Top stories in infectious disease: FDA expands Xofluza indication, community-associated pneumonia guidelines stress antibiotic de-escalation

The FDA recently approved an expanded indication of the antiviral drug Xofluza to include patients who are at high risk for developing influenza-related complications, and new community-associated pneumonia guidelines emphasize the importance of de-escalation of antibiotic therapy.

These stories and more were among the top stories in infectious disease last week.

FDA approves Xofluza for patients at high risk for flu-related complications

The FDA has approved Xofluza for the treatment of patients aged 12 years or older who are at high risk for developing influenza-related complications and have been symptomatic for no more than 2 days, Genentech announced. The FDA first approved Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) in October 2018 for the treatment of acute, uncomplicated influenza among patients aged 12 years or older. Read more.

New community-associated pneumonia guidelines stress de-escalation

Recently updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of adults with community-associated pneumonia stressed the importance of de-escalation of antibiotic therapy and made stricter recommendations on when to use broad-spectrum antibiotics for the treatment of patients with community-associated pneumonia and risk factors for drug-resistant organisms. Read more.

Recent laxative use should not preclude testing patients for C. difficile

Clinical practice guidelines issued last year recommended against routinely testing patients for Clostridioides difficile if they have received a laxative within the previous 48 hours. But recent study findings showed no difference in the rates or severity of C. difficile infection, among patients who received laxatives compared with those who did not, and researchers cautioned that the recent guidance “[does not] allow room for clinical judgement” in determining if a patient is infected. Read more.

NIH announces ‘focused roadmap’ to address rise in tick-borne diseases

Amid a rise in tick-borne disease in the United States, the NIH announced a plan to “build on — and accelerate — new and existing research initiatives to improve scientific understanding of ticks and the pathogens they may transmit and to develop the necessary tools and strategies to better diagnose, prevent and treat tick-borne diseases.” Read more

WHO: 7 million people diagnosed and treated for TB in 2018

Seven million people were diagnosed and treated for tuberculosis in 2018 — a more than 9% increase from 2017 and a step toward meeting one of the milestones in the U.N. plan to end the global tuberculosis epidemic, WHO reported. Read more.