Top 5 Infectious Disease News Stories Week of July 19-26

High Rates of HCV Reinfection in NYC

Over nearly two decades, a study conducted in New York City has revealed high rates of Hepatitis C virus reinfection among men who have sex with men and have HIV. Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, research by Daniel S Fierer, MD, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai underscores that sexual transmission of HCV is far from uncommon or inefficient in this population. Despite the availability of direct-acting antiviral treatments, the study found these alone are insufficient to eliminate HCV among MSM in NYC.

SHEA Advocates for CDC Funding Amid Antimicrobial Resistance Concerns

The CDC published new data concerning the prevalence of seven key antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in healthcare settings. The report highlights a notable increase in infections linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, which strained healthcare systems and led to longer hospital stays, disrupted infection control practices, and increased inappropriate antibiotic usage. This resulted in a peak in antimicrobial resistance (AR) during 2021, followed by a decline due to aggressive public health interventions. Comparative data indicate a 20% rise in hospital-onset infections from six bacterial pathogens during the pandemic, with rates remaining elevated into 2022. In response to the CDC's new findings, Thomas R Talbot, III, MD, MPH, FSHEA, president of the SHEA Board of Trustees, discussed with Contagion SHEA's proactive efforts to ensure ongoing funding for CDC programs aimed at combating AR.

Can Daily Doxycycline Prevent STIs?

In recent years, doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (Doxy-PEP) has emerged as a significant intervention in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, particularly among high-risk populations like men who have sex with men, transgender women, and others vulnerable to antibacterial STIs. The CDC now recommends offering a prescription for Doxy-PEP to be self-administered within 72 hours following oral, vaginal, or anal sex, with a suggested dose of 200mg and a maximum of 200mg every 24 hours. Additionally, ongoing research, including a pilot study presented by Troy Grennan, MD, MSc, FRCPC at the International AIDS Society 2024 conference, explores the feasibility and efficacy of daily doxycycline or doxy-PrEP as a preventive measure against STIs.

Efficacy of the Antibiotic Omadacycline in Treating Pneumonia

Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has released findings from a phase 3 clinical trial assessing the efficacy of omadacycline (Nuzyra), an oral and intravenous antibiotic taken once daily, for treating moderate to severe community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). The study, which enrolled 670 high-risk patients, compared omadacycline with moxifloxacin, a standard treatment, demonstrating its potential as a significant therapeutic option for managing this critical respiratory illness. Randy Brenner, Paratek's chief development and regulatory officer, underscored the importance of these results.

The Evolution of Lenacapavir

Gilead released a statement yesterday afternoon to clarify some of the ongoing events at the conference and the calls to make lenacapavir widely available at a discounted price. In the statement the company started by saying lenacapavir is not available anywhere in the world. However, they did say in the statement that, the regulatory filing for lenacapavir for HIV prevention will include the results of both PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2, if positive, to ensure lenacapavir for HIV prevention can be approved for multiple populations and communities most in need of additional HIV prevention options. Gilead expects results from PURPOSE 2 in late 2024/early 2025.