A study at ECCMID shows AI software can detect TB from chest X-rays with sensitivity and specificity comparable to that of trained radiologists. The technology has the potential to improve diagnosis in low-resource settings where radiologists are scarce.
A recent study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased mortality rates among people with intellectual disabilities, with a disparity of five times higher than in the general population. This increase was not limited to COVID-19-related deaths but also affected other conditions such as cancer and mental health disorders.
A recent Italian study has shed light on how the gut microbiota evolves in infants from birth to three months. The research found that the diversity of gut bacteria increases rapidly in the first few months, with some bacterial families exhibiting marked changes in abundance over time.
Rapid metagenomics can provide accurate results within just 6 hours of knowing bacteria are growing in a blood sample, allowing for effective treatment 18-42 hours earlier than conventional laboratory tests. Metagenomic sequencing has the potential to save lives and better manage the use of antibiotics by rapidly identifying antimicrob...
A new study found that long COVID's impact on public health systems is likely due to the volume of those infected with SARS-CoV-2, rather than the severity of symptoms. In a highly vaccinated population, adults with Omicron had similar ongoing symptoms and functional limitations as those with influenza.
New research shows that COVID-19 vaccines have directly saved at least 1,004,927 lives across Europe between December 2020 and March 2023. The majority of these lives were saved in people aged 60 years and older, with the first booster accounting for almost two-thirds of lives saved.
Denmark has seen a significant surge in strep A infections, particularly among the elderly, since late 2022. The new M1 subvariant is responsible for 30% of cases and may be contributing to the outbreak's severity.
Infections caused by Group A Streptococcus (GAS) decreased by 80% as COVID-19 lockdown took effect and remained low until March 2022, when they increased 18% a month to surpass pre-COVID levels.
A major UK study has discovered that disturbed sleep patterns in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 were likely a driver of breathlessness. The study found that 62% of participants experienced sleep disruption, which persisted for at least 12 months and was associated with anxiety and muscle weakness.
The highest incidence of invasive Group A Streptococcus (GAS) disease has shifted from the most deprived groups to the second most affluent group in the UK, according to new research. The emm1 strain, which causes severe disease, was more common in 2022 than previous years.
Researchers identified protective drugs that shield two abundant gut bacterial species without compromising antibiotic effectiveness against disease-causing bacteria. The study found a novel combination of antibiotics with antidote drugs, such as dicumarol and tolfenamic acid, which protected the gut microbiome and maintained antibioti...
A Portuguese study found that six pets in Portugal and one in the UK carried antibiotic-resistant bacteria similar to those found in their owners. The researchers emphasize the importance of including pet-owning households in programs to reduce antimicrobial resistance. Owners can reduce the spread by practicing good hygiene.
A Portuguese study found that 19% of surfaces in small animal veterinary practices harboured at least one multidrug-resistant bacterium. These included Staphylococci, such as S. pseudintermedius, and Acinetobacter spp., which are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics.
A recent genetic study found that antibiotic resistance is driven by geographic, demographic, diet, and lifestyle factors. Researchers analyzed the microbiome of a large Finnish population sample and discovered associations between food consumption, geographical location, and ARG abundance.
A Spanish study found that 40% of supermarket meat samples contained multidrug-resistant E. coli, including strains capable of causing severe infections in people. The study highlights the need for regular assessment and farm-level interventions to reduce the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food-producing animals.
A new study found that the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine reduced hospitalization and death risks by 72% and 68%, respectively, in adults aged 65 years and older. The study highlights the importance of bivalent booster vaccination in high-risk populations.
A recent study found that over 42% of healthy mothers carrying fecal transplant material tested positive for harmful pathogens, making the procedure risky. The research aims to assess whether postnatal FMT can safely restore normal microbiota in C-section babies.
A study found that two-thirds of staff and residents in long-term care facilities in England were infected with COVID-19 between March 2020 and March 2022. The analysis, which included over 5,000 individuals, estimated that the true rate of infection was higher due to under-diagnosis during the pandemic.
Researchers suggest that 'network immunity', generated by core members of the sexual network, halted the mpox epidemic. The theory proposes that as core members were infected first, they developed infection-induced immunity which slowed transmission.
A British woman was infected with dengue while visiting family in the south of France in September 2022. The case report presents an outbreak of over 30 locally transmitted cases in France, highlighting the rapidly changing epidemiology of dengue.
A Danish study has validated a dried blood spot test that can detect HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C from a single drop of blood. The test uses existing hospital equipment and is suitable for places where needle-based testing is not practical or feasible.
A new study published in The Lancet found that higher dose corticosteroids are associated with a 60% increased risk of death in hypoxic COVID-19 patients requiring only non-invasive oxygen therapy. The RECOVERY trial also identified an excess of pneumonia and hyperglycaemia in the higher-dose corticosteroid group.
A growing number of European countries have experienced diphtheria outbreaks primarily associated with recently arrived migrants. Key findings indicate that whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis reveal that the toxin-producing bacteria were acquired during migration rather than in their home country or Germany.
Targeted testing for HIV in emergency departments has led to a significant increase in diagnoses, with numbers more than tripling in Spain. Early diagnosis is key to avoiding the spread of HIV infection, and targeted screening has been shown to be effective, especially in increasing tests ordered and diagnoses made.
New research at ECCMID 2023 presents 19 gold complexes effective against at least one hard-to-treat bacterium, including MRSA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The gold-based drugs use a multimodal mechanism to kill bacteria, preventing antimicrobial resistance from developing.
Adults hospitalized with Omicron had a higher death rate than those with seasonal influenza, even though Omicron is considered less virulent. The study found patients hospitalized with Omicron were older and had more underlying illnesses, which may contribute to the higher mortality rate.
A new UK study found that wearing surgical masks in a large London hospital during the first 10 months of Omicron activity made no difference to reducing hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections. Researchers analyzed infection control data and found no significant change in infection rates when mask-wearing policies were removed or cont...
New research reveals a worrying picture of rising infectious disease cases in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine, with shigellosis and viral meningitis incidence significantly higher than the national average. Childhood vaccination coverage has also plummeted, putting vulnerable populations at increased risk of severe illness and death.
A nationwide study in Denmark found that people living with HIV are at double the risk of depression and treatment with electroconvulsive therapy compared to controls. Siblings of PLWH also face an increased risk of depression, use of antidepressants, and suicide, but lower than for PLWH.
A recent US study found that people living with HIV performed worse on cognitive tests after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those without HIV, but these differences were attributable to HIV rather than COVID-19. However, vaccinated individuals experienced declines in processing speed following COVID-19.
A large typhoid outbreak on a Dutch ship was traced to contaminated drinking water, with 72 cases confirmed. The investigation found that sewage containing Salmonella typhi leaked into freshwater tanks, highlighting the importance of regular water quality inspections.
A 3-year-old girl was infected with M. marinum after being bitten by an iguana while on holiday in Costa Rica. The toddler developed a ganglion cyst and eventually responded to treatment with rifampin and clarithromycin.
A UK study found that virtual wards can safely manage most individuals with mpox, saving an estimated 2,100 hospital bed days. The virtual ward model was widely adopted in the UK to respond to the 2022 global outbreak of mpox.
A new study published at ECCMID 2023 found that antibiotics do not reduce the risk of dying in adults hospitalised with common viral respiratory infections like influenza. The research suggests a restrictive antibiotic strategy for these types of infections may be warranted to reduce unnecessary prescribing and combat antimicrobial res...
New research highlights poor level of financial and health support provided by national governments for citizens stranded abroad. The study found alarming rates of depression, anxiety, and homelessness among those separated from family or facing flight cancellations.
A study of over 2,800 hospital patients and their companion animals found that sharing multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) between pets and owners is possible. However, the rate of MDRO transmission from pets to humans was very low, suggesting that neither cat nor dog ownership is a major risk factor for hospital-acquired infections.
A recent WHO review reveals a significant shortage of new antibiotics in the pipeline, with only 12 approved drugs introduced between 2017 and 2021. The majority of these drugs target non-critical pathogens, leaving critical ones like Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa underrepresented.
A new study published at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases found that healthcare workers infected with the original SARS-CoV-2 virus were more likely to experience long Covid symptoms than those who had the omicron variant. The research suggests that omicron may be less likely to lead to long Covid, p...
A Canadian study found that those infected with COVID-19 in the first wave in 2020 were 40% less likely to get infected during the first six months of Omicron activity. Older adults, particularly those aged 65 and above, were significantly less likely to be infected than younger adults.
A study finds that the 'classic triad' of meningitis symptoms - fever, altered mental state, and neck stiffness - are rare in both children and adults. The research highlights the need to improve symptom questioning to reduce treatment delays and improve outcomes for patients with bacterial meningitis.
A European-wide recall of Kinder Chocolate products, including eggs, prevented thousands of extra cases of Salmonella Typhimurium. The recall, triggered by intensive collaboration between public health experts, food safety agencies, and regular surveillance, saved lives and reduced the risk of devastating global outbreak.
Despite over 100 years of TB vaccine research, only one vaccine has been widely used, and a second is urgently needed to combat the ongoing pandemic. Promising new candidates are now in phase 3 trials, including an adjuvanted subunit vaccine that demonstrated 50% protection against TB infection in a phase II trial.
A Belgian study assessed the risk factors of breakthrough COVID-19 infections in fully vaccinated people, finding mRNA vaccines offered greater protection than viral vector jabs. Breakthrough infections were more common in those who received viral vector vaccines, while prior Covid infection and vaccination provided added protection.
A new study found that six in ten people with COVID-19 still experience at least one symptom a year later, with fatigue, shortness of breath, and irritability being the most common. The study also revealed that participants with moderate/severe COVID-19 were more likely to have ongoing symptoms and sleep problems.
A large study found that over a third of ICU patients developed long COVID, compared to 6% of hospitalised patients and 1% of outpatients. Long COVID is associated with different clinical trajectories and characteristics depending on the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection severity.
A pilot long Covid rehabilitation programme in Ireland has shown significant improvements in fatigue, quality of life, and wellbeing concerns. The four-week occupational therapy programme equipped participants with practical techniques to manage everyday fatigue and brain-fog.
A six-week virtual exercise program has improved fatigue, breathlessness, and quality of life for COVID-19 patients in Ireland. Participants were able to walk further and experience significant improvements in physical fitness and overall health.
A nationwide study of all adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in Denmark found that foreign-born adults were at a markedly lower risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to Danish-born adults. The study also suggests that stronger COVID-19 information and prevention initiatives are needed for immigrants.
Research found that 3.4% of pregnant women who caught COVID-19 passed antibodies to their babies, providing some protection. However, these antibodies gradually decrease over time and disappear within 100 days after birth.
A recent US study found higher rates of antibiotic-resistant infections in COVID-19 patients and SARS-COV-2 negative patients compared to pre-pandemic periods. The analysis of 271 hospitals across the USA revealed significant increases in AMR, with rates rising by 20% during the pandemic.