Dermatology News

The FDA has granted Paratek Pharmaceuticals fast track designation for its investigational candidate omadacycline, which is currently in phase 3 development for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia, complicated urinary tract infections and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, according to a press release.

Skin and soft-tissue infections, or SSTIs, present clinically in a multitude of ways, and the treatment strategies vary even more. SSTIs, generally, have been categorized as uncomplicated vs. complicated, ranging in severity from simple cutaneous presentation to life-threatening necrotizing infections. Uncomplicated infections are typically self-limiting or at most require incision and debridement with or without oral antibiotics. Complicated SSTIs are more severe, as they can extend into the subcutaneous tissue, fascia or muscle, and patients typically have significant systemic signs and symptoms of infection. Understanding the key difference will allow a provider to determine the appropriate treatment approach.

The FDA has granted a qualified infectious disease product designation to an investigational fusidic acid antibiotic for the prevention of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections.

Researchers have acquired a new understanding of the disease pathogenesis of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection through evaluating the interactions between human leukocyte antigen and killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptor ligand pairs.

Benznidazole yielded a high cutaneous reaction rate in patients with Chagas’ disease, according to Spanish researchers.

Researchers were unable to determine the bacterial etiology of cellulitis using current molecular techniques to compare pathogen prevalence and quantity in infected and uninfected skin biopsy specimens, according to recently published data.

Children with insufficient levels of vitamin D were more likely to present with recurrent Staphylococcus aureus skin or soft tissue infections, according to recent study findings.

A research review and survey on infection control practices published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology suggested that many hospitals use contact precautions to prevent endemic transmission of MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, despite a lack of quality data supporting their effectiveness.

The European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has granted a positive opinion for Humira to treat active to moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa in adults who had inadequate response to conventional therapy.

Four pharmaceutical companies and a nonprofit drug research and development organization have announced the start of a collaborative effort to reduce the cost of early leishmaniasis and Chagas disease drug research, according to a press release.