FDA Approves Rapid Point-of-Care STI Tests
Cobas liat molecular assays Image credits: Roche diagnostics Roche has received FDA clearance for its cobas liat molecular assays, designed to diagnose sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at the point of care. The tests, which have also been granted a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) waiver, can rapidly detect multiple STIs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and Mycoplasma […]
How Prepared Are We For Avian Influenza?
When it comes to public health, and the idea of being prepared for a potential outbreak or pandemic, there are some objective measures that can be put into place including stockpiling vaccines and therapies, having emergency plans, and carrying out surveillance measures to name a few. The federal government, for example, is working to make […]
Executive Function Impairments in Long COVID Linked to Brain Changes
Image symbolizing coronavirus affects the brain. Image credits: Unsplash Long COVID affects millions of individuals worldwide, with symptoms persisting for more than 12 weeks after the initial infection. Among the various challenges faced by patients, cognitive impairments, particularly in executive function (EF), are emerging as significant barriers to daily living. A recent systematic review in […]
Rezafungin is Noninferior to Caspofungin For All-Cause Mortality in Treating Candida Infections
If left unmitigated, Candida can penetrate deeply into the body and develop into fungal infections, including candidemia and invasive candidiasis. These fungal infections can affect the bloodstream and internal organs. Candidemia, in particular, is a common infection found in hospitalized patients. In addition, there are some specific clinical challenges associated with them. “There’s really 2 […]
CARB-X Funds $3.5M to Melio for Rapid Neonatal Sepsis Diagnostic
Erin Duffy, chief of R&D at CARB-X Image credits: LinkedIn The Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) has awarded a $3.5 million grant to Melio, a biotechnology company, to develop a rapid diagnostic tool to detect neonatal sepsis. This funding will help Melio advance its diagnostic platform, which integrates molecular and microfluidic technologies to identify […]
The Importance of Local Health Departments in Combating HAIs and AMR
Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), shared insights into the organization’s ongoing work to combat healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AR), with a focus on the role of local health departments. NACCHO’s efforts aim to strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) practices and improve surveillance. […]
Study Affirms Effectiveness of Vaccination “Ring” Around Ebola
The lead author of the DRC study is Jean-Jacques Muyembe, PhD. Director, Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB), and co-discoverer of the Ebola virus. Muyembe discussed the study with Contagion, remarking on the many challenges that were encountered in the DRC campaign against EVD, including the vaccine hesitancy that confounds public health efforts across the […]
Debating the Value of Incorporating Antibiotic Stewardship Principles Into Infection Guidelines
Over the years, we have seen the emergence of antibiotic resistance become a major global health concern. When compared against high mortality rates that occur annually from cancer (8.2 million) or diabetes (1.5 million), we see antibiotic-resistant infections account for approximately 700,000 deaths each year (FIGURE).1 It is estimated that the number of deaths resulting […]
Addressing the Global Fungal Infection Crisis
Candida auris Image credits: Unsplash In 2015, fungal infections were affecting over 1 billion people globally each year, leading to an estimated 11.5 million life-threatening infections and more than 1.5 million deaths annually. Despite this significant burden, fungal diseases have historically been under-recognized and underfunded in global health. In response, initiatives focused on improving diagnosis, […]
Case Report of Ceftaroline Therapy in Preterm Infant With Ventriculosubgaleal Shunt
Final diagnosis Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis shunt-associated ventriculitis in a male neonate. Clinical Course A male neonate, born prematurely at 26 weeks’ gestation at hospital 1, experienced significant complications early in life. By day 8, a head ultrasound revealed a grade 3 intraventricular hemorrhage. On day 19, he developed bacteremia caused by group B Streptococcus agalactiae, […]
