Influenza

CDC investigators linked a fatal case of melioidosis in Georgia to three other cases of melioidosis that were reported in Kansas, Minnesota and Texas. The CDC said it suspects that an imported product is a likely source of the infections.

Immunization with recombinant quadrivalent influenza vaccines improved antibody responses at 1 month after vaccination compared with egg-based vaccines in a randomized trial conducted among health care personnel.

Influenza vaccination may reduce the risk for stroke, sepsis and deep vein thrombosis in patients with COVID-19, data presented at the ECCMID virtual meeting suggest.

Experts have been optimistic that the science and collaboration that went into developing numerous COVID-19 vaccines in record time may help spur development of vaccines against other long-time targets, like influenza.

AKI was more common in hospitalizations for COVID-19 than influenza, with study results indicating that AKI with the former led to more severe outcomes, including the need for mechanical ventilation and increased mortality.

Researchers said four cases of oseltamivir-resistant influenza A(H1N1) were detected at a border detention center in Texas with hemagglutinin that belong to a subclade that may enable viral escape from pre-existing immunity.

The American Thoracic Society issued a new clinical practice guideline that addresses the use of nucleic acid-based testing for noninfluenza viral pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia in the outpatient and inpatient setting.

The United States experienced “unusually low” influenza activity this past season, likely as a result of the various measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19, including mask wearing, social distancing and reduced travel.

Around 10% of patients hospitalized for influenza and community-acquired pneumonia also had a community-onset bacterial coinfection, and these patients experienced worse outcomes and higher costs, according to a large U.S. study.

Among patients with CVD living in the U.S., only half reported they received an influenza vaccine in the past year, according to data presented at the virtual American College of Cardiology Scientific Session.