Infectious Disease

US health officials are growing increasingly worried about rising syphilis cases and have begun creating framework to slow down the spread.

With expertise through antimicrobial stewardship experience, researchers believe antimicrobial stewardship pharmacists are vital in assisting diagnostic stewardship.

A study from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that a positive PCR test was not associated with an increased risk of a new asthma diagnosis in patients ages 1 to 16.

Since a 2019 measles outbreak, the CDC has seen an increasing number of cases in the US.

The CDC addressed an HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection reported by a commercial dairy farmer in Texas.

The antibiotic was approved to treat Staphylococcus aureas bacteremia, acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.

Tenofovir alafenamide was originally approved by the FDA in 2016 to treat adults with chronic HBV infection with compensated liver disease and in 2022 to treat pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.

Participants of a recent study who received automated text messaging and monitoring, as well as peer support and coaching, increased PrEP uptake from 11% to over 20%.

With over 3% of the world’s population affected by chronic hepatitis B, TherVacB has the potential to address a critical unmet need for a cure.

Of the 2596 patients included in the study, the hospitalization rates were 31.5% for Omicron, 27.7% for influenza, and 81.7% for RSV.

The use of tecovirimat for monkeypox and other non-variola orthopoxvirus infections is under an expanded access IND protocol, according to the CDC.

The vaccine, called mRNA-1345, demonstrated an efficacy of 83.7% against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease with at least 2 signs or symptoms and 82.4% against the disease with at least 3 signs or symptoms.

Biologic approvals ranged from gene therapies for hemophilia A to a cellular therapy to treat type 1 diabetes.

Vaccine approvals included two immunizations for RSV and a new pentavalent meningococcal shot.

Patients hospitalized for either virus had an increased risk of death, hospital readmission, and health problems in multiple organ systems over 18 months of follow-up.

Three posters presented at ASHP Midyear 2023 delved deeper into the topic of antimicrobial stewardship programs and their impact on antibiotic resistance.

Two posters presented at ASHP Midyear 2023 looked at how the two medications differed and how clinical pharmacy services improved transitions.

The federal agencies said that they will continue to work closely with manufacturers to maintain the availability of the vaccines through the end of 2023 and early 2024 to meet the demand during the RSV season.

The FDA approval marks an important public health milestone in the ongoing effort to empower patients to take control of their own health.

Ixchiq was approved through the FDA Accelerated Approval pathway.

In a recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the results of a study showed 63% of those who died from HAV had at least 1 documented preexisting indication for vaccination.

By way of natural immunity, vaccination, and behavior change, the majority of the 30,861 documented cases and 54 deaths were confined to 2022, and the epidemic curve portrays a picture of success.

Anesthetic gases and meter dose inhalers, how we use our antibiotics, how we use our resources for infection prevention and control, and how we use plastic and food in our hospitals all add up.

Pediatric TB is an intricate challenge that demands continued attention and funding.

Isaac "Zak" Kohane, MD, PhD, the inaugural chair of Harvard Medical School's Department of Biomedical Informatics, discussed artificial intelligence during a plenary session at IDWeek 2023.

The drug, marketed as Beyfortus, was approved by the FDA in July for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) in newborns and infants born during or entering their first RSV season, and for children up to 24 months of age who remain vulnerable to severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.

Stephen L. Foster, PharmD, FAPhA, FNAP, discussed the new vaccine and RSV prevalence at the National Community Pharmacists Association 2023 Convention and Expo.

Group B streptococcus is the most common cause of early- and late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Considering recent legal challenges to gender affirming and reproductive healthcare, pharmacists play an essential part to help marginalized populations have access to HIV prevention.