Infectious Disease Alert – July 1, 2024

Newer Antibiotics for Resistant Gram-Negative Infections: Why Are Clinicians Not Using Them?

A retrospective cohort study on adult inpatients with difficult-to-treat resistant pathogens found clinicians used older, generic antibiotics with suboptimal safety profiles in almost 80% of cases.

Trichinella Outbreak from Eating Bear Meat and Cross-Contaminated Vegetables

A family outbreak of trichinellosis occurred after a feast of bear meat and vegetable kabobs that was caused by a species of Trichinella that is resistant to freezing.

Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent Respiratory Infections?

In June 2024, the Endocrine Society released new evidence-based guidelines suggesting that all children up to 18 years of age should receive vitamin D supplements, both to prevent rickets and to prevent respiratory tract infections. However, careful review of the data suggests that widespread implementation of this recommendation might not be warranted in North America.

Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Isavuconazole or Voriconazole?

An analysis of two retrospective cohort studies of solid organ transplant recipients with invasive aspergillosis found that isavuconazole and voriconazole had similar efficacy, but isavuconazole was better tolerated.

Does Paxlovid Help in Patients with Long COVID?

Paxlovid treatment of adults with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection — also known as long COVID — was ineffective in a randomized controlled trial.

Summer Travel: News Clinicians (and Their Patients) Can Use

New science can guide us as we and our patients travel this season. Now, Infectious Disease Alert briefly reviews 13 new and in-press papers from the two main travel medicine journals.

Cefepime and Enmetazobactam Injection (Exblifep)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the combination of cefepime and enmetazobactam (FPE) for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs).

Doxycycline After Sex

Single-dose doxycycline is recommended after oral, vaginal, or anal sex in selected high-risk individuals.