Top stories in infectious disease: Exposure to fluconazole during pregnancy increases spontaneous abortion risk, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis regimens evaluated

Among the top stories in infectious disease last week were a study that found any exposure to fluconazole during pregnancy may increase the risk for spontaneous abortion and trial results that suggested an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis regimen containing tenofovir alafenamide was noninferior to the traditional regimen with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

Other highlights included a report that a London man is the second person to achieve sustained HIV remission after undergoing a stem cell transplant, study data that supported the use of integrase inhibitors in pregnant women with HIV and the CDC’s announcement that progress against staph infections has “stalled” in the United States.

Any exposure to fluconazole during pregnancy increases risk for spontaneous abortions

Any maternal exposure to fluconazole during pregnancy — whether in low or high doses — may increase the risk for spontaneous abortion, and high-dose fluconazole during the first trimester may increase the risk for cardiac septal closure anomalies, researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Read more.

DISCOVER trial: tenofovir alafenamide noninferior to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

After several years of study, an HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis regimen containing tenofovir alafenamide was found to be noninferior to the traditional regimen with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Read more.

London man is second person to achieve sustained HIV remission after stem cell transplant

A man in London became the second person to be potentially cured of HIV after undergoing a stem cell transplant, though experts warned it does not mean there is a cure for HIV and the treatment is not suitable for most patients. Read more.

Studies support use of integrase inhibitors in pregnant women with HIV

Study data presented at Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections supported the use of integrase inhibitors in pregnant women with HIV. Both studies compared integrase inhibitors with efavirenz-based antiretroviral therapy. Read more.

Progress against staph infections has ‘stalled,’ CDC says

Hospital infection control measures have reduced the rates of Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections in the United States, including from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but that success is slowing and some staph infections are on the rise, according to the CDC. Read more.