Gastrointestinal Infections

Patients treated with oral metronidazole experienced significantly more first-line drug changes compared to those on fidaxomicin; although there were no significant differences observed in the global or clinical cure rate between the 2 treatments.

In this week's news, learn about a nurse practitioner's experience as both someone who has battled C diff herself and treated patients with the bacterial infection; a new investigational platform for COVID-19 vaccines; and how chronic hepatitis D is identified as the most severe and progressive form of viral hepatitis.

The company’s well-known Singles cheese brand is the focus of the recall.

Hurricane season is accompanied by an uptick in infectious diseases associated with environmental and water exposures.

The investigational vaccine was studied in a challenge trial and has a novel modality in that it is delivered as a monovalent oral tablet.

The Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain is linked to leafy greens–associated outbreaks over a multi-year period.

From baby formula to ground beef to Trader Joe’s tamales, here are some recent foods to be aware of for recalls and warnings.

A risk-based screening for multidrug-resistant gut microbes could improve accuracy and timeliness of empiric antibiotic treatment of systemic infection.

Novavax updates its COVID-19 vaccine, locally acquired malaria is reported in Maryland, deadly listeria outbreak is linked to milkshakes, and vibriosis in the northeast.

Antibiotic actions on gut microbes of patient might affect the microbiome of housemates.

This week's news included managing infants with RSV, how COVID-19 surveillance has evolved, and looking at changing criteria for initial and sustained response to antibiotic treatment for C diff.

From news about RSV to vaccines to an investigational hepatitis therapy, this week's Infectious Disease Update has something for everyone.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can work with Clostridioides difficile toxins to target mitochondria of epithelial cells, leading to increased severity of infection that can be long-lasting.

The study is believed to be the first to examine such a broad array of patient groups.

The Gates Medical Research Institute (MRI) is conducting a study looking at the effect of bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (B infantis) as a supplement.

Patients who perceived brain fog within 4 weeks of COVID-19 infection were twice as likely to report symptoms of long COVID than patients without cognitive deficits.

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

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

The post-hoc gastrointestinal microbiome analyses of recurrent C diff patients from 2 phase 3 studies was shown at the conference.

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.

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

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.

Stay informed with this concise summary of the week's most significant stories.

Empiric therapy for severe Salmonella disease remains effective, but fluoroquinolone resistance calls for a shift towards trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as the preferred oral treatment for non-severe cases.

A study of patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) found that Rebyota, a rectally administered live biotherapeutic, was considered easy, quick, and appealing due to the lack of bowel preparation.

This study found a high proportion of reduced vancomycin susceptibility in C difficile patients, leading to lower rates of sustained clinical response.

Adults who scored higher on the Healthy Eating Index were found to have higher gut microbiota diversity, as well as a higher exercise frequency and lower BMI.

Recent phase 3 trial data for Vowst showed the microbiota-based therapeutic prevented recurrent C difficile infection in 91.3% of recipients after 8 weeks, a response that 94.6% of these patients maintained through week 24.

Compared to fidaxomicin and vancomycinfecal, fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) was the most cost-effective treatment for first and subsequent recurrent C difficile infection.