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Top stories in infectious disease: US measles-free status in jeopardy, pharmacists improve HIV PrEP uptake

Among the top stories in infectious disease this past week included an announcement that four European countries had lost their measles elimination status — a major setback the United States may soon experience as well. Also, a small pilot study demonstrated that pharmacists can play a central role in improving uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.

Other popular stories included a study that found that establishing a hepatitis C clinic within an HIV clinic improved treatment of coinfected patients, findings that suggested procalcitonin tests can help reduce the length of antimicrobial therapy, and new data that show the rate of postoperative Staphylococcus aureus infections among veterans were reduced by almost half in 7 years. – by Janel Miller

US may lose its measles-free status

Four European nations — Albania, the Czech Republic, Greece and the United Kingdom — have their lost measles elimination status, according to the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination, or RVC. Health officials have warned that ongoing measles outbreaks in New York have placed the U.S. on the same path. Read more.

Pharmacist-led program a feasible strategy for PrEP uptake

In Omaha, Nebraska, a small pilot study demonstrated that a pharmacist-led HIV PrEP program is a feasible way to increase uptake of the preventive strategy. Read more.

HCV, HIV co-clinic reaches hard-to-treat population

Establishing a co-located hepatitis C virus clinic within an HIV clinic successfully managed coinfected patients — a typically hard-to-treat population — resulting in HCV treatment initiation in 70.5% of participants and a sustained virologic response at 12 weeks post-treatment or cure in 56.1% of patients, according to a study. Read more.

Procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship recommendations shorten antibiotic therapy at community hospital

Physician compliance with procalcitonin-guided antimicrobial stewardship recommendations was associated with a reduction in length of antimicrobial therapy at a community hospital in Arkansas, researchers reported in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Postoperative S. aureus infections decline nearly 50% over 7 years

The incidence rate of Staphylococcus aureus infection declined nearly 50% over 7 years among veterans undergoing major surgery, according to findings from “one of the largest studies describing the long-term incidence of S. aureus in the surgical population of a national integrated health care system.” Read more.