Top in ID: Season’s flu vaccine ineffective; guidelines lacking for dental antibiotics

According to interim estimates, the influenza vaccine has been 16% effective this season against the circulating virus — influenza A(H3N2).

However, researchers stressed that influenza vaccines are still recommended because they help prevent serious disease. It was the top story in infectious disease.

Another top story was about a study that discovered that guidelines for prescribing antibiotic prophylaxis are lacking in dentistry. Researchers found that 15% of prescriptions in their study were appropriate under a narrow definition based on patients’ comorbidities, and 72% were appropriate under a broader definition.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

Early data show this season’s flu vaccine has not been effective

Interim estimates published in MMWR indicate that this season’s influenza vaccine has not been effective. Read more.

Most antibiotics prescribed for dental visits inconsistent with guidelines, study finds

Five out of every six antibiotics prescribed before an appointment with a Veterans Affairs dentist were inconsistent with guidelines, researchers found. Read more.

Q&A: IDSA guidance for treating resistant gram-negative infections

The Infectious Diseases Society of America published new guidance for the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant gram-negative infections. Read more.

Chikungunya vaccine candidate highly protective in phase 3 trial, Valneva says

Valneva said Wednesday that its single-shot chikungunya vaccine candidate induced protective neutralizing antibody titers in more than 96% of patients 6 months after vaccination in a phase 3 trial. Read more.

COVID-19 disruptions led to steep declines in dengue cases

Disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic led to steep declines in cases of dengue in endemic regions, with more than 723,000 cases averted in 2020, researchers reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Read more.