Infectious Disease Alert – March 1, 2024

Doxycycline Reduces the Risk of C. difficile Infection in Patients Treated for Community-Acquired Pneumonia

In a retrospective study from the VA, doxycycline was associated with a lower risk of C. difficile infection compared to azithromycin in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Updated Recommendations for Pediatric Immunization

Just-released 2024 pediatric and adolescent immunization recommendations and schedules guide current vaccinations. Specifically, there are new recommendations for protection against COVID-19, dengue, mpox, pneumococcus, polio, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Early Transition to Oral Antibiotic Therapy in Low-Risk Patients with Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infection

Completion of therapy with oral antibiotics was shown to be non-inferior to continued intravenous therapy in patients considered to have low-risk Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Tularemia in the United States

Tularemia is seen in all U.S. states other than Hawaii. Therapy with tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones is effective.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Influenza Vaccine Less Effective in 2021-2022 Season; Every Hospital Needs an ID Doc