The Latest In Infectious Disease
December 1st 2023This 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.
World AIDS Day Marks Success, Progress, and Challenges That Remain
December 1st 2023Therapy development, management improvements, and public health initiatives have all helped to change the trajectory of health outcomes for many, but still millions of people remain behind and are not in the continuum of care.
Massachusetts Hospital Faces Lawsuit Over Potential Hepatitis and HIV Exposure
November 30th 2023Salem Hospital faces a class action lawsuit over potential hepatitis and HIV exposure to hundreds of patients. The lawsuit alleges negligence and emotional distress, with the hospital claiming a minimal infection risk.
Are We at a Breaking Point for Adoption of Updated Susceptibility Interpretive Criteria?
November 28th 2023The implementation of new College of American Pathologists rules presents an opportunity for collaboration between clinical microbiology laboratories and infectious disease pharmacists and physicians.
This Week's Biggest Infectious Disease Stories
November 17th 2023This 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.
Antibiotic De-Escalation: Is This the Right Outcome Measure?
November 16th 2023The proposed clinical benefits of de-escalation has contributed to its lukewarm adoption in some settings. This article looks at the challenges in measuring the impact of de-escalation, and the ongoing search for more meaningful metrics to evaluate the success of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs.
Two Pragmatic Approaches to Skin and Soft Tissue Infections
November 14th 2023Empirical antibiotic therapy in diabetic foot ulcer infections increases hospitalization and prolonged symptoms in patients being treated for lower limb cellulitis are common. Two recent papers examine the need for effective communication, the importance of objective findings in cellulitis management, and the benefits of culture-based antibiotic therapy in diabetic foot ulcer cases.