Top stories in infectious disease: FDA approves Recarbrio for complicated UTIs, pharmacist-delivered therapy produces high sustained viral response rates

Among the top stories in infectious disease last week was the FDA approving Recarbrio for the treatment of complicated UTIs and complicated intra-abdominal infections and research that determined clinical pharmacist-delivered hepatitis C virus therapy yielded high rates of sustained viral response.

Other highlights included a study that described how an educational program improved cleaning in acute-care facilities, a study that found state-mandated sepsis care in New York was associated with a greater decrease in mortality in adults hospitalized with sepsis anda study that indicated a septic arthritis outbreak at a NJ facility was caused by injection safety violations.

FDA approves Recarbrio for complicated UTIs, intra-abdominal infections

The FDA approved Merck’s three-drug combination antibiotic injection, Recarbrio, for the treatment of complicated UTIs and complicated intra-abdominal infections. Read more.

Pharmacist-driven HCV treatment model yields high sustained viral response rates

Clinical pharmacist-delivered hepatitis C virus therapy yields high rates of sustained viral response, according to findings published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Educational program improves cleaning in acute-care facilities

Researchers found that a novel “education and culture change” program for environmental services workers resulted in behavioral changes and sustained cleaning improvements in five acute-care hospitals in New York City. Read more.

Rory’s Regulations: State-mandated sepsis care decreases mortality

State-mandated sepsis care in New York was associated with a greater decrease in mortality in adults hospitalized with sepsis compared with states that do not have similar protocols, according to findings from a retrospective cohort study published in JAMA. Read more.

Septic arthritis outbreak at NJ facility caused by injection safety violations

An outbreak of bacterial septic arthritis that affected 41 patients who received intra-articular injections at a private New Jersey outpatient facility in 2017 was caused by multiple violations of injection safety and infection prevention practices, investigators said. Read more.