Browse Infectious Disease General Articles by Topic

Moldy Bloodstream Infections

Bloodstream infections due to molds are uncommon, occurring predominantly in association with severe immunocompromise, even in the presence of anti-mold prophylaxis.

Preventing Respiratory Syncytial Virus Illness in Infants

Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) illness by using a monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, in young infants entering the winter RSV season was recommended in 2023. Subsequently, effectiveness was evaluated in children in the northeastern United States. Nirsevimab was 68% effective in preventing RSV-associated need for medical care and 81% effective in preventing hospitalization for RSV-related illness.

Antibiotics for Asymptomatic Bacteriuria: Using Urinalysis to Improve Stewardship

A cohort study found that in patients receiving antibiotics for a urinary tract infection, a urinalysis with pyuria and/or nitrituria identified 40% more cases of unnecessary antibiotic use compared to asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Amoebic Encephalitis and Meningoencephalitis: It’s the Water

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated the cases of two patients: a child with meningoencephalitis due to Naegleria fowleri and a man with Acanthamoeba granulomatous encephalitis. Both were associated with exposure to water and both were fatal.

Aztreonam and Avibactam for Injection (Emblaveo)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new combination antibiotic for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections where there are limited or no alternative options.

Infectious Disease Updates

COVID Monoclonals Needed for PrEP; Oral Camostat Ineffective in COVID-19; Mpox: Lessons Learned from Rio

Cardiovascular Risk with mRNA COVID Vaccines

A large, nationwide population study in Sweden of the risk of adverse cardiovascular events after messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccinations has shown that, except for rare cases of myopericarditis, severe cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke, are reduced, probably because of the prevention of COVID infection.

Death Due to the ‘No Name’ Virus in Santa Fe

There is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection and no vaccine. Prevention consists of control and avoidance of rodents and their body fluids and excreta.

New Insights into the Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic gram-negative bacillus with intrinsic resistance to a variety of antibiotics. Since clinical trial data are lacking, the optimal antimicrobial regimen is unknown. These factors make S. maltophilia increasingly challenging for the treating clinician. A recent study by Sader and colleagues analyzed the antimicrobial susceptibility of 1,400 S. maltophilia isolates collected from U.S. medical centers between 2019 and 2023. Aztreonam-avibactam, which inhibited 99.6% of isolates at ≤ 8 mcg/mL, was found to have the highest levels of in vitro activity. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which has historically been a preferred agent, had slightly lower activity (96.9% susceptible), followed by minocycline (89.2%) and levofloxacin (78.9%). The results from this in vitro study suggest that aztreonam-avibactam may be a highly effective option for treating S. maltophilia infections, especially in multidrug-resistant cases.

Bacterial Vaginosis: Treat the Man, Too

In a randomized trial, treatment of the regular male partner with oral and topical agents was strongly associated with a reduced risk of recurrence of bacterial vaginosis in the female partner.