The AJMC® Infectious Disease compendium is a comprehensive resource for news and interviews about the viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites that create illness and outbreaks.
February 7th 2024
Results show that wastewater surveillance was sufficiently sensitive to detect Monkeypox virus (mpox) cases in these large, pooled samples.
Phase 3 Study Shows Live Biotherapeutic Significantly Reduces CDI Recurrence
November 8th 2022A phase 3 study showed Ferring’s RBX2660, an investigational microbiota-based live biotherapeutic, to be safe and significantly reduce recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) after antibiotic treatment, with a sustained response achieved through 6 months.
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A poster presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus 2022 showed that patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI), who had Medicare Advantage Part D coverage or were enrolled in a commercial health plan were associated with significantly greater health care resource utilization, including emergency department and inpatient visits, compared with those without rCDI.
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FDA Rejects Bulevirtide for Hepatitis D, Compensated Liver Disease
November 1st 2022The FDA has issued a complete response letter to Gilead Sciences, indicating that it cannot approve the company’s first-in-class investigational entry-inhibitor, bulevirtide, for the treatment of chronic hepatitis D virus infection and compensated liver disease.
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Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for CDI Show Improved Outcomes, but Adherence Issues Remain
October 25th 2022Improved outcomes associated with fidaxomicin compared with vancomycin suggest benefits from its greater use in Medicare patients, although uptake remains low despite its recommended use.
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Racial Disparities Shown for Influenza Hospitalizations, Vaccination Coverage
October 20th 2022CDC's latest Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report showed that US adults of non-Hispanic Black, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hispanic race/ethnicity exhibited significantly higher influenza hospitalization rates and lower vaccination coverage compared with White adults.
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Hepatitis C Morbidity, Mortality Risk Reduced in Homeless Patients Through Supportive Housing
October 13th 2022Patients with hepatitis C virus infection and chronic homelessness who were placed into permanent supportive housing exhibited a significantly reduced risk of hospitalization and liver-related morbidity and mortality.
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Optum and Change Healthcare have completed their merger initiated in 2021; efficacy of the Jynneos vaccine is in question after 90 of 7339 individuals contracted monkeypox after vaccination; the CDC will no longer maintain a list of country-by-country COVID-19 travel advisories.
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FDA Committee Issues Positive Vote for RBX2660 in Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection
September 28th 2022An FDA advisory committee recently issued a positive vote for Ferring’s RBX2660, an investigational microbiota-based live biotherapeutic, for its potential in reducing recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection after antibiotic treatment.
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Clostridioides difficile Infection Risk Greater Among Patients Requiring Maintenance Hemodialysis
September 27th 2022Patients requiring maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) had a 4-fold higher risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), with rates of CDI increasing over time regardless of MHD requirement.
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Health experts warn that all should brace for a flu season that could be worse than the past 2 years; the CDC is opening applications to a vaccine equity program that will help those who may have limited access to the monkeypox vaccine; a new report found that health care services will be greatly affected by climate change.
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What We’re Reading: Biden Boosts Biotech; 9/11 Program Nearly Depleted; Tpoxx Safe in Monkeypox
September 12th 2022President Joe Biden is set to sign an order to boost biotech as part of his Cancer Moonshot; the health care program for 9/11 survivors and first responders is running short on money; tecovirimat (Tpoxx) has been found to be safe in patients with monkeypox.
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David E. Koren, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, AAHIVP, FIDSA, infectious disease clinical pharmacist at Temple University Hospital, provides an update on current preventive efforts to address the monkeypox public health emergency in the United States and what steps are needed to protect at-risk populations.
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Dr David Koren on At-Risk Populations, Educational Efforts in Monkeypox
September 9th 2022David E. Koren, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, AAHIVP, FIDSA, infectious disease clinical pharmacist at Temple University Hospital, discussed the risk posed by monkeypox among immunocompromised individuals and men who have sex with men, as well as the need for educational efforts to address misconceptions tied to the disease.
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Dr David Koren Discusses Response to the Monkeypox Public Health Emergency
September 2nd 2022David E. Koren, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, AAHIVP, FIDSA, infectious disease clinical pharmacist at Temple University Hospital, speaks on gaps in monkeypox vaccine availability and access and steps to improve response to the public health emergency.
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Fauci Announces He Is Stepping Down in December 2022
August 22nd 2022Anthony Fauci, MD, announced Monday he is stepping down in December 2022 from his various positions, including as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “to pursue the next chapter of my career” and that he is not retiring.
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The CDC announced it would be loosening recommendations to battle COVID-19 to put more responsibilities on individuals; Mount Sinai Health System has started building a database of patient genetic information; parts of the country see racial disparities in individuals contracting monkeypox.
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What We’re Reading: Alzheimer Drug Setback; Rural Health Care Investment; Monkeypox Drug Delivery
August 10th 2022Acadia Pharmaceuticals’ pimavanserin (Nuplazid) was not extended by the FDA to include Alzheimer-related psychosis; HHS/Health Resources and Service Administration vow to strengthen rural health care; a new deal has the United States paying $26 million for Siga Technologies’ Tpoxx.
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Hepatitis C Reinfection Rates Low After Successful Treatment in People Who Inject Drugs
August 8th 2022Treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with direct-acting antiviral medications was associated with low HCV reinfection rates among patients who inject drugs, although risk for reinfection was highest in the first 24 weeks of treatment and among those with ongoing injecting drug use.
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US Monkeypox Cases Number Nearly 3600 as HHS Approves Additional Vaccine
July 27th 2022The number of monkeypox cases in the United States is close to 3600, the CDC said this week, and on Wednesday, HHS approved a supplement to the biologics license for a vaccine made by Bavarian Nordic to prevent smallpox and monkeypox.
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