Infectious Disease

Pharmacists should prioritize the needs of the patient in front of them and determine what matters most in each specific situation.

Pharmacists' accessibility and expertise in medication management make them ideal health care providers to discuss prevention strategies, medication adherence, and potential adverse effects.

Despite these concerns, experts have emphasized that the benefits of RSV vaccination outweigh potential risks for older adults, who are at heightened risk of severe RSV-related illness.

Management of acute otitis media in children involves evidence-based antibiotic prescribing.

The patient was hospitalized after exposure to an infected backyard flock.

Two cases of hospitalizations show mutations that may allow H5N1 to more easily target human cells.

Pharmacy students can provide education, patient advocacy, and medication access.

Immunocompromised older adults developed fewer antibodies against RSV following vaccination compared with immunocompetent individuals.

The regulatory decision marks a significant step forward in the treatment of non-tuberculous mycobacteria infections.

Study results show that the updated BNT162b2 XBB vaccine is effective in preventing hospitalizations or emergency department visits associated with COVID-19 complications.

Clinical trials will seek to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the LBT-SA7 vaccine.

Phage therapy, which uses lytic bacteriophages to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria, has resurfaced as a promising treatment for multidrug-resistant infections, but faces challenges in regulation, production, and clinical implementation despite its growing evidence of efficacy.

Clesrovimab would be the first and only single dose immunization indicated for infants regardless of weight, aimed to protect against their first RSV season.

A collaborative health care approach enhances patient outcomes and supports informed decision-making in antibiotic management.

Results suggest that patients commonly receive more than 5 days of treatment, which could be an opportunity for an antimicrobial stewardship initiative.

Jerome Adams, former US surgeon general, discusses the importance of receiving recommended vaccines against influenza and COVID-19 for health care personnel.

The decline was attributed to continued adherence to infection prevention and control measures.

Investigators say basic immunodeficiency screening should be completed in full for this patient population.

Pneumococcal disease incidence decreased in adults after pneumococcal vaccines began to be used in children due to indirect protection, with fewer adults found to carry the bacterium that causes disease.

Evidence suggests that precautionary measures in elementary schools were able to effectively mitigate large increases in disease transmission.

Commonly cited factors influencing uptake of pneumococcal vaccination included knowledge of pneumococcal disease and vaccine benefits, recommendations from health authorities, and perceived risk of infection.

The agency outlines key elements for building effective hospital sepsis programs.

Data from the BROADEN and PROGRESS studies were presented at the International Papillomavirus Conference 2024 in Edinburgh, UK, from November 12 to 15.

Karyne Jones highlights the importance of pneumococcal vaccination for those 50 years and older, especially in communities of color.

High COVID-19 hospital caseload strain led to increases in inpatient adverse events among patients both with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Reasons for supporting the lowering of the age-based pneumococcal vaccine recommendation included the likelihood it would increase vaccination rates in multiple age groups and demographics.

New technology and innovation may help turn the corner on antibiotic resistance.

Known to be a leading cause of mortality worldwide, cigarette smoke exposure can make the respiratory tract more susceptible to pneumococcal infection.

Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity, and Progress reported that the majority of pharmacists believe that it is important to prioritize vaccine development and distribution.

Data presented at IDWeek also showed greater disease-prevention effects in the community with PCV21 compared with prior pneumococcal vaccines.