the pandemic.

“The biggest one that is concerning us is carbapenem-resistance among the gram-negatives, and that has increased,” said Christian Sandrock, MD, MPH, FCCP, vice chair for Quality and Safety, division vice chief of Internal Medicine, director of Critical Care, and professor of medicine at UC Davis Medical Center.

Assistant Managing Editor John Parkinson interviews Sandrock about how his institution is battling these bugs, the need for new therapies, and what we can all do to boost 

From the vantage point of his teaching hospital in Sacramento, Sandrock said, “We’ve actually seen things get a little bit worse, unfortunately.” Now is the time to renew the fight against the global threat of AMR.

Specifically, Sandrock discusses significant strides need takes to combat the rise in hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia (HABP) and ventilator-acquired bacterial pneumonia (VABP).

In this podcast episode, Christian Sandrock, MD, MPH, FCCP, describes the need to make significant progress in antimicrobial stewardship.

COVID-19 Pandemic Drove Carbapenem Resistance in Gram-Negative Infections

“Usually for antibiotic awareness you have a week,” said Dr. Teena Chopra, “But for 

a whole month has been dedicated, for a reason.”

Awareness Month and Antimicrobial Awareness Week. As Chopra explains, too often the people most affected by a lack of vigilance in these areas already experience marginalization and discrimination.

“We are all global citizens, and having that uniform, consistent health care for all is where we need to move toward,” said Chopra.

Teena Chopra, MD, MPH is the Corporate Medical Director of Hospital Epidemiology at Detroit Medical Center, as well as a professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine.

Chopra credits several mentors as inspiring her to specialize in infectious disease. Living and working in Detroit, MI, she has seen firsthand how infectious diseases can ravage underserved populations, moving her to practice where she’s most needed.

causes an estimated half a million infections a year and over a billion dollars in expenses in the US alone.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies 

However, until the disease touches their lives, the general public is largely unaware of its prevalence or even what 

 is. “We, as the health care community, need to raise more awareness for 

Listen in as Chopra discusses treatment regimens for 

 infection (CDI), as well as the populations disproportionately affected by this debilitating disease.

Missed Episode 6 of Contagion Community? 

Listen in on the conversation and feel free to offer your feedback on this episode, interest in participating in the podcast, or suggest ideas for future episodes. Please email your correspondence to Nina Cosdon: 

Dr. Teena Chopra discusses the global need to do more to prevent healthcare-associated infections like C difficile in vulnerable patient populations.

C difficile, Antimicrobials, and the Patients Most Affected

, where we delve into factors that create and widen health care disparities.

Although the development of antibiotics remains a challenge, there are some legislative strategies that could make it more attractive and get more players involved. 

On the fourth episode of the Contagion Community podcast, Evan Loh, MD, the CEO of Paratek Pharmaceuticals, discusses passing federal legislation to improve antibiotic development and reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been an ongoing public health problem for many years. A global analysis published in 

back in January estimated that antimicrobial resistance was the leading cause of death worldwide in 2019. Investigators estimated that resistance itself caused 1.27 million deaths that same year, and that antimicrobial-resistant infections played a role in 4.95 million deaths.

It has been something the medical community is quite aware of and has tried to do its part by developing antimicrobial stewardship programs at hospitals and medical centers to reduce the burden of AMR. Another issue within this public health concern has been antibiotic development. With it taking so many years to create new therapies, and reimbursement less attractive, larger pharmaceutical companies have left antibiotic development altogether. These life-saving medicines have become the domain of small, independent biopharmaceutical companies.

Combine those issues with 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and this significant health topic has been shelved for some time.

Paratek Pharmaceuticals is a good example of a company in the antibiotic space. This smaller company has developed an FDA-approved tetracycline-class antibiotic for adult patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections. This antibiotic is also being studied for a variety of other potential indications.

, which has a mission to “improve the regulatory, investment, and commercial environment for antimicrobial drug and diagnostic device development to provide doctors and patients with innovative infectious disease treatment options.”

Paratek’s CEO Evan Loh, MD, is passionate about these life-saving medicines and has been active in his support of the Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms Act of 2021 (DISARM) Act, which is a bill in Congress. “This bill requires additional payment under Medicare's inpatient prospective payment system for services that involve certain antimicrobial drugs, in accordance with specified limitations. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must report on the barriers to developing such antimicrobial drugs and must recommend ways to address such barriers,” 

Along with governmental advocacy, Loh also sees the value in public and private partnerships to enable greater involvement in the antimicrobial space.

 about the challenges of developing antibiotics and providing incentives such as the DISARM act to attract more pharmaceutical companies to get involved in developing these vital medicines.

Forging an Evolutionary Regulatory Path for Antibiotic Development

In a phase 3 study, GSK’s gepotidacin demonstrated 92% efficacy against the sexually transmitted infection (STI). 

Newly FDA Approved UTI Antibiotic Shows High Efficacy for Gonorrhea Treatment

A surge in invasive group A Streptococcal (IGAS) infections in children marked by more virulent strains followed a reduction in cases coinciding with protective measures for the pandemic.

Invasive Group A Strep in Children Surged After Pandemic Protections Relaxed

Study shows benefit using antibiotic earlier in clinical care for gram-negative infections. 

Cefiderocol Demonstrates Better Outcomes as Empiric or Documented Therapy as Compared to Salvage Therapy

Although the TB pipeline has several new agents in various phases, challenges to antimicrobial development remain. Therefore treatment adherence remains paramount. 

TB Treatment Development is Underway, But Research Interruptions Prioritize Therapy Compliance 

Patients with suspected sepsis in the emergency department are twice as likely to survive at 28 days when antibiotics are started within 1 hour.

“Golden Hour” to Start Antibiotic in Suspected Sepsis

Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS, discusses the evolving role of AI, real-world evidence, and clinician oversight in optimizing medication dosing for ICU patients.

Real-Time Adaptive Dosing and Its Challenges in Critical Care

The complexities of individualized medication dosing for critically ill patients, particularly those in intensive care units (ICUs), present significant challenges for clinicians. Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS, chief strategy and science officer at DoseMe, highlights the need for real-time adaptive dosing models that integrate patient data to optimize care.

Critically ill patients experience rapid physiological changes, which can significantly impact drug metabolism and clearance,“You and I can be given the same medication, such as a beta-lactam antibiotic, and our bodies would process it differently due to physiological differences,” Roy explained. “This variability is even more pronounced in ICU patients, where factors such as kidney function and drug absorption can change from hour to hour.”

To address this, DoseMe is developing models that continuously adapt to a patient’s clinical status by integrating real-time patient data. This approach aims to ensure that dosing decisions are tailored to the individual rather than relying on population-based estimates, which may not account for diverse patient conditions.

Limitations of Clinical Trials and the Importance of Real-World Evidence

One of the key barriers to individualized dosing is the reliance on clinical trial data. Roy notes that while FDA-approved medications undergo extensive testing, clinical trials often exclude diverse patient populations, limiting the generalizability of their findings.

“In clinical trials, patients are carefully selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, which means real-world patients, such as pediatric populations, elderly individuals, and those on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) may not be represented,” Roy says.

Without robust data on how medications behave in these populations, clinicians are left with limited guidance for individualized dosing. Real-time adaptive models aim to bridge this gap by providing personalized dosing recommendations based on real-world patient data rather than solely relying on controlled trial results.

AI and the Future of Individualized Dosing

Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasing role in healthcare, particularly in clinical decision support systems. Roy acknowledges both the potential and the challenges of integrating AI into real-time dosing models.

“AI can help support clinicians by analyzing large datasets and identifying patterns that would be difficult to discern manually,” Roy explained. “However, in healthcare, patient data privacy and compliance are paramount. The integration of AI must be transparent and controlled, ensuring that clinicians understand the recommendations being made and that clinical judgment remains central to the decision-making process.”

The role of AI in antimicrobial stewardship is another important aspect, particularly in the fight against AMR. By optimizing dosing strategies, AI-driven models can help ensure that antibiotics are used effectively, reducing the risk of resistance development. Roy emphasized that AI should not function as an autonomous system but rather as a tool that enhances clinical decision-making while maintaining necessary safety parameters.

“We need to avoid the ‘black box’ problem, where clinicians are unsure how AI-generated recommendations are made,” Roy said. “AI in dosing should be implemented in a way that provides transparency and allows for continuous monitoring and clinician oversight.”

Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS, discusses the role of AI, real-world evidence, and clinician oversight in optimizing medication dosing for ICU patients.

Real-Time Adaptive Dosing in Critical Care and How AI Contributes

Sharmeen Roy discusses the role of Bayesian dosing in optimizing antimicrobial therapy, therapeutic drug monitoring, and hospital resource allocation.

Bayesian Dosing in Antimicrobial Therapy: Impact on Patient Safety and Hospital Efficiency

The shift toward Bayesian dosing is transforming how hospitals manage antimicrobial therapy, particularly for medications requiring therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). As clinicians grapple with increasing patient loads and limited resources, precision dosing offers a safer, more efficient approach to optimizing treatment.

Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS, chief strategy and science officer at DoseMe, explains that vancomycin remains the most commonly used antimicrobial within their software, followed closely by aminoglycosides. 

Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS, discusses the role of Bayesian dosing, therapeutic drug monitoring, and hospital resource allocation.

Antibiotics

Latest News