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Top stories in infectious disease: US measles cases highest since 2000, WHO launches malaria vaccine program
Among top stories in infectious disease from the last week were the WHO launching a malaria vaccine program for children in Malawi, Ghana and Kenya and the CDC announcing that measles cases in the United States are at the highest level since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000.
Other highlights include a study that found phages were associated with negative outcomes, including infection and antibiotic resistance, in patients with cystic fibrosis; electronic health record alerts significantly reduced inappropriate gastrointestinal testing; and a study that found 55% of people who inject drugs in eight U.S. cities were infected with hepatitis C. – by Erin Michael
WHO launches malaria vaccine program in 3 African countries
WHO has launched a pilot program that aims to immunize around 360,000 children each year in three African countries with the first and only vaccine shown to significantly reduce malaria in children. Read more.
US measles cases hit highest level since elimination declared in 2000
Just 4 months into 2019, the United States has seen more cases of measles than in any year since the disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, according to the CDC. Read more.
Phages associated with chronic infection, antibiotic resistance in patients with CF
Study findings suggest that filamentous bacteriophages may be associated with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, antibiotic resistance and other negative outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis. Read more.
EHR alert significantly reduces inappropriate gastrointestinal testing
Researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine found that incorporating a “hard stop” command into the electronic health record led to a significant reduction in inappropriate gastrointestinal testing. Read more.
Majority of injection drug users in 8 US cities have been infected with HCV
More than 55% of people who inject drugs, or PWID, in eight United States cities were found to have been infected with hepatitis C virus, including almost half of young PWID, according to study findings that also showed infection was associated with risky injection practices. Read more.