Top in ID: Evolution of C. difficile therapies; 'long flu' poses risk to pulmonary system
To break the cycle of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, physicians have shifted treatment strategies from antibiotics to fecal microbiota transplantation and live biotherapeutic products.
“It has been a very interesting journey over the years,” Sahil Khanna, MBBS, MS, a gastroenterologist and hepatologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, told Healio. “We knew that C. difficile infection is caused by an altered gut microbiome because use of antibiotics can lead to infection. However, we were not correcting the underlying dysbiosis but using more antibiotics, hoping they will continue to cure the infection. Over the last 10 to 15 years now, we have been able to correct the underlying dysbiosis.”
It was the top story in infectious disease last week.
Another top story was about the long-term health issues associated with influenza. A study comparing the long-term effects of influenza and COVID-19 found that influenza can cause serious chronic illness, especially in the pulmonary system. However, COVID-19 posed a higher risk to nine of 10 organ systems compared with influenza.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
‘The future is here’: New products join armamentarium for C. difficile
C . difficile infection presents a unique treatment paradox for clinicians: Antibiotics are often both its cause and its cure. Read more.
‘Long flu’ not as severe as long COVID but both need attention, experts say
Similar to SARS-CoV-2, which can cause long COVID, people hospitalized with influenza are at an increased risk for health issues long after they have cleared the infection, according to a study. Read more.
Q&A: Is it too late to get vaccinated for protection over the holidays?
On Dec. 14, the CDC issued an urgent warning calling for health care providers to increase vaccination coverage for COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. Read more.
PharmDs explore new treatments, vaccines for infectious diseases
To mark the end of 2023, we compiled a list of this year’s Pharmacology Consult columns, in which our contributing PharmDs dig deep into the newest research to report on emerging therapies and vaccines for infectious diseases. Read more.
US’s STD epidemic worsened again in 2023
Rates of STDs continue to rise in the United States, with CDC data showing increases year after year. Read more.