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Ethics Consults During Pandemic Inform Preparation for Future Crises

Lessons learned on ethics consults during the COVID-19 pandemic carry important implications for future disasters.

Delaying Antibiotics in Patients with Suspected Infection Increases Risk of Septic Shock

A retrospective cohort study found that delaying the first dose of antibiotics in patients suspected of having an infection in the emergency department led to a higher risk of progressing to septic shock and in-hospital mortality. Every hour antibiotics were delayed increased the risk of septic shock by 4%.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Workers — Revisited; SARS-CoV-2 as a North American Zoonosis; VIRSTA vs. PREDICT in Predicting Endocarditis

Herpes Simplex Virus 2 Meningitis in Adults

The incidence of herpes simplex virus 2 meningitis in adults in Denmark over a six-year period was 0.7/100,000 population per year, with 91% of cases occurring in the absence of immunocompromise. Neurocognitive or neuropsychiatric symptoms persisted for as long as six months in approximately one-fifth of cases.

Optimism for New Interventions to Prevent Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections

Previous vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus infection in children caused more harm than good. However, new vaccines and preventive monoclonal antibody treatments are nearing final stages of prelicensure testing.

Successful Post-Discharge Completion of Fidaxomicin Therapy Without Financial Toxicity

Post-discharge completion of fidaxomicin therapy was achieved for most patients with multidisciplinary proactive intervention.

Active Cancer and Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Is Associated with Less Risk for Infective Endocarditis

A multicenter cohort study found patients with S. aureus bacteremia (SAB) and active cancer were at a lower risk for infective endocarditis (IE) than those with SAB without cancer. Persistent bacteremia and cardiomyopathy were independent risk factors for IE.

COVID-19 Vaccination Prevents Systemic Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C)

The estimated effectiveness of two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the prevention of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children was 91%.

COVID-19 Vaccination Is Life-Saving

This study confirms the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in preventing severe outcomes between the end of 2020 and October 2021 (i.e., pre-omicron). Age, immunosuppression, and chronic disease were independent risk factors. In contrast to previous studies largely involving unvaccinated individuals, male sex and race/ethnicity were not.

Treatment of Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria with Intravenous Artesunate

A prospective nationwide study in France found intravenous artesunate use was rapidly adopted by clinicians and was safe and highly effective in the treatment of severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum.