Top stories in infectious disease: Two-drug HIV regimen maintains virologic suppression, ribaxamase lowers incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection

Among the top stories in infectious disease last week were data that demonstrated a two-drug regimen for the treatment of HIV had “durable” efficacy and tolerability in certain patients with HIV, and trial results that found oral ribaxamase reduced the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection vs. placebo in patients treated with ceftriaxone via IV for lower respiratory tract infections.

Other highlights included a Q&A about a new public health awareness campaign that focused on antibiotic overuse in Kentucky, a case-controlled analysis that concluded treating uncomplicated UTIs using narrower-spectrum agents limited the development of antibiotic resistance locally and study findings that showed Chagas disease prevalence may be up to eight times higher among relatives of patients who are infected vs. the rest of the community. – by Melissa J. Webb

2-drug HIV regimen maintains virologic suppression at 148 weeks

The first FDA-approved complete two-drug regimen for the treatment of HIV has demonstrated “durable” efficacy and tolerability, and participants have maintained virologic suppression through at least 148 weeks, according to results from the SWORD 1 and 2 studies. Read more.

Ribaxamase reduces Clostridioides difficile infection incidence in patients receiving beta-lactam antibiotics

Oral ribaxamase reduces the incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection, or CDI, compared with placebo in patients treated with IV ceftriaxone for lower respiratory tract infections, according to results from a phase 2b trial. Read more.

Q&A: Campaign fights Kentucky’s high rates of antibiotic prescriptions

A new public health awareness campaign is focusing on antibiotic overuse in Kentucky, the U.S. state with the highest rate of antibiotic use. Read more.

Treating uncomplicated UTIs with narrower spectrum agents limits resistance

Treating uncomplicated UTIs using narrower-spectrum agents appears to limit the development of antibiotic resistance locally, according to findings from a case-controlled analysis conducted over 7 years at a health care system in Colorado. Read more.

Prevalence of Chagas disease up to 8 times higher in patients’ families

Study findings showed that the prevalence of Chagas disease may be up to eight times higher in family members of patients who are infected than the rest of the community, suggesting that relatives are at a particularly high risk for infection, which is transmitted to humans by insects, researchers said. Read more.