Infectious Disease Alert
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Maribavir (Livtencity)
The FDA approved maribavir as the first drug to treat adult and pediatric patients with post-transplant cytomegalovirus infections that do not respond to currently available antiviral treatment.
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Persistent Inflammation and Post-COVID Syndrome
Ongoing inflammation may contribute to long COVID.
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Immunosuppressants and the Risk for Clostridioides difficile Infection
A retrospective cohort study found that for patients taking immunosuppressing medications, the greatest risk for C. difficile infection occurred for those receiving calcineurin inhibitors and those taking drugs from multiple immunosuppressant classes.
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Aminoglycoside-Induced Ototoxicity: Test Before You Treat?
Mitochondrially inherited, aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity can cause irreversible hearing loss. Approximately 0.2% of the population is at risk, and new point-of-care genetic testing could prompt avoidance of aminoglycoside use without undue delay in antibiotic administration.
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Midlines vs. Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters
Midline catheters are, at a minimum, at least as safe or safer than peripherally inserted central catheters for durations of at least 14 days, thus offering an effective alternative for venous access.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Bloodstream Infections During COVID-19; Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia and Probiotics; Simplified Recommendations for Pneumococcal Vaccination
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Rats in Washington, DC? The Seoul of the Issue
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported cases of the Seoul hantavirus in Washington, DC.
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Rifampin and Prosthetic Joint Infections
In patients with prosthetic joint infection, no modifiable surgical or antibiotic factors were independently associated with success or failure. Factors not associated with outcomes include the extent of debridement, exchange of mobile parts, use of rifampin or of ciprofloxacin, and duration of intravenous or oral antibiotic administration.
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Delaying Antibiotics in Patients with Suspected Infection Increases Risk of Septic Shock
A retrospective cohort study found that delaying the first dose of antibiotics in patients suspected of having an infection in the emergency department led to a higher risk of progressing to septic shock and in-hospital mortality. Every hour antibiotics were delayed increased the risk of septic shock by 4%.
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Pregnant, Influenza-Infected, and Hospitalized
Almost one-third of women ages 15-44 years hospitalized with influenza were pregnant and almost 5% required intensive care.