Infectious Disease Alert – January 1, 2026

Infant Botulism

As of early December 2025, a commercially prepared infant formula distributed throughout the United States was linked to 39 cases of life-threatening infant botulism in 18 states.

Transplanted Rabies

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the fourth donor-organ rabies transmission event in the United States.

Steroids for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Africa

A randomized clinical trial from Kenya found that adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia who received standard care plus a 10-day course of glucocorticoids had a modest decrease in 30-day mortality compared to standard care alone (22.6% vs. 26.0%, respectively; P = 0.02).

One vs. Two Doses of HPV Vaccine

A single dose of either of two human papillomavirus vaccines was as effective as administration of two doses.

Modified mRNA Influenza Vaccine Shows Superior Efficacy Over Standard Inactivated Vaccine

In a Phase III randomized controlled trial of adults aged 18 to 64 years, a quadrivalent nucleoside-modified messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) (modRNA) influenza vaccine demonstrated 34.5% relative efficacy against laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness compared with a licensed inactivated influenza vaccine, meeting criteria for both noninferiority and superiority. The modRNA platform showed enhanced immunogenicity against influenza A strains and strong T-cell responses but did not meet noninferiority criteria for immunogenicity against influenza B strains (although clinical efficacy against B strains could not be determined due to low case counts). The modRNA vaccine was associated with increased reactogenicity but demonstrated an acceptable safety profile, supporting the potential of mRNA technology for next-generation influenza vaccines.

Infectious Disease Updates

DoxyPEP and Antimicrobial Resistance; Emergence of Resistance to Cefepime-Zidebactam