RSV Vaccine Protection Wanes Quickly For Older Adults

RSV Vaccine Protection Wanes Quickly For Older Adults

The protection offered by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine wanes over time for older adults, even with a booster dose 1 year after initial vaccination, according to a study published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine. This clinical trial of nearly 25,000 participants in 17 countries is one of the first studies measuring the efficacy of the relatively new RSV vaccine over subsequent seasons for those aged 60 years or older. Research data shows that efficacy …

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CDC Updates Meningococcal, RSV, Chikungunya Vaccine Recommendations

CDC Updates Meningococcal, RSV, Chikungunya Vaccine Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee voted on recommendations for 3 vaccines in recent days, according to CIDRAP. The committee recommended the use of the newly approved 5-in-1 meningococcal (groups A, B, C, W, and Y) vaccine as part of the adolescent meningococcal vaccination schedule. They also recommended that adults aged 50 to 59 years who are at increased risk of severe disease from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) receive a single …

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Antibiotics In Early Childhood Linked To Chronic Conditions

Antibiotics In Early Childhood Linked To Chronic Conditions

When kids are exposed to antibiotics before age 2, they may be at greater risk for asthma (hazard ratio [HR] 1.24, 1.22-1.26), food allergy (HR 1.33, 1.26-1.40), and allergic rhinitis (HR 1.06, 1.03-1.10), according to a retrospective analysis published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases. While the study doesn’t prove that early antibiotic exposure caused the conditions, the authors note that antibiotics do play a critical role in combatting bacterial infections. Researchers studied antibiotic exposure …

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Midafternoon May Be the Optimal Time For Asthma Inhaler Use

Midafternoon May Be the Optimal Time For Asthma Inhaler Use

For adults with mild to moderate asthma, a dose of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) taken in the afternoon suppressed the worsening of nighttime lung function better than other dosing regimens, a small crossover trial published in Thorax showed. A single 400 µg dose between 3PM and 4PM improved nighttime forced expiratory volume compared to baseline in a 28-day study of 25 participants, which included a washout period. However, when the same dose was given between 8AM …

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Serious Cases of Invasive GAS Rising In Recent Years

Serious Cases of Invasive GAS Rising In Recent Years

The incidence of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections increased significantly from 3.6 cases per 100,000 people in 2013 to 8.2 cases in 2022, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis published in JAMA. Researchers studied data from 10 states including 35 million people and recommended that new efforts should be designed to prevent and control GAS infections, especially among groups at highest risk, which includes individuals 65 years or older, residents …

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New Outlook Considers 3 Total MMR Vaccines, Starting at 6 Months

New Outlook Considers 3 Total MMR Vaccines, Starting at 6 Months

Pediatric infectious disease experts are considering revising recommendations to encourage an early, additional dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for 6- to 11-month-old infants in high-risk areas, according to MedPage Today. The shift would change the 2-dose regimen per lifetime to 3 doses, while also getting an earlier start. Public health leaders recently discussed in a JAMA perspective the possibility of expanding vaccine recommendations for infants who live in regions with known …

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Allergic Rhinitis Rarely Emerges in Adulthood

Allergic Rhinitis Rarely Emerges in Adulthood

While many urgent care patients present in the early days of spring with the common symptoms of stuffy nose and sneezing, an allergic rhinitis diagnosis can be somewhat nuanced, according to a review in JAMA Network. Allergic rhinitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, and non-allergic rhinitis each have different typical symptoms, and therefore, there can be differences in treatment, according to the authors. In a follow-up, MedPage Today reports the majority of allergic rhinitis …

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Underlying Conditions Increase Rates of Flu Hospitalization

Underlying Conditions Increase Rates of Flu Hospitalization

Patients with underlying medical conditions (UMCs) were more likely to be hospitalized for influenza than those without UMCs, according to a retrospective study across 4 flu seasons published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Among 1,403 patients hospitalized with influenza at least once within a season, flu-related hospitalization was highest for patients with congestive heart failure (adjusted rate ratio, 4.2, 95% confidence interval: 3.6–4.9), followed by those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Multiple UMCs …

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New Oral Antibiotic for UTI May Help Address Drug Resistance

New Oral Antibiotic for UTI May Help Address Drug Resistance

A new oral antibiotic, gepotidacin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs). According to the manufacturer, GSK plc, gepotidacin is a first-in-class antibiotic with a novel mechanism that inhibits bacterial DNA replication to treat female adults and pediatric patients (≥12 years, ≥40 kg) with uncomplicated UTIs. It’s designed to target several of the most common UTI-causing bacteria such as E. coli and …

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First-Line Antibiotic Treatment For Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Underutilized

First-Line Antibiotic Treatment For Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Underutilized

Too few patients are receiving recommended chlamydia and gonorrhea treatment in primary care settings, according to a study published in the Annals of Family Medicine analyzing electronic health records from 2018 to 2022. Among 6,678 confirmed chlamydia cases and 2,206 confirmed gonorrhea cases studied, 75.3% and 69.6%, respectively, received treatment. Treatment rates were higher among women than men (chlamydia: 78.4% vs 67.2%; gonorrhea: 78.9% vs 51.4%). Additionally, younger individuals and those with coinfections were more …

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