Top stories in infectious disease: FDA approves use of Adacel for repeat vaccination, dolutegravir monotherapy not “valid” treatment option

Among the top infectious disease stories last week were the FDA approval of Adacel for repeat vaccination, and study results that showed dolutegravir monotherapy does not keep patients with chronic HIV infection virologically suppressed and should not be considered a treatment option.

Other highlights include findings that demonstrated Shigella is resistant to azithromycin, a Q&A that focused on the challenges and strategies for developing a suitable malaria vaccine, and a report that research on the Asian longhorn tick has been halted because of the government shutdown.

FDA approves Tdap vaccine Adacel for repeat vaccination

The FDA has approved the expanded use of Adacel for repeat vaccination to help protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, Sanofi Pasteur announced. Read more.

Dolutegravir monotherapy 'not a valid option’ for patients with HIV

Study results showed that dolutegravir monotherapy “is not a valid option” to keep patients with chronic HIV infection virologically suppressed and should not be considered a treatment option, researchers said. Read more.

Shigella shows high resistance to azithromycin ciprofloxacin

More than half of tested Shigella isolates obtained from MSM in an Australian state demonstrated resistance to azithromycin, and almost one-fifth were resistant to ciprofloxacin, according to findings published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Q&A: Malaria vaccine developments

According to the World Health Organization, progress against malaria has stalled and the disease remains a global health concern, causing more than 200 million illnesses and 435,000 deaths in 90 countries in 2017. Read more.

Government shutdown halts research on invasive new tick

A veterinary pathologist who first identified the Asian longhorned tick in Virginia said research on the tick has been halted because of the government shutdown. Read more.