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Top stories in infectious disease: FDA to review two Merck antibacterial agents, Trump announces goal to end HIV epidemic in the US
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Among the top stories in infectious disease last week were the FDA’s acceptance of a new drug application for two Merck antibacterial agents meant to treat complicated UTIs and intra-abdominal infections and President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a goal of ending the HIV epidemic in the US by 2030.
Other highlights included a report of a new platform that delivers same-day antibiotic susceptibility testing, data that concluded the influenza vaccine was 38% effective overall during the 2017-2018 influenza season in the US and 22% effective against the predominant circulating virus, influenza A(H3N2), and the discovery of antibiotic-resistant genes in a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean.
FDA to review Merck agents for treatment of complicated UTIs, complicated intra-abdominal infections , nosocomial pneumonia
The FDA has accepted a new drug application and supplemental new drug application for two Merck antibacterial agents, the company announced. Read more.
Trump announces 10-year plan to end HIV epidemic in US
During his State of the Union address last week President Donald J. Trump asked for a bipartisan commitment to end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030 — a call that was met with skepticism by some experts. Read more.
New platform delivers same-day antibiotic susceptibility testing data for ‘virtually all’ antibiotics
A new platform for antibiotic susceptibility testing, or AST, “has the potential to revolutionize clinical practice” by rapidly providing data on many more antibiotics than current methods allow, researchers reported in Scientific Reports. Read more.
Flu vaccine was 38% effective last season, 22% effective against H3N2
The influenza vaccine was 38% effective overall during the 2017-2018 influenza season in the United States, and 22% effective against the predominant circulating virus, influenza A(H3N2), researchers reported. Read more.
Antibiotic-resistant genes found in one of the most remote places on earth
Researchers found antibiotic-resistant genes in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean and one of the most remote places on Earth. They said the discovery confirms the spread of superbug genes to the High Arctic and has implications for the global spread of antibiotic resistance. Read more.