Top in ID: Novel procedure for lung infection; leftover antibiotics threaten stewardship

The surgical team at Northwestern Medicine placed breast implants in a man’s chest cavity to hold his heart in place as he underwent a double-lung transplant following a month-long infection.

The 34-year-old man, who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day from age 21 years before switching to vaping in 2014, needed the transplant after influenza and a secondary infection severely damaged his lungs.

“This innovative procedure now can allow us to help patients who need lung transplants but are too sick to immediately undergo that procedure,” Ankit Bharat, MD, chief of thoracic surgery and director of the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, said during a press conference.

It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

In another top story, a cross-sectional survey revealed that three-quarters of people who stop antibiotic treatment early save the antibiotics, often with the intent of using them in the future.

“Improper use of antibiotics contributes to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance,” Lindsey A. Laytner, PhD, MPH, a post-doctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine and co-author of the study, said in a press release. “Clinicians, pharmacists and community leaders must establish education efforts on safe antibiotic use, provide alternative treatment options for everyday symptoms and work to improve access to health care and related services.”

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

Surgeons use breast implants during double-lung transplant

Surgeons used breast implants to hold a man’s heart in place during a double-lung transplant after he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal infection after years of smoking and vaping. Read more.

Leftover antibiotics ‘major barrier to antimicrobial stewardship’

Nearly half of patients who responded to a survey said they stop antibiotic treatment early, usually because they feel better, and three-quarters said they keep the leftover antibiotics, often intending to use them in the future. Read more.

Not implementing generic PrEP programs for young MSM would be ‘throwing away’ lives, money

Implementing generic PrEP programs for young men who have sex with men at risk for HIV — a group known to have adherence and engagement issues — would reduce new infections and be cost-effective, according to a study. Read more.

FDA approves world’s first chikungunya vaccine

The FDA approved the world’s first vaccine against chikungunya virus. Read more.

Progress against TB recovers significantly following COVID-19 disruptions, WHO report says

The highest ever reported number of tuberculosis diagnoses was reported in 2022, a feat likely due to the recovery of TB services following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WHO’s 2023 Global TB report. Read more.