Top in ID: New name for monkeypox; tuberculosis risk factors
Last week, WHO announced that it will begin using the term “mpox” for monkeypox disease to avoid stigmatizing language.
The world health agency encouraged others to start using the term “to minimize any ongoing negative impact of the current name,” according to a press release. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.
The second top story was about risk factors for tuberculosis (TB). A recent study showed that undernutrition, as well as a lack of post-therapy BMI increase, were associated with unfavorable TB outcomes.
“Undernutrition is the leading risk factor for TB that most people are not aware of. Undernutrition can blunt immune function needed to control TB infections and prevent progression to TB disease,” Pranay SinhaMD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Boston University School of Medicine, told Healio.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
WHO renames monkeypox to avoid racist, stigmatizing connotations
WHO announced it will start using the term “mpox” to refer to monkeypox disease, citing “racist and stigmatizing language” used during this year’s global outbreak as a reason. Read more.
Undernutrition before TB, after treatment initiation associated with adverse outcomes
Undernutrition, both before tuberculosis onset and at treatment initiation, as well as a lack of BMI increase after intensive therapy, are associated with unfavorable TB outcomes, according to a recent study. Read more.
Flu hospitalizations hit 12-year high for this time of year
Hospitalizations for influenza are the highest they have been at this time of year since 2010, the CDC reported. Read more.
Maternal vaccination prevents flu-associated hospitalizations among infants
Maternal influenza vaccination was around 65% effective at preventing influenza-associated hospitalizations among infants when the viruses matched what was in the vaccine, according to a study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.
A call to action and 10 stories for World AIDS Day
Experts, clinicians and researchers across the world acknowledged World AIDS Day, celebrated each year on Dec. 1. Read more.