Respiratory Infections

An antiviral drug that could offer months of protection against the flu may be on the horizon and ready to fill in some of the gaps of the seasonal flu vaccine.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is giving its recommendation to the nasal spray form of the influenza vaccine for the 2019-2020 flu season, meaning parents will have 2 choices when getting their children vaccinated this fall.

Following a 1-month delay, WHO experts have issued a recommendation for a new influenza A(H3N2) component for next flu season.

On the anniversary of the discovery of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, world health leaders are highlighting an epidemic that kills nearly 4500 people each day across the world.

Solving a years-old mystery, investigators have discovered that MHC-II molecules can provide a gateway for bat influenza to infect human cells.

Infectious diseases were responsible for 6% of unexpected deaths over a 2-year period in Ontario, highlighting the importance of prevention strategies.

Although 30% of adults with XDR TB are successfully cured or complete treatment, a new study has found that children have far more favorable outcomes and lower mortality rates.

Although influenza A H1N1 continues to dominate the current flu season in the US, H3N2 viruses are on the rise in some parts of the country.

Spero Therapeutics announced that SPR720, an oral agent being developed for the treatment of lung infections caused by NTM, has received QIDP designation from the FDA.

Mycobacterium avium isolates were detected in household water in 81.1% of households sampled in a new study, suggesting a link to Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease.

A study reports that a respiratory virus infection diagnosis was not linked with a decrease in antibiotic exposure and use of respiratory viral panels did not affect clinical outcomes.

Antibiotic prescription following ventilation in children with RSV-LRTI was associated with a 1.21-day shorter duration of ventilation and a 2.07-day shorter length of hospital stay.

The FDA has approved room temperature stable, premixed vancomycin injections, which will be available in ready-to-use bags.

A computer simulation model developed by NYU investigators uses math to forecast influenza activity.

Lessons from the frontlines of post-hurricane public health response

Japanese researchers find a concerning resistance to a new antiviral flu medication.

Hospital visits for so-called “Victorian-era” diseases are on the rise in the United Kingdom, and experts there believe public health budget cuts may be behind the upswing.

A clinical trial is underway evaluating whether the vaccine candidate ID93 + GLA-SE can induce immune responses to prevent against reinfection and reactivation of TB.

Investigators wanted to know if using linezolid in place of ethambutol in the treatment of pulmonary TB might shorten treatment times. The results of a new study show the swap worked, but not as well as other therapies.

An investigative maternal vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could soon alter the scope of care for the condition, which is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year in the US.

A new analysis reports that 1 in 4 infants with bronchiolitis was given an antibiotic despite the fact that 70% of patients did not meet prescribing recommendations set by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

A large cohort study in South Korea found that human metapneumovirus associated pneumonia cases were strongly associated with older age, current smoking, and underlying disease.

In 2017, lower respiratory tract infections linked with influenza were responsible for an estimated 145,000 deaths worldwide.

Updated guidelines will hopefully spur more clinicians to test for and treat influenza in people with symptoms whether they’re high risk or not.

With early season flu vaccination rates up from 2017-2018 early season rates, new pediatric influenza deaths around the country are prompting health officials to call for even higher vaccination rates.

A new study points to the importance of refugee health.

Invasive aspergillosis affects up to 13% of immunocompromised patients who are in the hospital.

Freeze-drying vaccines enables health officials to get vaccines to remote areas, but until now, it has not been possible for the fragile polio vaccine.

People living with HIV should get a flu shot each year, according to experts.