Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of January 25-February 1
Kansas is experiencing the largest tuberculosis outbreak in decades, a preview into vaccines and treatments up for FDA approval this winter/spring, and more.
State of Kansas Reports Country’s Largest Tuberculosis Outbreak
A tuberculosis (TB) outbreak is currently affecting Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas, with 60 active cases in Wyandotte County and 7 in Johnson County as of January 24. Additionally, 77 latent TB infections have been reported in Wyandotte County and 2 in Johnson County since 2024. This is the largest TB outbreak in the US in decades. Health authorities are offering free TB testing and treatment, particularly for uninsured individuals, and are working to identify and treat close contacts. TB can remain dormant as latent TB infection (LTBI), but if untreated, it may progress to active TB, which is contagious and potentially fatal. The CDC reports that up to 13 million people in the US have LTBI, with 5-10% of them developing active TB if left untreated.
Novel Compound Demonstrates Activity Against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci
Research from Chiba University in Japan has identified an investigational compound, V-161, that targets the Na+-V-ATPase enzyme in vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), a pathogen responsible for severe hospital-acquired infections. V-161 inhibits this enzyme, which is crucial for VRE survival in alkaline environments like the human gut, without harming beneficial bacteria. In studies, V-161 significantly reduced bacterial growth and colonization in animal models, showing promise as a treatment for VRE infections. The research, led by Professor Takeshi Murata, demonstrated that V-161 disrupts sodium transport in VRE by binding to specific regions of the enzyme. This compound may offer a new, selective antimicrobial approach for treating antibiotic-resistant infections.
FDA Decisions to Watch Q1-Q2: Infectious Disease
Several vaccines and treatments are up for FDA approval in early to mid-2025, including a chikungunya vaccine (CHIKV VLP) by Bavarian Nordic, a meningococcal vaccine (ABCWY) by GSK, and a monoclonal antibody for RSV (Clesrovimab) by Merck. CHIKV VLP, for preventing chikungunya virus, is set for approval on February 14, 2025, and would be the first VLP-based vaccine for the virus in the US ABCWY, targeting multiple meningococcal strains, is also set for approval on the same date. Other candidates include MenQuadfi, a meningococcal vaccine for children, and Gepotidacin, an antibiotic for uncomplicated UTIs in adult women. Tesamorelin F8, for reducing abdominal fat in HIV patients with lipodystrophy, and Zoliflodacin, an antibiotic for gonorrhea, are also under review, along with Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine and the monoclonal antibody Clesrovimab for RSV in infants.
GAFFI Continues Efforts to Raise Awareness and Improve Fungal Diagnostic Capabilities
The Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections (GAFFI) is working to address global gaps in fungal diagnostics, particularly in regions like Africa, where infrastructure is lacking. Despite challenges such as limited funding, political support, and diagnostic resources, GAFFI’s "95-95 by 2025" initiative aims to diagnose and treat 95% of serious fungal infections by 2025. Efforts include raising awareness, advocating for resource shifts, and implementing models in countries like Guatemala. Surveys have shown significant diagnostic gaps, especially in countries with minimal testing infrastructure. GAFFI has worked with African medical schools and organizations like Africa CDC to increase education and awareness. Moving forward, GAFFI plans to replicate successful models in Africa, although this will require considerable time, resources, and collaboration with other stakeholders.
Part 1: https://www.contagionlive.com/view/fungal-infections-invisible-until-it-s-too-late
Levofloxacin for Preventing Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
The V Quinn trial evaluated levofloxacin as a preventive treatment for TB in individuals at high risk, particularly those in contact with patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in Vietnam. The trial found that levofloxacin reduced TB incidence compared to a placebo, but the difference was not statistically significant. Levofloxacin was associated with more adverse events, though no fluoroquinolone resistance emerged. Gregory Fox, PhD, discussed combining data from the V Quinn and TB Champ trials to improve statistical power, which revealed a significant reduction in TB incidence when the data were pooled. Despite the trial’s inconclusive results on its own, the combined analysis provided a more reliable estimate of levofloxacin’s effectiveness in preventing MDR-TB. These findings highlight the need for continued research into alternative prevention strategies for MDR-TB.
