Top stories in infectious disease: Risky antibiotic use, an ‘unusual’ flu season, E. coli from romaine lettuce and more
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A new survey found that about half of adults expect prescriptions for antibiotics when they visit the doctor — one of the top stories in infectious disease last week.
Other top stories included updates on the 2019-2020 influenza season, which is predominated by influenza B, and the multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce.
Survey finds risky antibiotic use among adults
The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging surveyed a national sample of U.S. adults about their opinions and experiences with antibiotics and found that nearly half expected antibiotic prescriptions at doctor visits and more than half have taken leftover antibiotics without talking to a health care professional. Read more.
An ‘unusual’ start to flu season: Influenza B predominates early
Overall, more than half of influenza-positive samples tested at public health laboratories this season have been influenza B viruses, according to CDC FluView data. Read more.
Four things to know about the romaine lettuce outbreak
In the wake of the CDC's announcement that a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce harvested from the growing region in Salinas, California, Healio compiled a list of things to know about the current outbreak and treating patients with this suspected infection. Read more.
More financial, institutional support needed for safe outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy care
A survey completed by 672 members of the Emerging Infections Network showed that infectious disease clinicians were “highly involved” in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy, or OPAT, but that only around one-third of respondents reported access to a dedicated OPAT program. Read more.
5-year study shows predominance of non-device-associated pneumonia
Among more than 160,000 patients admitted to University of North Carolina hospitals during a recent 5-year period, non-device-associated, or ND, pneumonia was implicated in three of every four nosocomial pneumonia cases, with more than 60% occurring outside the ICU, indicating a possible need to expand infection prevention programs to include non-ventilated patients, researchers said. Read more.