Advancing STOP2030 Treatment in Global Health
The STOP2030 project in northwestern Argentina aims to develop more effective tools for controlling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), particularly soil-transmitted helminths (STH). The study tests a combination of albendazole and ivermectin, which has shown improved efficacy against several STH species, including those resistant to standard treatments like albendazole and mebendazole. The ultimate goal is to […]
Identifying Clinical Characteristics, Mortality in Aspergillosis in Nonimmunodeficiency Individuals
Under a magnification of 500X, this methenamine sliver-stained lung tissue specimen, revealed numerous darkly stained filaments of an Aspergillus sp. fungal organism, in a case of aspergillosis.Image credit: CDC Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a fungal infection caused by breathing spores from Aspergillus, a common mold.1 IPA has been primarily associated with patients with severe […]
Levofloxacin for Preventing Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis
Preventing drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in high-risk individuals, such as household contacts of patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), is a global health priority. The V Quinn trial evaluated the use of levofloxacin as a preventive treatment for TB in contact with individuals with rifampicin-resistant or MDR-TB in Vietnam. Out of 3948 individuals screened, 2041 were randomized, […]
Now is Not the Time for Funding Pauses, Cutting Ties With Health Organizations
Image credit: Cristian Rojas, Pexels This is the first in a series looking at the intersection of the federal government and public health and how the former greatly influences the latter. Until 2001, the only biocontainment unit in the country was located at the US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort […]
GAFFI Continues Efforts to Raise Awareness and Improve Fungal Diagnostic Capabilities
Fungal infections affect over 1 billion people globally, causing an estimated 11.5 million life-threatening infections and more than 1.5 million deaths annually. Despite their impact, fungal diseases remain under-recognized and underfunded in global health. In response, the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections (GAFFI) launched the “95-95 by 2025” initiative, aiming to diagnose and treat […]
Intravenous Antimicrobials: Is It Time to Push?
Intravenous (IV) push is an attractive option to administer antimicrobial therapy to patients in an efficient and effective manner in a variety of clinical settings. While many advantages to IV push administration exist, clinicians should be mindful of available literature regarding safety profiles, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic characteristics, and clinical data for IV push antimicrobial administration prior to […]
Tackling Soil-Transmitted Helminths with New Drug Combinations
Alejandro Krolewiecki, MD, director of innovation at Mundo Sano and principal investigator of the STOP2030 project, is leading a project to develop more effective tools for controlling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), specifically soil-transmitted helminths (STH) in northwestern Argentina. The team is testing a combination of albendazole and ivermectin, which shows better efficacy against several STH […]
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Wegmans Chicken Nuggets
The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for frozen, fully cooked Wegmans breaded chicken breast nuggets that may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically bone fragments. The agency is issuing a public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not […]
Vaxart’s Oral COVID-19 Vaccine Moves Forward After Positive Safety Review
James F Cummings Image credits: Vaxart Vaxart, Inc announced that an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has reviewed the initial 30-day safety data from a sentinel cohort of 400 participants in its Phase 2b COVID-19 vaccine trial. The DSMB has recommended that the trial proceed without modifications, signaling a positive safety profile for the […]
How Oropouch Fever is Impacting Brazil
A midge up-close. Image credit: Florida Environmental Pest Management Oropouche fever, a disease caused by Oropouche virus has increasingly caused international concern in recent months, drawing attention to emerging infectious diseases and arboviruses. Spread by infected biting midges and occasionally mosquitoes, this disease has primarily occurred in Central and South America, as well as the […]
