Fidaxomicin Use Remains Flat Despite Guideline Change for C difficile Treatment
The study presented at MAD-ID 2025 by Dakota Rorie, PharmD, PGY-2 pharmacotherapy resident at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), examined fidaxomicin prescribing trends over 10 years. The data showed that fidaxomicin use for initial Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) episodes rose only marginally, from 48% before the guideline update to 49% afterward (p = […]
Fidaxomicin, Microbiome Therapies, and Stewardship
At MAD-ID 2025, Rachel M Kenney, PharmD, served as a facilitator for the accredited continuing education session, “Improving Outcomes in C difficile.” The session focused on current guideline updates, emerging treatment strategies, and the critical role of stewardship in managing C difficile infections. Kenney spoke about key changes in how clinicians are approaching C diff, […]
HHS Cancels Moderna’s Award for Developing Avian Influenza Vaccine
This week, Moderna announced the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminated the company’s award for late-stage development of an avian influenza (H5) vaccine. In the award termination statement, Moderna also announced positive interim data from its phase 1/2 clinical study evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of its investigational vaccine, mRNA-1018.1 Despite this news, […]
Management of Refractory Mpox in Patients Living with HIV
Two patients living with HIV (PLWH) and refractory mpox were treated with a combination of investigational therapies after failing first-line antiviral treatment, according to a case series presented by Timmy Do, PharmD, BCIDP, BCPS, at the MAD-ID 2025 meeting. Both patients, managed at AdventHealth in Orlando, Florida, were severely immunocompromised and required extended-duration regimens supported […]
35% of Evaluated Patients De-Labeled in Penicillin Allergy Study
A multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative at an ambulatory care clinic led to a 35% reduction in inaccurate penicillin (PCN) allergy labels, according to data presented by Cadhan McFadden, PharmD, PGY-2 infectious diseases pharmacy resident at St. Joseph’s Health Hospital and Wegmans School of Pharmacy at St John Fisher University, during MAD-ID 2025. The project focused […]
Oral Cephalosporins Safe, Effective For Step-Down Therapy For Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections
Image credit: Towfiqu Barbhuiya, Pexels In a study being presented at MAD-ID, oral cephalosporins were found to be non-inferior to oral penicillins for the treatment of gram-negative Enterobacterales bloodstream infections. “Step-down therapy with oral cephalosporins was non-inferior to step-down with oral penicillins for treatment failure (7.1% vs. 7.1%; 95% CI [-0.064, 0.064], p = 0.002),” […]
The Changing Landscape of Antimicrobial Resistance Reporting
At MAD-ID 2025, Elizabeth Dodds Ashley, PharmD, MHS, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Duke University School of Medicine, facilitated the session “NHSN AUR Applications: Time to Focus on AR,” guiding clinicians through how to apply national reporting tools to improve antibiotic stewardship and resistance surveillance. Dodds Ashley explained new requirements […]
Antibiotic Practices For Sinusitis in Outpatient Settings Suggest Overprescribing
Image credit: Lucas Guimaraes Bueno, Pexels In new research being presented at this week’s MAD-ID meeting, a large 2-year study reveals that the majority of patients seen in outpatient facilities for sinusitis-related complaints were prescribed antibiotics. Of more than 37,000 primary care encounters, 79% of patients received a prescription for this class of medication. “These […]
Integrating AI into Pharmacy Education and Stewardship
Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing an increasing role in healthcare practice and professional education. Timothy Aungst, PharmD, professor of pharmacy practice at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, Massachusetts, discussed the use of AI in stewardship education during his keynote presentation, “Digital Health and Infectious Diseases,” at MAD-ID 2025 in Orlando, […]
Investigational cUTI Antibiotic Meets Endpoint, Phase 3 Study Stopped Early
Today, Spero Therapeutics and GSK announced their PIVOT-PO phase 3 study was stopped early for efficacy following review by an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) that completed a pre-specified interim analysis of participants enrolled in the trial. The trial met the primary endpoint of non-inferiority of oral tebipenem HBr compared to intravenous imipenem-cilastatin in hospitalized […]
