Gastrointestinal Infections

As of last Friday, 117 people have been sickened, 61 hospitalized, and 2 people have died.

This week's news includes a Massachusetts hospital facing a lawsuit for potential HIV and hepatitis exposure, a study shows reduced mortality rates in combining vancomycin and cefazolin in patients with bloodstream infections, a PCR-based rapid test can de-escalate antibiotic therapy quicker for bloodstream infections, and how the implementation of new College of American Pathologists rules presents an opportunity for collaboration between clinical microbiology laboratories and infectious disease pharmacists and physicians.

With the holiday upon us, here are some considerations for dinner prep as well as some recent FDA food recalls.

The FDA says the recall being performed by Wilcox Ice Cream is doing this out of concern for listeria contamination in the products.

A study demonstrates the microbiome changes and how restoration of the gut flora is warranted when patients are dealing with recurrent bouts of the health care-associated infection.

This week we covered antibiotic de-escalation, the approved fecal microbiota options for prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile, the CDC's recommendations for HCV testing in the pediatric populations, and examining pragmatic approaches to skin and soft tissue Infections.

Seres Therapeutics reported its financials recently including the performance of it therapy, Vowst, as well as updates on its business and one of its investigational therapies.

We’ve compiled a list of key food safety tips that you need to know in order to have a safe, bacteria-free holiday.

This week read about virus testing, the dosing of one of the COVID-19 vaccines in the pediatric population, HAI grades in hospitals, and live biotherapeutic products in preventing recurrent CDI in older adults with comorbidities.

S salivarius probiotic reduces relative abundance of nasopharyngeal otopathogens but not incidence of acute otitis media in children.

The Leapfrog Group finds there were improved health care-associated infection (HAIs) rates following an earlier spike during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With these infections being problematic, a newer antiviral offers an alternative option for these patients.

In this week's news, CDC sent out a health advisory to change the prescribing recommendations for the newer preventative respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody; a clinician discusses the ongoing challenges presented with critically ill patients and the timing and scope of antibiotic prescribing practices; and antidepressants were associated with a greater risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI).

A joint meeting of WHO and FAO offered this assessment of these viruses that millions of people encounter.

A study looked at patients’ microbiome profiles to see if they differed at study entry and whether microbiome recovery was dissimilar between subgroups, post-treatment.

Hikers in Washington State experienced acute gastroenteritis along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Check out important news you might have missed including the expanded indication for remdesivir to those with severe hepatic impairment; a small study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infects coronary arteries and increases plaque Inflammation; and some antibiotics are associated with C diff Infection.

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.