Antimicrobial Stewardship

Intravenous (IV) push is an attractive option to administer antimicrobial therapy to patients in an efficient and effective manner in a variety of clinical settings. While many advantages to IV push administration exist, clinicians should be mindful of available literature regarding safety profiles, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics, and clinical data for IV push antimicrobial administration prior to utilizing it in specific patient populations.

Vaccines and treatments are up for approval in early to mid-2025, including a chikungunya vaccine, a meningococcal vaccine, a monoclonal antibody for RSV, and more.

Mackenzie Keintz, MD validate an antibiotic appropriateness metric to enhance UTI treatment in outpatient care, addressing challenges in coding and prescribing accuracy.

An investigational inhibitor, V-161, has been shown to reduce bacterial growth and colonization in an enzyme that is key to enterococcus proliferation.

Oral omadacyline or linezolid was equally efficacious to intravenous dosing for acute bacterial skin infections, and associated with less cost and risks.

In the third installment of our series on preparedness, Gavin Harris, MD, discusses the principles and challenges of biorisk management, focusing on infectious disease threats and containment strategies.

This investment will support the development of a rapid diagnostic platform for neonatal sepsis care by identifying infections and resistance markers within hours.

Significant value can be offered through the incorporation of stewardship concepts into infection guidelines, but we must also address the risk and challenges it may impose on health care systems.

Here is a novel use of ceftaroline to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis ventriculitis in a preterm infant with a ventriculosubgaleal shunt.

Mary Rochelle Smith, MD, Julie J Lee, MD, and Amy Chang, MD, PharmD, share expert strategies for implementing effective clinical decision support tools in practice.

Patrick D Crowley, DO explains the impact of the "skip phenomenon" in Staphylococcus lugdunensis infective endocarditis, linking it to longer hospital stays and higher mortality rates.

Babafela Awosile, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVPM, discusses the need for surveillance as blaCTX-M-15 and blaCMY-2 spread in humans, animals, and the environment.

How targeting zinc deprivation in VIM-2-expressing bacteria may open new doors for treating multidrug-resistant infections, with azithromycin showing promise.

Study reveals how bacteria secrete natural products that make their competitors vulnerable to viral infection, with potential implications for enhancing phage therapy and shaping microbial ecosystems.

Selective serotonergic reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and beta-adrenergic blockers among agents with potential to mitigate chronic wound infections.

CEO Larry D Sutton, MD, PhD, elaborates on the company's strategy and the science behind SIDIPREV to prevent C difficile infections in hospitalized patients.

In a retrospective cohort study, a health system found this form of prophylaxis led to substantial reductions in 2 of 3 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in a mostly male population.

New recommendations emphasize shorter, all-oral regimens for both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant TB.

Systematic reviews and localized studies reveal rising resistance rates in pediatric H pylori infections, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and treatment approaches.

Data detailing antibiotic choice and duration derived from electronic health records improved appropriate therapy use for community-acquired pneumonia.

As the year is ending, here are some of the bigger stories Contagion covered on this topic.

Randomized controlled trial rates PCR-based molecular testing over traditional culture-sensitivity in guiding treatment of complicated urinary tract infections.

Resistance is expected to worsen significantly, but can a combination of both ground-level clinician stewardship actions as well as systemic reforms such as the Pasteur Act at least slow down the train?

143 deaths and 592 cases confirmed in Kwango Province, with concerns about treatment access, drug resistance, and more.

Prenatal antibiotic use may increase the risk of asthma, food allergies, and obesity, underscoring the need for careful antibiotic stewardship during pregnancy.

P aeruginosa is found in 11.6% of diabetic foot infection cultures from hot, humid climates.

The MeMed Severity test can determine results within 15 minutes through a blood test and aims to offer treatment guidance with machine learning.

Amesh A. Adalja, MD, FIDSA outlined the importance of recognizing antibiotic resistance in healthcare settings, educating patients on responsible antibiotic use, and the need for new treatments and diagnostic tools.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, MPH, AAHIVP, discusses her work on the Equity in Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts (EASE) framework, including progress for it, and how other institutions or providers can implement it.

With melting ice and the release of ancient viruses, there are concerns around the emergence of potentially unknown infectious diseases. Emily Jenkins PhD, DVM, BScHon, offers insights on “zombie viruses” and says polar bears might hold the key to understanding what lies ahead, and how a One Health approach may help in surveillance and prevention.