Infectious Disease Alert – April 1, 2023

Shigella: The New Superbug?

Five percent of Shigella isolates in the United States in 2022 were extensively drug-resistant.

COVID Transmission During Air Travel

Despite careful air filtration in flying aircraft, there still is some risk of disease transmission during flights.

Golden State: Disseminated Gonococcal Infection

The diagnosis of disseminated gonococcal infection often is delayed, but the infection can most often be readily treated with ceftriaxone. Patients often lack urogenital symptoms.

Dual Therapy Using Doxycycline and Azithromycin Is Superior to Monotherapy for Treating Severe Scrub Typhus

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial from India found dual therapy with intravenous doxycycline and azithromycin is more effective than either agent alone for treating severe scrub typhus.

Highlights of Updated 2023 Pediatric Vaccination Schedules in the United States

In February, the annually updated immunization schedule for children in the United States was released by several professional organizations. Key updates involve the inclusion of the PCV-15 vaccine and COVID vaccines, as well as new comments about other vaccines.

Immortal Time Bias and Mortality Effects of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is associated with high mortality and often is complicated by metastatic sites of infection that can be difficult to identify and control. Fluorine-18 fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography has shown promise in some observational studies as an important diagnostic modality for detecting foci of infection and potentially guiding clinical management in ways that may lead to improved outcomes, including lower mortality. The validity of these findings has been questioned, however, due to the risk of significant bias.

Form Follows Function — Structure-Based Vaccines Make Progress Against RSV

In older patients who are at risk for severe disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), two new distinct vaccine candidates based on the stabilized prefusion F protein demonstrated efficacy and prevented RSV lower respiratory tract disease in patients older than age 60 years.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

How to Assess CLABSI in Outpatient Infusion Therapy; Does Wearing Glasses Reduce the Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection?