Top stories in infectious disease: Pets lower risk for C. difficile infection, more coronavirus updates

The top story in infectious disease last week was about a study that showed that interacting with pets decreases the likelihood of developing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

Also, a new feature story delves into online misinformation about the novel coronavirus and other diseases, and what physicians can do to address it.

Read these and more top stories below:

Close contact with pets reduces risk for recurrent C. difficile infection

Pet ownership and close interactions with these pets may protect against the recurrence of community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection, according to a study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Online misinformation about coronavirus part of a larger, ‘deep-seated problem’

Inaccurate medical information on the internet, particularly on social media platforms, has become a prevalent obstacle for health care providers over the past decade. Recently, Bloomberg reported an influx of coronavirus misinformation spreading on various social media platforms — suggesting a need for intervention to offset false and potentially dangerous disease information online. Read more.

WHO calls for 'global solidarity' in controlling coronavirus outbreak

WHO called for global solidarity to control the coronavirus outbreak and announced it will send supplies to 24 countries. The agency also asked all member states to report more thorough case data while limiting restrictions that negatively impact international travel and trade. Read more.

Development of resistance may necessitate alternative therapies for S. maltophilia

Patients previously treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia may require alternative therapies because of high rates of resistance to the agent, according to a review examining the epidemiology of the infection. Read more.

Treatment with antivirals, antibiotics reduces respiratory hospitalization risk in patients with flu

Patients prescribed antivirals and antibiotics during treatment for influenza have a lower risk for 30-day hospitalization compared with patients given antivirals alone, according to findings published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Read more.