Machine Learning Validates Guidelines for Treating UTI
Image credit: Tara Winstead, Pexels Analyses based on machine learning-derived, or on infectious diseases expert-curated confounders agree that guidelines for treating uncomplicated urinary tract infection, last issued by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) in 2011, remain valid despite changes in epidemiology since their release. Sanjat Kanjilal, MD, MPH, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard […]
Top 5 infectious Disease News Stories Week of February 22-March 1
IDSA Makes Statement on HHS Changes to Vaccine Policy, Postponement of Vaccine Meeting The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), led by Tina Tan, MD, FIDSA, FPIDS, FAAP, expressed concern over recent changes to vaccine policy under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), following Robert Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as Secretary. These changes include […]
WHO Releases 2025-2026 Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced its recommendations for the viral composition of influenza vaccines for the 2025-2026 season in the northern hemisphere. The announcement was made at an information session at the end of a 4-day meeting on the Composition of Influenza Virus Vaccines, a meeting that is held 2 times per year.1 WHO […]
Adaptation of WHO AWaRe Classification Supports UK’s National Stewardship Priorities
WHO AWaRe Book Image credits: WHO A modified Delphi approach led to the development of a UK-adapted version of the WHO’s AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) antibiotic classification, designed to align with national antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) priorities. This adaptation supports efforts to improve antibiotic use across primary and secondary care settings in the UK. In a […]
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Show Limited Efficacy in Adults
cdc logo: Image credit: CDC In this week’s Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, shows limited efficacy in preventing emergency department visits for adults and a better efficacy in immunocompromised adults. “Vaccine effectiveness (VE) of 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine was 33% against COVID-19–associated emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) visits among […]
How Porphyromonas gingivalis Evasion of Immune Detection May Fuel Systemic Diseases
Gabriel Nussbaum, MD, PhD Image credits: Isreal Cancer Research Fund Researchers have uncovered how Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium linked to periodontitis, evades immune detection, leading to chronic infections and potentially contributing to serious systemic diseases like cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s. This discovery sheds light on the bacterium’s use of the CD47 protein, which sends a […]
3 Case of Measles Reported in New Jersey
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has confirmed there are 3 cases of measles within the state. Back on February 14, a single laboratory-confirmed case of measles was reported in a Bergen County resident with recent international travel. Subsequently 2 secondary cases of measles have been identified. The new cases had close contact with […]
Phage, Combination Antibiotic Treatment For Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection
Erlinda Ulloa, MD, a staff physician at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Hospital in Orange, oversaw a very complex and challenging case that involved a 19 year old young woman whose initial presentation was for acute myelogenous leukemia. The patient had experienced cardiorespiratory collapse, requiring cannulation for ECMO. The patient was initially transferred to […]
FDA Flu Vaccine Advisory Meeting Canceled Amid Concerns Over Delays for 2025 Season
The FDA’s advisory committee meeting to select strains for next season’s flu vaccines has been canceled, raising concerns about potential delays in vaccine production. The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), scheduled for March 13, was set to determine which influenza strains should be included in the 2025-2026 seasonal flu vaccines. Although, panel […]
CDC Reports Ongoing H5N1 Outbreak, USDA Unveils $1 Billion Plan to Address Avian Flu Crisis
A vaccine vial of H5N1, avian influenza disease vaccination development concept. Image credits: Unsplash The CDC reported ongoing response efforts to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, which has affected dairy cows, poultry, and other animals in several states. Since April 2024, the CDC has confirmed 70 human infections linked to exposure to infected animals. Importantly, […]
