Top in ID: Pandemic public health approaches, C. difficile guidance
Research presented at the World Microbe Forum virtual meeting analyzed U.S. case counts and deaths during the first 3 months of the pandemic and identified public health approaches that reduced COVID-19-related deaths.
A report on the data was the top story in infectious disease last week.
Another top story was about new guidance for the management of Clostridioides difficile. The recommendations include using fidaxomicin with initial C. difficile episodes and bezlotoxumab plus standard-of-care antibiotics for recurrent episodes within the past 6 months.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
Researchers identify variables associated with COVID-19 fatalities during first wave
Long-term infrastructure and short-term interventions had the biggest impact on reducing COVID-19 deaths in the United States during the first wave of cases, according to new research. Read more.
IDSA, SHEA update guidance for managing patients with C. difficile
The Infectious Diseases Society of America and The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, or SHEA, have released new guidelines for the management of Clostridioides difficile. Read more.
Researchers identify gut bacterium that inhibits SARS-CoV-2
Researchers from South Korea screened common gut bacteria for activity against SARS-CoV-2 and found a bacterium that produces compounds that inhibit the coronavirus, according to new findings presented at the virtual World Microbe Forum. Read more.
U.S. sees ‘shameful’ rise in congenital syphilis cases
For 6 consecutive years, the CDC’s annual surveillance report for STDs has come with a dire warning: After years of decline, cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have steadily increased. Read more.
Bezlotoxumab reduces odds of recurrent C. difficile infection in transplant recipients
Bezlotoxumab significantly reduced the incidence of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection among solid-organ transplant and hematopoietic-cell transplant recipients, according to a study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.