Top 5 infectious Disease News Stories Week of February 22-March 1

IDSA Makes Statement on HHS Changes to Vaccine Policy, Postponement of Vaccine Meeting

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), led by Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP, expressed concern over recent changes to vaccine policy under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), following Robert Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Secretary. These changes include the cessation of public awareness campaigns for influenza vaccines and the postponement of the crucial Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting, which evaluates and makes recommendations on vaccine use. Tan highlighted that these shifts could lead to lower vaccination rates, increased disease outbreaks, and heightened reliance on anti-vaccine misinformation. The postponement of ACIP meetings also hampers the ability to recommend new vaccines, potentially leaving critical public health decisions in limbo.

Phage, Combination Antibiotic Treatment For Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection

Erlinda Ulloa, MD, a staff physician at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), shared her experience treating a young patient with a severe multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. The patient, suffering from acute myelogenous leukemia and subsequent complications, developed necrotic skin lesions infected by a rare strain of P. aeruginosa resistant to FDA-approved antibiotics. After exhausting standard options, Ulloa's team turned to investigational therapies, including the novel antibiotic combination cefepime-zidebactam and phage therapy. The patient’s condition improved with a six-week intravenous phage treatment, followed by full recovery. Ulloa emphasized the importance of familiarity with the FDA process for phage access, and optimizing treatment early to prevent resistance.

Listeria Outbreak Linked to Prairie Farms Supplement Shakes

A multistate Listeria outbreak linked to Prairie Farms supplement shakes has affected 38 people across 21 states, resulting in 37 hospitalizations and 12 deaths. The contaminated shakes, sold under the Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial brands, were distributed to food service operators, including long-term care facilities and hospitals. The FDA and CDC have traced the outbreak to a facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Listeria was detected in November 2024. On February 22, 2025, a recall was issued for the affected 4 oz frozen shakes. Public health officials advise against consuming the recalled products, especially for high-risk individuals such as pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The investigation is ongoing.

Reevaluating SEP-1: A Closer Look at Its Impact on Sepsis Mortality

A recent systematic review found no strong evidence that compliance with or implementation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Management Bundle (SEP-1) improves sepsis mortality, raising concerns about its inclusion in the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. The review, which analyzed 17 observational studies, showed mixed results, with some studies reporting a benefit and others not. James Ford, MD, MAS, a researcher involved in the study, suggested reconsidering SEP-1’s inclusion in the VBP and instead focusing on outcome-based measures, such as mortality. Given the limitations of observational studies and a lack of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing SEP-1’s effectiveness, experts emphasize the need for further research to refine sepsis management approaches.

Measles: The Canary in the Coal Mine for Childhood Vaccine Decline

A recent measles outbreak in Texas has raised alarm after the first death was reported, highlighting the dangers of declining childhood vaccination rates. The outbreak, primarily among the Mennonite community, has affected 124 people in Texas and 9 in New Mexico. Paul Offit, an expert on vaccines, warned that measles outbreaks are a clear indicator of waning vaccine coverage and the loss of herd immunity, driven in part by an increase in nonmedical vaccine exemptions. Measles, the most contagious vaccine-preventable disease, can cause severe illness, including pneumonia and encephalitis, and was responsible for 50,000 hospitalizations and 500 deaths annually before the vaccine. Offit cautioned that as more parents opt out of vaccinations, more outbreaks are expected, with measles being a key warning sign of public health risks.