Volume 9, Issue 8, August 2022

The FAST-TB trial showed that after ruling out isoniazid resistance using a nucleic acid amplification test, a 3-drug combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide was noninferior to the standard 4-drug regimen with ethambutol with regards to tuberculosis treatment success.

Known and novel risk factors for invasive candidiasis were identified using machine learning, demonstrating the hypotheses generating utility of this approach for infectious disease conditions about which less is known, specifically at the species-level or for rarer diseases.

Excessive inflammation contributes to the morbidity of COVID-19. In a placebo-controlled trial of 61 hospitalized subjects with severe pneumonia, adjunctive rhu-pGSN did not provide a statistically significant benefit although SAEs and intubations were numerically fewer in rhu-pGSN than placebo recipients.

Despite a reduction with time, bloodstream infections continue to occur at an elevated rate among PWH with high reoccurrence, morbidity, and mortality. PWH with low immunity at the time of BSI are at highest risk of poor outcomes.

Among 4858 solid organ transplant recipients followed for 39 183 person-years, there was significant excess cases of and substantial hospitalizations for vaccine-preventable diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, tuberculosis, and legionellosis. Preventive measures could be adopted.

Oral polio vaccine is associated with beneficial nonspecific effects in relation to its current use as a birth dose, as 3 infant doses coadministered with diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, and as a campaign vaccine delivered to all children <5 years of age.

In a scoping review to document associations between influenza and extrapulmonary outcomes, we identified 99 publications reporting 243 associations and 50 distinct clinical conditions. Studies were heterogeneous with limited comparability. These findings emphasize the importance of prevention and need for additional research.

Among neutropenic patients with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, combination therapy with broad- and narrow-spectrum beta-lactams had higher odds of 60-day all-cause mortality compared with broad-spectrum beta-lactam. Narrowing therapy was not associated with higher odds of clinical failure or 60-day mortality.

We demonstrated that postprison release transitional care, using a care navigator model, is associated with a higher likelihood of hepatitis C DAA initiation among individuals who are released untreated. Treatment was also initiated earlier after release compared with unsupported individuals.

We conducted a phase 2a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of dupilumab plus standard of care in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Subjects randomized to dupilumab had a higher 60-day survival rate compared to the placebo group (89.5% vs 76.2%; P = .03).

Dentists significantly improved appropriate antibiotic use from 19% to 87.9% after antibiotic stewardship education with audit and weekly feedback interventions by infectious diseases experts. Their national network of dental study clubs continues to engage additional dentists in dental antibiotic stewardship.

An entirely oral antibiotic therapy may be a valuable option for the treatment of adult patients with pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis caused by non-multidrug-resistant bacteria. The antibiotic regimen should include rifampicin in case of staphylococcal or unknown etiology.

Coinfections are more common in patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Infiltrates on imaging studies are seen more commonly in patients with coinfections, but coinfections did not affect treatment outcomes of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex.

This analysis of the predictors of mortality in candidemia showed that early (<72 hours) source control, in particular vascular catheter removal, was a key determinant of outcome among patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Tetanus admissions at medical wards declined in tertiary hospitals. More than 80% of tetanus cases and admissions were males, but mortality was higher among females. Tetanus mortality rates remained unchanged, and most deaths occurred less than 7 days after admission.

In this retrospective cohort of solid organ transplant recipients, reported β-lactam allergy was associated with increased odds of exposure to β-lactam alternative antibiotics but not with days alive and out of the hospital in the first 180 days posttransplant.

Among 6061 healthcare workers in Quebec, prevalence of ≥12-week post-COVID conditions was 40% and 68% among nonhospitalized and hospitalized cases, respectively. Over 30% of nonhospitalized cases reported cognitive dysfunction, which was associated with persistent physical symptoms, psychological distress, and fatigue.

Metagenomic cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing (mNGS) using the DISQVER test detects microorganisms missed by conventional microbiological tests in plasma of patients with febrile neutropenia. Metagenomic NGS may be a useful addition to guide antimicrobial therapy.

Geographical location influenced adult FUO syndrome noninfectious diseases diagnoses. Noninfectious inflammatory disorders were most prevalent in the Western Pacific region. The highest pooled estimate for cancer was in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

The demographics of US international travelers seen for pre-travel health consultation changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared with pre-COVID-19, a greater percentage of travelers were planning to visit friends and relatives or were traveling for extended periods.

In pooled analyses of dolutegravir trials, proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL was lower in Black vs non-Black participants, female vs male participants, and US vs non-US participants, highlighting the importance of enrollment diversity in randomized clinical trials.

Compared with placebo, regdanvimab effectively reduced the rate of disease progression, shortened time to recovery and more rapidly reduced viral load in patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant at high risk of progression to severe disease. No notable safety concerns were observed.

This review synthesizes the recent literature on system-level interventions that integrate behavioral health services into HIV care settings. Integration approaches are diverse and appear feasible, but more research is needed to understand their effect on HIV outcomes.

The role of human herpesvirus 6 monitoring and preemptive/prophylactic therapy is controversial after stem cell transplantation. Current guidelines and the most up-to-date literature do not support routine practice; it should be carefully considered if undertaken in the highest-risk patient populations.

An appreciation of legislative actions, such as push and pull incentives, is essential for infectious diseases stakeholders to maximize the impact of their practices. The effect of these legislative actions on health systems and the pharmaceutical industry is examined.

HIV clinicians care for many persons with opioid use disorder, and buprenorphine is safe and effective in reducing overdose deaths and improving HIV-related outcomes. HIV clinicians should obtain a buprenorphine waiver to reduce barriers to prescribing in primary care settings.