Infectious Diseases

Le vaccin mCombriax, premier à protéger contre la grippe et la Covid-19, validé par l’Agence européenne du médicament L’institution s’est prononcée fin février pour la mise sur le marché de l’Union européenne de la nouvelle préparation du laboratoire Moderna, qui immunise contre ces deux maladies respiratoires.

Le vaccin mCombriax, premier à protéger contre la grippe et la Covid-19, validé par l’Agence européenne du médicament

When the Default Is Inaction How Shared Clinical Decision-Making Became a Mechanism for Dismantling the Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Read this: When #HHS rewrote the childhood vaccination schedule, it pushed several "recommended for all vaccines" to the "shared clinical decision making" category. SCDM has been conflated with informed consent by proponents of the change but it isn't that.
jakescottmd.substack.com/p/when-the-d...

And if a drug inhibits growth, while control samples keep growing, then what looks like "drug response" might just be the lack of transcriptional changes of growth, thus not specific to your drug, & often not interesting.

See this a lot in bacteria / antibiotic response, within hours. Non-trivial.

Pathogen Factors Promoting Fungal Infection Infectious Dose - High initial inoculum exceeds immune clearance Immune Evasion Eg: • B-glucan masking (C albicans, Histoplasma capsulatum) • Capsule formation (Cryptococcus neoformans) • Melanin production (dematiaceous fungi) • Biofilm production (Candida spp., A fumigatus) Tissue Tropism Examples: • Aspergillus fumigatus for lung parenchyma • C neoformans/ C. gattii for CNS tissues (meninges) • Basidiobolus ranarum for bowel wall • Trichophyton spp. strict tropism for keratinized tissues • Aspergillus and Candida spp. for external auditory canal Host Factors Enabling Fungal Persistence Immunosuppression or Innate Immune Deficits Examples: • CARD9 deficiency • Diabetes mellitus • Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia • Hematologic malignancies • HIV/AIDS Conditions and Comorbidities (Non-immunosuppressive) Examples: • Chronic lung diseases (e.g. prior pulmonary TB, COPD)) • Eczema/atopic dermatitis • Heightened estrogen • IVDU • Previous surgeries • Smoking • Wounds or burns Clinical Factors Delaying Disease Resolution Antibiotic and/or Steroid Use/Misuse Eg: • Bacterial pneumonia abx for coccidioidomycosis or histoplasmosis • Topical steroid misuse for ringworm Delayed Diagnosis or Misdiagnosis Delayed diagnosis due to: • Non-specific or overlapping clinical presentation • Empiric treatment • Limited access to diagnostics • Long test turnaround times • Lack of provider awareness Misdiagnosis Immunosuppressive Regimens Eg: • Chemotherapy • Organ transplantation Steroids Chronic Disease States Affecting Body Systems Respiratory • Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis • Chronic pulmonary coccidioidomycosis • Chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis Neurologic • Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis • Phaeohyphomycosis • Coccidioidal meningitis Cardiac • endocarditis GI • histoplasmosis • basidiobolomycosis Sensory • keratitis • otitis Mucosa, Skin & Bone • T indotineae • Recurrent vvc • Chromoblastomycosis • Eumycetoma

Contribution of fungal diseases to the U.S. chronic disease burden

From the CDC Mycotic Diseases Branch

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/... #IDSky #MedMycoSky

Rapid RSV Tests Can Cut Down on Unneeded Antibiotics, Study Suggests Testing may help outpatient clinicians better manage lower respiratory tract infections

“suggest that virologic confirmation can increase clinicians' confidence in withholding antibiotics when a viral etiology is identified, thereby supporting more judicious prescribing practices, particularly in nonserious cases," www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/r...

Asymptomatic, acute and persistent COVID-19 symptom changes over the course of three infections Data from a UK healthcare worker cohort published in 2024 examined how signs and symptoms of COVID-19 changed after 1, 2, or 3 SARS-CoV-2 lab-confirmed infections. Those with no symptoms through to those whose symptoms persisted for >12 weeks recalled their experience, and the cohort included vaccinated and unvaccinated people and spanned the presence of different virus variants. Humans not modelling The SARS-CoV-2 Immunity and Reinfection EvaluatioN (SIREN) study is a large cohort study of UK healthcare workers. The participants were tested each fortnight by SARS-CoV-2 PCR and regular antibody testing (serology).

Most acute and persistent COVID-19 symptoms decrease and asymptomatic infections increase over time, after multiple infections and with vaccination, but plenty remain.

Immunomodulation in the Treatment of Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Severe coccidioidomycosis carries high mortality despite antifungals. We treated 18 refractory cases with immune modulation, including augmentation of Type

More adjunctive immunomodulation for an infectious disease!

Here it's dupilumab (IL-4/13 blockade) in coccidioidomycosis.

Case series only, but not overtly harmful and maybe even helpful.

#IDSky #immunosky

academic.oup.com/cid/advance-...

The role of microbial genomics in delivering the UK’s national action plan for confronting antimicrobial resistance 2024–29 Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to human and animal health, in addition to environmental resilience. Countries set the agenda on their national action against AMR in the form of Natio...

What is the role of #microbial #genomics in delivering the #UK National Action Plan (NAP) for confronting #AntimicrobialResistance ( #AMR ) 2024-29? Read our new open-access #OA piece in @lancetmicrobe.bsky.social exploring this topic from various expertise🛟🧪🧬🖥️🦠💉🧫😷
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

Testing menstrual blood

Testing menstrual blood for human papillomavirus (HPV) could be a “robust alternative or replacement” for current cervical cancer screening by a clinician, finds a BMJ study from China
www.bmj.com/content/392/...

Testing menstrual blood for human papillomavirus during cervical cancer screening in China: cross sectional population based study Objective To compare the diagnostic accuracy of minipad collected menstrual blood versus clinician collected cervical samples to test for human papillomavirus (HPV) in the detection of cervical intrae...

This is a remarkable study. A simple sanitary pad could transform cervical cancer screening. Researchers enrolled 3,000+ women (age 20–54) & compared 2 approaches:
Standard clinician-collected cervical HPV test
HPV testing from menstrual blood collected on a sanitary pad
www.bmj.com/content/392/...

#naturecommunications | Roger Paredes Today we publish in #NatureCommunications evidence that dolutegravir, unlike darunavir, helps restore the gut microbiome in people presenting late with HIV In our multicentre, open‑label RCT (96 week...

www.linkedin.com/posts/roger-...

How measles impact the brain.

South Carolina Hospitals Aren’t Required to Disclose Measles-Related Admissions. That Leaves Doctors in the Dark. Physicians across South Carolina, home to the largest measles outbreak in decades, are advising patients without the benefit of real-time data on hospitalizations due to measles-related pneumonia, bra...

Physicians across South Carolina are advising patients without the benefit of comprehensive data about how many residents have been hospitalized due to measles-related pneumonia, dehydration, brain swelling and other serious complications.

1/ Man, The Pitt is so good!

I was thrilled to see they decided to bring back the measles plot from season one because it’s so relevant right now. We’re on the brink of losing our measles elimination status, yet I still hear people brush off measles like it’s no big deal.

CDC: Unvaccinated international traveler spread measles to 17 other travelers to, within US The index patient had a fever, persistent cough, cold-like symptoms, and conjunctivitis (“pink eye”) during travel.

CDC: Unvaccinated international traveler spread measles to 17 other travelers to, within US www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/cdc-...

2026 is already half of all of last year's cases, and it's only March! You know what to do. Spread the word, not measles. doh.wa.gov/measles

South Carolina Hospitals Aren’t Required to Disclose Measles-Related Admissions. That Leaves Doctors in the Dark. Physicians across South Carolina, home to the largest measles outbreak in decades, are advising patients without the benefit of real-time data on hospitalizations due to measles-related pneumonia, bra...

ProPublica contacted state health agencies across the South and found most do not require hospitals to report measles-related admissions.

Alabama is among the few that do. Virginia does too, but it doesn’t release that data to the public.

ByHeart infant botulism outbreak ends with 48 babies sickened Federal health officials say an infant botulism outbreak linked to recalled ByHeart baby formula is over.

ByHeart infant formula botulism outbreak ends with 48 babies sickened apnews.com/article/infa...

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis after Measles Infection | NEJM A 7-year-old boy was brought to a hospital with a 3-month history of cognitive deterioration and seizures. He had contracted measles at 7 months of age while living in an area where the ...

www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Two brain MRI images from a child with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) after prior measles infection. Panel A (axial diffusion-weighted MRI) shows an asymmetric bright area in the left cerebral hemisphere indicating abnormal signal from inflamed or injured brain tissue. Panel B (coronal MRI) shows patchy abnormalities in the brain’s white matter. The bright regions represent inflammation and damage that would not be present in a normal brain.

7M s/p measles at 7 mo (before vaccination age) now w/ 3 mo of cognitive decline and seizures → SSPE

Those bright white areas on MRI represent inflammation and brain injury
They shouldn’t be there

Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis is rare but when it happens, there's no good outcome, most die

Julia Letlow campaign team includes familiar faces in Louisiana politics Former Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham is campaign chairman for Congresswoman Julia Letlow's Senate race.

Dr. “Measles outbreaks are the cost of doing business” Ralph Abraham left his role as Deputy anti-vaxxer at the CDC because of “unforeseen family obligations”.

He’s now the campaign manager for a Republican candidate running against Bill Cassidy in the Senate primary in Louisiana.

El Paso ICE Camp East Montana under quarantine after measles outbreak Camp East Montana, the ICE immigration detention center in El Paso, is under quarantine following a measles outbreak.

Camp East Montana in El Paso is currently under quarantine following a measles outbreak and cases of tuberculosis.

My breaking story:

14 measles cases reported at El Paso ICE tent camp The latest outbreak comes after a spate of COVID-19 and tuberculosis cases were reported at Camp East Montana, which holds more than 3,000 immigrants.

New: At least 14 active measles cases have been reported at a troubled El Paso tent camp holding more than 3,000 immigrants, Democratic U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar said Tuesday.

Another 112 people in the facility are being isolated.

Before taking my #HIV medication, I took advantage of the public comment period that’s open now through March 4 to weigh in on the cuts to Florida’s ADAP program.
You can tell the State of Florida what you think of these ADAP cutbacks: flrules.org/Gateway/View_notice.asp?id=30517381

ADAPs Work. Federal Policy Is Defunding Them on Accident. ADAPs achieved 87% viral suppression in 2024, but 340B rebates fund 52% of budgets—and federal policies are eroding that revenue while demand surges.

ADAPs achieved 87% viral suppression serving 257,644 people in 2024, but 340B rebates now fund 52% of budgets—and multiple federal policies are eroding that revenue while H.R. 1 Medicaid cuts will surge demand. Our analysis examines the crisis ahead. #ADAP #HIV

Joint Statement on the Proposed Changes to Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program

ADAP Advocacy and HealthHIV Conjoin Patient and Provider Concerns Threatening the Well-Being of Floridians Living with HIV/AIDS

Read more: www.adapadvocacy.org/pdf-docs/202...

Constrained Budgets Lead States to Restrict HIV Drug Access Through Ryan White | KFF States are facing constrained budgets, putting pressure on HIV programs, including the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. This Policy Watch explores how state Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs...

States are facing budget constraints that are putting pressure on HIV programs like Ryan White’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), with several states scaling back access to HIV treatment.

Our new brief tackles what this means: https://on.kff.org/4cq460q

Florida just cut off HIV meds for 16,000 people.

Deciphering the etiology of the 2024 outbreak of undiagnosed febrile illness in Panzi, Democratic Republic of the Congo - Nature Medicine This multidisciplinary response to investigate the large outbreak of unknown febrile illness in the Panzi Health Zone in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in late 2024 suggests that the outbreak wa...

What happened during a febrile illness outbreak in Panzi, Democratic Republic of the Congo?

Was it something new or something we knew?

Check out the amazing collaboration (inc. @pathogenomenick.bsky.social & @arambaut.bsky.social ) that came together:

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Up to 56,000 people died from COVID-19 or RSV last year Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was associated with 190,000 to 350,000 hospitalizations from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, as well as 10,000 to 23,000 deaths, according to data published last mont...

Up to 56,000 people died from COVID-19 or RSV last year, according to CDC. RSV-associated hospitalization rates were highest among babies in the first year of life, at a rate of 1,117 cases per 100,000 people.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/560...