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It's World AMR Awareness Week (WAAW) and we have prepared a special episode in light of that. In this week's Communicable, Navaneeth Narayanan and Thomas Tängdén host Aula Abbara (London, UK), Guido Granata (Rome, Italy) and Tuomas Aro (Helsinki, Finland) to discuss the phenomenon of AMR in conflict and crisis zones. They elaborate on how difficult conditions and austere environments amplify the spread of AMR, drawing on findings from the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria and other regions. Other topics covered include adapting antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices as well as the need for genuine political will and international collaboration to end conflicts and their exacerbation on AMR.This episode follows the webinar “Beyond the frontlines” organised by ESCMID's AMR Action Subcommittee for WAAW 2025, featuring the same guests, and is available on ESCMID Media. This Communicable episode was peer reviewed by Arjana Zerja of Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania. Related ESCMID and Communicable mediaESCMID Media, Part 1: Beyond the frontlines - tackling AMR in conflict and crisis zones, webinar Communicable episode 11: Nightmare series, part 2 – how to deal with carbapenemase producers Communicable episode 16: Climate change and infections – effects on clinical practice & sustainabilityResourcesTrainee Association of ESCIMD (TAE) Doctors without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières), Antibiogo, https://www.antibiogo.org/Doctors without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières), Mini-lab, https://fondation.msf.fr/en/projects/mini-lab Further ReadingAbbara A, et al. Unravelling the linkages between conflict and antimicrobial resistance. NPJ Antimicrob Resist. 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s44259-025-00099-yAbbara A, et al. A summary and appraisal of existing evidence of antimicrobial resistance in the Syrian conflict. Int J Infect Dis. 2018. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2018.06.010Abu-Shomar R, et al. Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas isolated from water at primary health care centers in Gaza, Palestine: a cross-sectional study. IJID Reg. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2025.100671Aldbis A, et al. The lived experience of patients with conflict associated injuries whose wounds are affected by antimicrobial resistant organisms: a qualitative study from northwest Syria. Confl Health. 2023. DOI: 10.1186/s13031-023-00501-4Aro T, et al. War on antimicrobial resistance: high carriage rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria among war-injured Ukrainian refugees. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2025.07.010 Bazzi W, et al. Heavy Metal Toxicity in Armed Conflicts Potentiates AMR in A. baumannii by Selecting for Antibiotic and Heavy Metal Co-resistance Mechanisms. Front Microbiol. 2020. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00068 Dewachi O. War Biology and Antimicrobial Resistance: The Case of Gaza, AMR Insights, 2024.Granata G, et al. The impact of armed conflict on the development and global spread of antibiotic resistance: a systematic review. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2024.03.029 Huang XZ, et al. Molecular analysis of imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from US service members wounded in Iraq, 2003-2008. Epidemiol Infect. 2012. DOI: 10.1017/S0950268811002871Hujer KM, et al. Analysis of antibiotic resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter sp. isolates from military and civilian patients treated at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2006. DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00778-06Karah N, et al. Teleclinical Microbiology: An Innovative Approach to Providing Web-Enabled Diagnostic Laboratory Services in Syria. Am J Clin Pathol. 2022. DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqab160Keen EF 3rd, et al. Evaluation of potential environmental contamination sources for the presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria linked to wound infections in combat casualties. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2012. DOI: 10.1086/667382Murray CK, et al. Recovery of multidrug-resistant bacteria from combat personnel evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan at a single military treatment facility. Mil Med. 2009. DOI: 10.7205/milmed-d-03-8008Petersen K, et al. Diversity and clinical impact of Acinetobacter baumannii colonization and infection at a military medical center. J Clin Microbiol. 2011. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00766-10Scott P, et al. An outbreak of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex infection in the US military health care system associated with military operations in Iraq. Clin Infect Dis. 2007. DOI: 10.1086/518170Sensenig RA, et al. Longitudinal characterization of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonizing and infecting combat casualties. Am J Infect Control. 2012. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.03.025World Health Organization. Fourth WHO Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration stresses that equitable access to and appropriate use of antibiotics for refugees and migrants is essential to tackling Antimicrobial Resistance, News, 2022.
A Rutgers-led trial found that ibuprofen plus acetaminophen provided better pain relief and fewer side effects than opioids following dental surgery, challenging traditional prescribing habits. A Swiss national cohort showed that non–beta-lactam antibiotics nearly doubled surgical-site infection risk compared to beta-lactams, reinforcing their role in prophylaxis. Finally, a meta-analysis confirmed that acetaminophen remains safe during pregnancy when used appropriately, with no proven link to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Once confined to the tropics, dengue is spreading via its vector, the Aedes mosquito, to more temperate regions, causing increases in global morbidity, mortality and cost. In 2019, the WHO recognised dengue as one of the top ten global health threats alongside climate change and antimicrobial resistance [1]. In this episode of Communicable, Annie Joseph and Nav Narayanan welcome two dengue experts, André Siqueira of the non-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative based in Geneva, Switzerland (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and Steven Lim of the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (Ipoh, Malaysia). Together, they discuss the epidemiology, clinical presentation and management of dengue including comparisons to other arboviral infections like zika and chikungunya, and the heightened risk of disease for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and those with comorbidities. The conversation also highlights innovative vector-control strategies and candidate therapeutics currently under investigation. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Loora Grünvald of the University of Tartu, Estonia. Resources:Drug for Neglected Diseases (DNDi), https://dndi.org/ Dengue Alliance, https://dndi.org/global-networks/dengue-alliance/ Qdenga vaccine information: https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/763/qdenga-dengue-vaccine-guidanceDengavaxia vaccine information: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/hcp/vaccine/index.html References: World Health Organization, Ten threats to global health in 2019.Further reading: Treating a feverish planet: The Dengue Alliance, a video
This episode is sponsored by Lightstone Direct LLC. Lightstone DIRECT invites you to partner with a $12B AUM real estate institution as you grow your portfolio. Access the same single-asset multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital – Lightstone co-invests a minimum of 20% in each deal alongside individual investors like you. You're an institution. Time to invest like one.____________________________________________________________________Struggling to differentiate sinus symptoms? You're not alone—medical training often falls short.In this solo episode of Succeed in Medicine, Dr. Bradley Block shares how to distinguish between colds, bacterial sinusitis, allergies, and sinus migraines. With insights from years of clinical experience, on sinusitis as a secondary bacterial infection following viruses, not allergies or blockages. He covers "second sickness" patterns, why 10-day watchful waiting beats early antibiotics, migraine misdiagnoses, and treatments like nasal steroids for allergies versus surgery for fungal balls. Debunking myths like balloon sinuplasty for migraines. This episode equips physicians with practical tools to avoid overtreatment and improve patient outcomes, learn why facial pressure often points to migraines, when antibiotics are truly needed, and how to spot the “second sickness” pattern of sinus infections. Packed with practical tips and myth-busting, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating sinus issues or curious about ENT care.Three Actionable Takeaway:Sinusitis Starts with a Virus: Dr. Block explains bacterial sinusitis as a secondary infection after a cold disrupts sinus mucosa—watch for "second sickness" where symptoms worsen after initial improvement. Hold antibiotics for at least 10 days unless complications like orbital cellulitis arise.Facial Pressure Isn't Always Sinus: Often misdiagnosed as sinusitis, facial pressure (especially weather-related) signals migraines—Dr. Block advises checking for tenderness over sinuses and avoiding unnecessary CT scans or surgery like balloon sinuplasty, which treats mucosa issues poorly.Allergies vs. Sinusitis: Separate Issues: Allergies swell nasal mucosa but don't cause sinus infections due to insufficient allergen entry—treat with nasal steroids or immunotherapy. Fungal balls require surgery, not meds, as they're not true infections. About the Show:Succeed In Medicine covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!About the Host:Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric ENT, with interests in sinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Dr. Block also hosts Succeed In Medicine podcast, focusing on personal and professional development for physiciansWant to be a guest?Email Brad at brad@physiciansguidetodoctoring.com or visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to learn more!Socials:@physiciansguidetodoctoring on Facebook@physicianguidetodoctoring on YouTube@physiciansguide on Instagram and Twitter This medical podcast is your physician mentor to fill the gaps in your medical education. We cover physician soft skills, charting, interpersonal skills, doctor finance, doctor mental health, medical decisions, physician parenting, physician executive skills, navigating your doctor career, and medical professional development. This is critical CME for physicians, but without the credits (yet). A proud founding member of the Doctor Podcast Network!Visit www.physiciansguidetodoctoring.com to connect, dive deeper, and keep the conversation going. Let's grow! Disclaimer:This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, financial, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode of Communicable, Erin McCreary and Angela Huttner are joined by Barbara Trautner (St. Louis, USA) and Valéry Lavergne (Vancouver, Canada), the co-chairs and leading authors of the first IDSA guideline on complicated urinary tract infection (cUTI), which was published a few months ago [1]. Together, they discuss the process of developing the guideline from its conception in 2018, the new definition of cUTI, their stepwise approach to clinical decision-making, and some case-by-case scenarios for common antibiotics. They also elaborate on how this guideline compares (and contrasts) to other existing UTI guidelines—including the previous IDSA guideline for UTI [2] —and the clinical need to supply frontline clinicians to identify and distinguish complicated cases from the uncomplicated ones. The episode closes with what essential clinical questions the guests hope to tackle next. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Maria Ana Flores of Santa Maria Local Health Unit, Lisbon, Portugal.Other resources:European Urologic Association guidelinesUpToDateFDA guidance on complicated UTI ReferencesTrautner BW, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline by Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA): 2025 Guideline on Management and Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections Gupta, K, et al. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis and Pyelonephritis in Women: 2010 Update by IDSA
Join Dr. Ryan Dare as he dives into the critical role of antibiotic stewardship in healthcare. Learn how proper management of antibiotic prescriptions can help combat resistance, ensure effective treatments, and protect future generations from infections. Discover why this topic is vital for both healthcare providers and patients. Learn more about Ryan Dare, M.D.
Contrary to popular belief, peer review has only recently become an integral step in scientific publishing. Currently seen by many as a badge of honour ensuring valid, innovative and honest research, peer review seems in reality to be increasingly thankless, exploitative, and sometimes invisible. How did we get here? In this episode of Communicable, Annie Joseph and Angela Huttner are joined by two experts, Melinda Baldwin (University of Maryland, USA) and Serge Horbach (Radboud University, Netherlands), to unpack and examine the role of peer review, why it is still essential, and how it fits within the greater editorial process. The conversation covers the history of peer review, contemporary formats including open review and the use of artificial intelligence, and thoughtful discussion on how to fix and rethink peer review. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Barbora Píšová from the Czech Republic.Related podcast episodes Communicable episode 13: The Wild West of publishing today—predatory journals and how to deal with them https://share.transistor.fm/s/e3abe9af ResourcesEASE, the European Association of Science Editors https://ease.org.uk/ Peer review week https://peerreviewweek.net/ Further readingCsiszar, A. The Scientific Journal: Authorship and the Politics of Knowledge in the Nineteenth Century. The University of Chicago Press, 2018. DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226553375.001.0001 Entradas, Sousa, Yan, et al. (2023) Public Deliberative Workshops – Findings. POIESIS project deliverable D2.2. https://poiesis-project.eu/deliverables/.Ross-Hellauer T and Horbach SPJM. Additional experiments required: A scoping review of recent evidence on key aspects of Open Peer Review, Research Evaluation, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/reseval/rvae004Horbach SPJM and Halffman W. The changing forms and expectation of peer review. Res Integr Peer Rev 2018. DOI: 10.1186/s41073-018-0051-5Danziger S, et al. Extraneous factors in judicial decisions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 2011. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1018033108Fyfe, A., Moxham, N., McDougall-Waters, J., & Røstvik, C. M. (2022). A History of Scientific Journals: Royal Society publishing, 1665-2015. London: UCL Press.“Misconduct in Science,” 9 February 1983, NN3-443-UD-12D-1 box 78, file “RES 12 Misconduct in Science, 1983-1987,” Papers of the NIH Director, National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, MD.Baldwin M. In Referees We Trust? How Peer Review Became a Mark of Scientific Legitimacy. MIT Press (Open Access). Work in Progress.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nicole Bell, the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics and author of “What Lurks in the Woods.”
This episode of the Intelligent Medicine podcast is a deep dive into the complexities of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Nicole Bell, the CEO of Galaxy Diagnostics and author of “What Lurks in the Woods,” details the challenges of diagnosing tick-borne diseases, the limitations of current diagnostic tests, and the controversy around treatment methodologies. Nicole shares her personal journey that led her to this field after her husband was misdiagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's, which was later revealed to be caused by advanced Lyme disease. They also discuss new diagnostic techniques, the importance of personalized treatment plans, and ongoing advocacy efforts to improve awareness and research funding for Lyme disease.
Ed Goluch is the founder and CEO of QSM Diagnostics, makers of the Otter eQ laboratory instrument platform and FetchDx mail-in testing kits. Prior to QSM, Ed was a tenured professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University. Ed earned his PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he has over 60 publications and several patents in the areas of sensors, microfluidics, and biophysics. He lives in Somerville, MA, with his wife, Liz, two Alaskan Klee Kai dogs, Odin and Gunnar, and two Balinese cats, Loki and Bandit. Topics covered in this episode: Ed Goluch's journey into the veterinary space with QSM Diagnostics Understanding Quorum-Sensing Molecules The applications and benefits of QSM Technology for veterinarians Antibiotic stewardship Antibiogram and antibiotic resistance Streamlined mobile diagnostics FetchDx mail-in testing kits The House Call Vet Academy experience Links & Resources: Visit the QSM Diagnostics website to learn more Find QSM Diagnostics on Instagram Find QSM Diagnostics on Facebook The House Call Vet Academy Resources: Download Dr. Eve's FREE House Call & Mobile Vet Biz Plan Find out about the House Call Vet Academy online CE course Learn more about Dr. Eve Harrison Learn more about the Concierge Vet Mastermind Get your FREE Concierge Vet Starter Kit mini course Learn more about SoulShine Space For Vets. Use discount code SHINE15 for 15% OFF SoulShine Space For Vets! (Available for a limited time only! Rules and restrictions apply.) Learn more about 1-to-1 coaching for current & prospective house call & mobile vets Get House Call Vet swag Learn more about the House Call & Mobile Vet Virtual Conference Register TODAY for the House Call & Mobile Vet Virtual Conference, February 7th-8th, 2026!!!!!! Here's a special gift from me as a huge thank you for being a part of our wonderful House Call Vet Cafe podcast community! ☕️ GET 20% OFF your Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee when you order through this link! 4Sig truly is my favorite!!! Enjoy it in good health, my friends! Music: In loving memory of Dr. Steve Weinberg. Intro and outro guitar music was written, performed, and recorded by house call veterinarian Dr. Steve Weinberg. Thank you to our sponsors! Chronos O3 Vets This podcast is also available in video on our House Call Vet Cafe YouTube channel
In this second-ever collaboration between SIDP's Breakpoints and ESCMID's Communicable podcasts, hosts Erin McCreary and Angela Huttner invite the two principal investigators and visionaries who spearheaded the Bacteraemia Antibiotic Length Actually Needed for Clinical Effectiveness (BALANCE) trial, Nick Daneman and Rob Fowler (Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto), for a “deep dive into all things that went into this trial” (1). The BALANCE trial spanned over ten years investigating - as the acronym title suggests - whether a shorter treatment duration of seven days was non-inferior to the standard of care of fourteen days for bacteraemia. The conversation covers everything from the initial hallway discussions that sparked the trial to the trial itself that screened over 36,000 patients and enrolled +3,600, its key takeaways and its impact on clinical practice as well as what's next for Daneman and Fowler.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and Megan Klatt, and peer reviewed by Dr. Arjana Zerja of Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania.Related podcast episodesCommunicable episode 36: Finding BALANCE in antibiotic durations—the BALANCE trial https://share.transistor.fm/s/b680895eCommunicable episode 26: SNAP out of it—rethinking anti-staphylococcal penicillins for S. aureus bacteremia, the SNAP trial PSSA/MSSA results https://share.transistor.fm/s/2a3c3bb4Breakpoints episode covering IDWeek (December 2024) https://breakpoints-sidp.org/108-idweek-2024-recap-late-breaker-abstracts-and-stewardship-talks/ ReferencesBALANCE Investigators, et al. Antibiotic Treatment for 7 versus 14 Days in Patients with Bloodstream Infections. N Engl J Med. 2025 March. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2404991Further reading Fowler VG. Eight days a week – BALANCING duration and efficacy. N Engl J Med. 2025 March. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe2414037 Dulhunty JM, et al. Continuous vs Intermittent β-Lactam Antibiotic Infusions in Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis: The BLING III Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2024. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.9779 Yahav D, et al. Seven versus 14 days of antibiotic therapy for uncomplicated Gram-negative bactermia: A noninferiority randomized controlled trial. Clin Infect Dis 2018. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy1054 Von Dach E, et al. Effect of C-reactive protein-guided antibiotic treatment duration, 7-day treatment, or 14-day treatment on 30-day clinical failure rate in patients with uncomplicated Gram-negative bacteremia, a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2020. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.6348 Ong SWX, et al. Identifying heterogeneity of treatment effect for antibiotic duration in bloodstream infection: an exploratory post-hoc analysis of the BALANCE randomised clinical trial. EClinicalMedicine 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103195Wallach JD, et al. Evaluation of evidence of statistical support and corroboration of subgroup claims in randomized clinical trials. JAMA Intern Med 2017. DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.20169125
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This episode is a must listen for every member of the entire dental team! The Diva's special guest, Dr. Marie Fluent, explains the development of the concept of antibiotic stewardship in dentistry, how antibiotic resistance develops, the importance of the 2019 ADA guidelines for Dental Pain and Swelling, and the new CDC checklist for prescribing antibiotics in dentistry. Dr. Fluent presents strategies to ensure that the entire team can effectively and cohesively communicate with patients regarding the risks and benefits of antibiotics to treat dental infections.Resources:Association for Dental Safety - Antibiotic Stewardship for Prescribers - Resources https://bit.ly/3I2W2WwAmerican Dental Association - Antibiotics for Dental Pain and Swelling Guideline (2019) https://bit.ly/4mZfliE CDC Checklist for Antibiotic Prescribing in Dentistry https://bit.ly/4no0UVbAmerican Dental Association - Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to Dental Procedures https://bit.ly/41MasB3 https://www.thecompliancedivas.com
Listen in as Dr Trevor Van Schooneveld explores rapid syndromic testing for gastrointestinal and joint infections and discusses how to apply best practices for diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship in syndromic testing. Topics covered include: Who should be tested for infectious diarrheaTypes of gastrointestinal syndromic panelsTypes of syndromic panels for joint infectionsReal-world applications for joint syndromic panelsPresenters: Trevor Van Schooneveld, MDProfessor, Division of Infectious DiseasesMedical Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship ProgramDepartment of Internal MedicineUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NebraskaLink to full program: https://bit.ly/4mHOTtWGet access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.
Listen in as Michael Satlin, MD, MS, FIDSA,explores rapid syndromic testing for bloodstream infections and discusses how to apply best practices for diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship in syndromic testing.Topics covered include:Types of upper and lower respiratory infection panelsConsiderations for when to use respiratory syndromic testingHow to use syndromic testing to guide both therapy escalation and de-escalationHow syndromic testing fits in with traditional testing methods, such as culture, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, Gram stain, and BAL cell count Presenter:Michael Satlin, MD, MS, FIDSAAssociate Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Laboratory MedicineWeill Cornell MedicineNew York, New YorkLink to full program: https://bit.ly/3UAB1oUGet access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.
Listen in as Dr Emily Heil explores rapid syndromic testing for bloodstream infections and discusses how to apply best practices for diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship in syndromic testing.Topics covered include:The importance of good blood culture practices and finding the balance between overuse and underuseBlood culture improvement programsThe utility of rapid diagnostic testsResistance markers for earlier targeted therapyPresenters:Emily Heil, PharmD, MS, BCIDP, AAHIVPProfessorDepartment of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes ResearchUniversity of Maryland School of PharmacyBaltimore, MarylandLink to full program: https://bit.ly/45Ajz92Get access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.
In this episode, we dive into the critical issue of antibiotic overprescribing in long-term care. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to serious consequences—like C. diff infections, harmful drug interactions, and antibiotic resistance. For older, more vulnerable residents, these risks can significantly impact their quality of life, limiting their ability to participate in daily activities, social events, and the community around them. Join us as we explore the principles of antibiotic stewardship—a proactive approach to ensuring antibiotics are used only when truly necessary, and in the most effective way possible. It's all about protecting our residents, improving outcomes, and supporting healthier, more active lives in long-term care.
Ethics in the field of infectious disease can be a delicate interplay between treating the individual patient and protecting the collective health of a society. Sometimes these two mandates go hand in hand; at other times they can appear to be in conflict. In this episode of Communicable, Dr. Angela Huttner invites Drs. Zeb Jamrozik (Melbourne, Australia) and Beenish Syed (Karachi, Pakistan), two members of ESCMID's Ethics Advisory Committee, to unpack different scenarios encountered in the field of infectious disease from an ethics standpoint: how one ethically allocates scarce resources like antimicrobials; whether there is ethical justification for coercive public-health measures like lockdowns; and whether the need to collect evidence to advance patient care could include other models besides opt-in informed consent. This episode was edited by Dr. Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Dr. Goulia Ohan of Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.Further reading:Barosa M, et al. The Ethical Obligation for Research During Public Health Emergencies: Insights From the COVID-19 Pandemic. Med Health Care Philos 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s11019-023-10184-6Symons X, et al. Why should HCWs receive priority access to vaccines in a pandemic? BMC Med Ethics 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00650-2Thorsteinsdottir B and Madsen BE. Prioritizing health care workers and first responders for access to the COVID19 vaccine is not unethical, but both fair and effective – an ethical analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s13049-021-00886-2Huttner A, Leibovici L, Theuretzbacher U, Huttner B, Paul M. Closing the evidence gap in infectious disease: point-of-care randomization and informed consent. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017;23(2):73-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2016.07.029
A new report documents wide variations in antibiotic prescribing patterns by provider and setting. How can we get everyone on the same page to prevent antibiotic-resistant bacteria? David W. Johnson and Julie Murchinson break down the new report on, “What Ever Happened to Antibiotic Stewardship?” the new episode of the 4sight Health Roundup podcast, moderated by David Burda.
Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are valuable given their broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their high penetration into various tissues. Yet FQs have also caused concern, with some market withdrawals, important and sometimes long-lasting adverse drug events, and substantial collateral effects on the microbiota. In this episode of Communicable, hosts Emily McDonald and Thomas Tängdén invite Staffan Tevell (Karlstad, Sweden) and Bernadette Young (Oxford, UK) to weigh in on the pro-con debate of FQ use, especially for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), which can entail longer treatment durations. They review the standard of care for PJIs, including FQs in combination with rifampicin vs other antibiotic combinations, the impact of the OVIVA trial advocating for early oral switch strategies, the long list of rare but important side effects, and how best to preserve FQs for clinical indications that most need them. This episode is a follow-up from Tevell and Young's recently published systematic review of the role of FQs in PJIs [1]. It was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Ljiljana Lukić of University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia. The executive producer of Communicable is Angela Huttner. ReferencesTevell S, et al. To heal or harm: A systematic review of the role of fluoroquinolones in periprosthetic joint infections. CMI Communications 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105103Further readingMandell LA, et al. Antimicrobial Safety and Tolerability: Differences and Dilemmas. Clin Infect Dis 2001. JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/stable/4461522.Pham TDM, et al. Quinolone antibiotics. Medchemcomm 2019. DOI: 10.1039/c9md00120d. Rodrigues CF and Silva F. The Rise, Fall, and Rethink of (Fluoro)quinolones: A Quick Rundown. Pathogens 2025. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14060525Slimings C and Riley TV. Antibiotics and hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection: update of systematic review and meta-analysis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkt477Davis JS, et al. Predictors of treatment success after periprosthetic joint infection: 24-month follow up from a multicenter prospective observational cohort study of 653 patients. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac048.Grossi O, et al. Gram- negative prosthetic joint infections managed according to a multidisciplinary standardized approach: risk factors for failure and outcome with and without fluoroquinolones. J Antimicrob Chemother 2016. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkw202 Cortes-Penfield NW, et al. Adjunctive rifampin following debridement and implant retention for staphylococcal prosthetic joint infection: is it effective if not combined with a fluoroquinolone? Open Forum Infect Dis 2022. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac582Pushkin R, et al. A Randomized Study Evaluating Oral Fusidic Acid (CEM-102) in Combination With Oral Rifampin Compared With Standard-of-Care Antibiotics for Treatment of Prosthetic Joint Infections: A Newly Identified Drug-Drug Interaction. Clin Infect Dis 2016. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw665Bock M, et al. Rifampicin reduces plasma concentration of linezolid in patients with infective endocarditis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad316 Zeller V, et al. Influence of the clindamycin administration route on the magnitude of clindamycin-rifampicin interaction: a prospective pharmacokinetic study. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.04.017 Bernard L, et al. Antibiotic Therapy for 6 or 12 Weeks for Prosthetic Joint Infection. N Engl J Med 2021. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2020198Vollmer NJ, et al. Safety and Tolerability of Fluoroquinolones in Patients with Staphylococcal Periprosthetic Joint Infections, Clin Infect Dis 2021. DOI 10.1093/cid/ciab145Gopalakrishnan C, et al. Association of fluoroquinolones with the risk of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection. JAMA Intern Med 2020. DOI 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4199Li HK, et al. Oral versus Intravenous Antibiotics for Bone and Joint Infection (OVIVA). N Engl J Med. 2019. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1710926
Editor's Summary by Linda Brubaker, MD, and Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, Deputy Editors of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, for articles published from July 12-18, 2025.
The adaptability of fungi to warmer temperatures is an obvious consequence of climate change. Perhaps less obvious is the role climate change has played on fungal pathogens emerging as a global health concern. While humans are mostly protected from fungal infections by our immune system and body temperature, a warming global climate could subvert the status quo. Some fungi are already adapted to warmer temperatures and causing invasive acute infections in humans: Candidozyma auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, to name a few. In this episode of Communicable, Angela Huttner and Josh Nosanchuk invite Arturo Casadevall, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins and this year's recipient of ESCMID's Excellence in Science Award, to discuss the world of fungi and their pathogenic potential in a warming world. Other topics include how to prepare for their emergence as a health threat, how fungi can be harnessed for applications that can benefit us, and ultimately answering the question Casadevall himself posed in the title of his recently published book, What if fungi win?This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Robin Aerts of University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium. References1. Casadevall, A with Desmon S. What if fungi win? Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024.2. Smith DFG, et al. Environmental fungi from cool and warm neighborhoods in the urban heat island of Baltimore City show differences in thermal susceptibility and pigmentation. BioRxiv 2025. DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566554 3. Casadevall A and Pirofski L. Benefits and Costs of Animal Virulence for Microbes. mBio 2019. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00863-194. Cordero RJB et al. Radiation protection and structural stability of fungal melanin polylactic acid biocomposites in low Earth orbit. PNAS 2025. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.24271181225. Dadachova E, et al. The radioprotective properties of fungal melanin are a function of its chemical composition, stable radical presence and spatial arrangement. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2008. DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2007.00430.x6. Cordero RJB et al. The hypothermic nature of fungi. PNAS 2022. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221996120
Want to elevate your infection prevention career? Dive into this inspiring episode with Gail Fraine and Dr. Mayar Al Mohajer as they explore the value, purpose, and impact of the Advanced Leadership Certification in Infection Prevention (AL-CIP). Learn how this credential empowers professionals to lead change, drive outcomes, and shape healthcare policy. Get tips for submission success and hear firsthand experiences from these certified leaders! Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guests: Gail Fraine, CIC, LTC-CIP, AL-CIP Gail Fraine is the System Director of Infection Prevention at Ascension Saint Thomas in Nashville, TN, with over 30 years of experience reducing healthcare-associated infections through evidence-based practices and high-reliability principles. A long-standing APIC member, she has held national leadership roles including Board Director and Annual Conference Chair. Gail currently serves as President-Elect of the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology (CBIC) and contributed to developing both the long-term care and Advanced Leadership certifications. She holds nursing degrees from Arkansas State, Belmont, and Vanderbilt, and is certified in CIC, LTC-CIP, and AL-CIP. Mayar Al Mohajer, FIDSA, FSHEA, FAPIC, FACHE, AL-CIP Dr. Al Mohajer serves as Professor of Medicine in the Section of Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he also directs the Infection Prevention, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Quality Improvement, and Leadership Track. He is the Chief of the Infectious Disease Section at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and the Medical Director of Infection Prevention, Occupational Health, Diagnostic Stewardship, and Antibiotic Stewardship for CommonSpirit Health's South Region and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. In addition to his clinical and academic roles, Dr. Al Mohajer sits on the CBIC Board and co-chairs the National Infection Prevention Council for CommonSpirit Health. He holds multiple fellowships and certifications recognizing his expertise and leadership, including FIDSA, FSHEA, FAPIC, FACHE, and AL-CIP.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was long considered not to be a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and treatment was only for women to bear. That was the convention at least until Catriona Bradshaw and her team at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre published their groundbreaking clinical trial results earlier this year, demonstrating that treating male partners of women with BV prevented recurrence in those women. In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Annie Joseph welcome back Bradshaw to discuss her trial's design, results, and clinical implications—with some guidelines already updated to include male partners in BV treatment regimens. The conversation also explores the complexities of BV diagnosis, the challenges of trial execution in general, and future research directions.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Arjana Zerja (Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania)ReferencesVodstricil LA, et al. Male-partner treatment to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med 2025. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2405404Bacterial vaginosis in focus. Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC). https://www.mshc.org.au/sexual-health/bacterial-vaginosisFurther readingAuvert B, et al. Randomized, controlled intervention trial of male circumcision for reduction of HIV infection risk: the ANRS 1265 Trial. PLoS Med 2005. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0020298Bailey RC, et al. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2007. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60312-2Bukusi E, et al. Topical penile microbicide use by men to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis in sex partners: A randomized clinical trial, Sex Transmi Dis 2011. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318214b82dCohen CR, et al. Randomized trial of Lactin-V to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med 2020. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1915254Gray RH, et al. The effects of male circumcision on female partners' genital tract symptoms and vaginal infections in a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda, Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.07.069King AJ, et al. Getting Everyone on Board to Break the Cycle of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Recurrence: A Qualitative Study of Partner Treatment for BV. Patient 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s40271-025-00731-zMehta S, et al. The microbiome composition of a man's penis predicts incident bacterial vaginosis in his female sex partner with high accuracy, Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00433Muzny CA, et al. An Updated Conceptual Model on the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Vaginosis. J Infect Dis 2019 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz342Mitchell CM, et al. Screening and characterization of vaginal fluid donations for vaginal microbiota transplantation, Sci Rep 2022. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22873-yPlummer EL, et al. A Prospective, Open-Label Pilot Study of Concurrent Male Partner Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis. mBio 2021. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02323-21Plummer EL, et al. Combined oral and topical antimicrobial therapy for male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis: Acceptability, tolerability and impact on the genital microbiota of couples - A pilot study. PLoS One 2018. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190199Vodstrcil LA, et al. Bacterial vaginosis: drivers of recurrence and challenges and opportunities in partner treatment. BMC Med 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02077-3Wawer MJ, et al. Wawer MJ, et al. Circumcision in HIV-infected men and its effect on HIV transmission to female partners in Rakai, Uganda: A randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2009. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60998-3
Editors of CMI Comms, Josh Davis, Erin McCreary and Emily McDonald return for round 2 taking turns to summarise and discuss late-breaker trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025 in Vienna, and whether or not these trials should change your practice. Part 2 covers the ALABAMA trial exploring the safety of penicillin-allergy delabelling using the penicillin allergy assessment pathway, the SOLARIO trial investigating short (≤7 days!) versus long (≥4 weeks) antibiotic courses for orthopaedic infections, the EAGLE-1 trial assessing oral gepotidacin for gonorrhoea, a randomised clinical trial (RCT) from Thailand on oral fosfomycin as carbapenem-sparing, de-escalating therapy in complicated UTIs, and a double-blind RCT from Israel comparing neutralising plasma to placebo for West Nile fever. This episode was peer reviewed by Dr. Emanuele Rando of Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain and is the second of this two-part series covering selected clinical trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025. Late-breaker trialsSandoe J, et al. Penicillin allergy assessment pathway versus usual clinical care for primary care patients with a penicillin allergy record to assess safety, de-labelling and antibiotic prescribing: The ALABAMA randomised controlled trialAngkanavisan K, et al. Oral fosfomycin after carbapenems as de-escalating therapy in complicated urinary tract infection: A randomisedcontrolled trialCanetti M, et al. Neutralising plasma versus placebo for hospitalised patients with West Nile fever: a double-blind randomised controlled trialDudareva M, et al. Short or long antibiotic regimes in orthopaedics: the SOLARIO multicentre randomised controlled trialWilson, J. Phase 3 randomised trial of oral gepotidacin for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea (EAGLE-1) ReferencesIDSA. Public Comment: IDSA Guideline on Management and Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections; 19 Feb - 19 March 2025.Mostashari F, et al. Epidemic West Nile encephalitis, New York, 1999. Lancet. 2001. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05480-0Angus DC. Optimizing the Trade-off Between Learning and Doing in a Pandemic. JAMA. 2020. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.4984Dudareva M. In: The 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Bone & Joint Infection Society. Barcelona, Spain: 26-28 Sept 2024. Li HK, et al. Oral versus Intravenous Antibiotics for Bone and Joint Infection (OVIVA). NEJM. 2019 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1710926
This episode of Communicable takes on a special format where editors of CMI Comms, Marc Bonten, Josh Davis, Erin McCreary, Emily McDonald, all clinical trialists in their own right, take turns to summarise and discuss late-breaker trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025 in Vienna. These include the CloCeBa trial on Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia treatment options, the Taper V trial on vancomycin as prophylaxis for Clostridioides difficile infection, the ASTARTÉ trial on temocillin versus meropenem for bacteraemia due to third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales, the HARVEST trial investigating high doses of rifampicin for tuberculosis meningitis, and the CAP5 trial on shortening antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia. This episode was peer reviewed by Dr. Barbora Píšová (Czech Republic) and is the first of a two-part series covering selected clinical trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025. References: Lescure X, et al. Cloxacillin versus cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (CloCeBa): a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trialMcDonald EG, et al. Initial vancomycin taper for the prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: the TAPER-V randomised controlled trialCogliati Dezza F, et al. Temocillin versus meropenem for the targeted treatment of bacteraemia due to third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ASTARTÉ): a randomised, pragmatic trialVan Crevel R, et al. High-dose rifampicin in the treatment of tuberculous meningitis: results of the HARVEST phase III multi-country randomised clinical trialBastrup Israelsen S, et al. Shortened antibiotic treatment for 5 days in patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP5): a multicentre randomised controlled noninferiority trial
In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Annie Joseph join experts Kerrigan McCarthy of South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Natasha Crowcroft of the World Health Organisation to discuss the resurgence of measles as a consequence of misinformation campaigns and waning vaccination rates, how to diagnose and manage active measles cases, and post-exposure control measures to take to reduce further spread. They also address the broader challenges of the moment, including generalised vaccine hesitancy and sudden, sweeping budget cuts, underscoring the message that “measles anywhere is a problem everywhere.”This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Dr. Anelia Zasheva of the Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria.
ESCMID Global, ESCMID's flagship congress, kicks off this Friday in Vienna. In light of that, Angela Huttner and Thomas Tängdén sit down with ESCMID leadership, President Robert Skov and Immediate-Past President Annelies Zinkernagel in this episode of Communicable. Together they discuss the roles of medical societies like ESCMID in shaping healthcare policy, the importance of scientific communication, and lessons learned from the COVID pandemic. The conversation highlights ESCMID's priorities for the future on addressing antimicrobial resistance, fostering international collaboration and new educational initiatives. The episode also features personal anecdotes about what makes coming together at ESCMID Global so special. Tune in for a comprehensive look at how ESCMID is championing medical progress in infection for a healthier tomorrow.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and not peer reviewed.ReferencesGlobal impact of US policy changes: The ESCMID perspective. CMI Comms 2025;2(2): 105073.Malani AN, Sharland M, Clancy CJ, Skov R, ESCMID & IDSA Executive Boards. A global call to action to fight antimicrobial resistance: IDSA and ESCMID joint white paper. CMI Comms 2024; 1(2): 105033.Baghdadi JD & Morgan DJ. Diagnostic tests should be assessed for clinical impact. CMI Comms 2024; 1(2): 105010.
Communicable returns to the topic of gender dynamics in medicine in the second half of this special. This round, Angela Huttner wants to hear from the men, CMI Comms editors Marc Bonten, Josh Davis, Navaneeth Narayanan and Thomas Tängdén, about tackling issues like the evolving expectations at home and work, the impact of parental-leave policies, and the systemic biases that continue to shape careers. Personal anecdotes and reflections highlight both the progress made and the hurdles that still exist in striving for true gender equity in the medical profession. Editors Erin McCreary and Annie Joseph of CMI Comms also participate in the discussion, with Annie sharing an interesting follow-up to her story told in part 1.
In this episode of The Burleson Box, Dr. Dustin Burleson welcomes Dr. Erinne Kennedy, Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Integrated Learning at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Kennedy shares her fascinating journey into dentistry, which was heavily influenced by her family of dental professionals and her passion for public health. She recounts the pivotal moment when a mentor encouraged her to apply for a dental public health specialty—at Harvard—within a two-week deadline, a decision that shaped the course of her career.Our discussion covers the pressing issue of burnout in the dental profession, with Dr. Kennedy offering valuable insights backed by research. She explains how excessive working hours, lack of adequate recovery time, and administrative burdens contribute to burnout among healthcare professionals. Using a compelling analogy comparing work schedules to endurance training, she illustrates the importance of balancing workload and rest. She also introduces the concept of "resilience confetti," small, joyful activities that help dental professionals maintain well-being and engagement during their workday.Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Burleson explore strategies that dental teams can implement to create healthier work environments, such as rethinking office hours, planning meaningful time off, and fostering a culture that prioritizes both patient care and team well-being. They discuss innovative scheduling models, including the effectiveness of three-day, 12-hour shifts, and how such models can improve job satisfaction and reduce burnout.A significant part of the conversation focuses on the future of preventive dentistry. Dr. Kennedy shares her excitement about advancements in salivary testing, peptides, and microbiome management, predicting that these innovations will reshape how dental professionals approach prevention. She explains how new materials and techniques, such as peptide-based remineralization and nanoparticle technology, could reduce the need for surgical interventions and lead to better long-term patient outcomes.As an educator, Dr. Kennedy highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and leadership training in dental schools. She describes the Thrive program at KCU, a two-day workshop designed to help students develop resilience, goal-setting skills, and emotional maturity. She stresses that fostering a mindset of adaptability and openness to unexpected opportunities is crucial for career growth.Wellness Resources:The Genius of Athletes by Noel Brick Ph. D. and Scott DouglasAtomic Habits by James ClearAntibiotic Stewardship Resources:Association for Dental Safety Antibiotic Stewardship ResourcesAmerican Dental Association Antibiotic Stewardship ResourcesCariology Resources:Carequest Managing Dental CariesCarequest Connect Caries Risk Assessments and Cultural AwarenessCarequest Utilizing Caries Management by Risk Assessment to Deliver Person-Centered Care ***The Burleson Box is brought to you by Stax Payments:Save Big on Transaction Fees: Boost Your Bottom Line with Stax Payments.Did you know that your practice can start saving thousands of dollars on your monthly processing costs with our preferred payments partner, Stax? Simplify your practice operations and provide a quality patient experience. Healthcare practices like yours need a way to accept payments simply and securely. That's where Stax comes in.Stax helps you manage your entire payments experience from within one platform. You can safely accept touch-free payments in-person, online, or over the phone, securely store and manage patient information with layered security and Level 1 PCI compliance. Take advantage of a simpler, more transparent way to process your payments with competitive flat-rate pricing, provided exclusively through Stax. No additional fees or contracts required!Power your practice and get paid faster with simple, safe and secure payment solutions. Have questions? Schedule time to speak with a dedicated payment consultant to learn more.Click Below to Lear More Today:StaxPayments.com/burleson-seminars*** Go Premium: Members get early access, ad-free episodes, hand-edited transcripts, exclusive study guides, special edition books each quarter, powerpoint and keynote presentations and two tickets to Dustin Burleson's Annual Leadership Retreat.http://www.theburlesonbox.com/sign-up Stay Up to Date: Sign up for The Burleson Report, our weekly newsletter that is delivered each Sunday with timeless insight for life and private practice. Sign up here:http://www.theburlesonreport.com Follow Dustin Burleson, DDS, MBA at:http://www.burlesonseminars.com
03/03/25: Joel Heitkamp is out, and Richland County Commissioners Perry Miller and Nathan Berseth fill in for him. They're joined by Dr. Avish Nagpal from Sanford Health to talk about the measles. Dr. Nagpal practices internal medicine, specializing in infectious disease and travel and tropical medicine. He also serves as associate professor of medicine at the University of North Dakota; adjunct faculty at North Dakota State University; medical director of Infection Prevention and Control; and in a leadership role in Antibiotic Stewardship. (Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global crisis, and pharmacists are on the frontlines of combating this threat through effective stewardship practices. This episode explores the latest updates in antimicrobial stewardship and shares actionable strategies to combat resistance and optimize antibiotic use. Tune in to strengthen your role as a steward of antibiotic efficacy and help preserve these life-saving medications for future generations.HOSTJoshua Davis Kinsey, PharmDVP, EducationCEimpactGUESTGeoff Wall, PharmD, FCCP, BCPSProfessor of Pharmacy PracticeIowa Methodist Medical CenterPharmacists, REDEEM YOUR CPE HERE!CPE is available to Health Mart franchise members onlyTo learn more about Health Mart, click here: https://join.healthmart.com/CPE INFORMATION Learning ObjectivesUpon successful completion of this knowledge-based activity, participants should be able to:1. Explain the impact of antibiotic resistance on public health and the role of antimicrobial stewardship in addressing this crisis.2. Identify evidence-based strategies pharmacists can implement to optimize antibiotic use and combat resistance in their practice settings.0.05 CEU/0.5 HrUAN: 0107-0000-25-057-H01-PInitial release date: 3/3/2025Expiration date: 3/3/2026Additional CPE details can be found here.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global crisis, and pharmacists are on the frontlines of combating this threat through effective stewardship practices. This episode explores the latest updates in antimicrobial stewardship and shares actionable strategies to combat resistance and optimize antibiotic use. Tune in to strengthen your role as a steward of antibiotic efficacy and help preserve these life-saving medications for future generations.HOSTJoshua Davis Kinsey, PharmDVP, EducationCEimpactGUESTGeoff Wall, PharmD, FCCP, BCPSProfessor of Pharmacy PracticeIowa Methodist Medical CenterPharmacist Members, REDEEM YOUR CPE HERE! Not a member? Get a Pharmacist Membership & earn CE for GameChangers Podcast episodes! (30 mins/episode)CPE INFORMATIONLearning ObjectivesUpon successful completion of this knowledge-based activity, participants should be able to:1. Explain the impact of antibiotic resistance on public health and the role of antimicrobial stewardship in addressing this crisis.2. Identify evidence-based strategies pharmacists can implement to optimize antibiotic use and combat resistance in their practice settings.0.05 CEU/0.5 HrUAN: 0107-0000-25-057-H01-PInitial release date: 3/3/2025Expiration date: 3/3/2026Additional CPE details can be found here.Follow CEimpact on Social Media:LinkedInInstagram
Several publications have described wondrous therapeutic effects of faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) on Clostridioides difficile infection. Yet the recent randomised trial assessing FMT in US veterans was terminated early for futility. In this episode, hosts Angela Huttner and Marc Bonten delve into the history, application, and complexities of FMT with experts Maria Vehreschild (Frankfurt University Hospital, Germany) and Dimitri Drekonja (Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Care System and University of Minnesota, US), who led the US trial. From the regulatory challenges and trial nuances to important new research, this conversation sheds light on a potentially revolutionary yet controversial treatment. Episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer-reviewed by Arjana Zerja (Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania).Other mentions:EurFMTEuropean Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare. Guide to the quality and safety of tissues and cells for human application. vol. 5th ed. EDQM Council of Europe; 2022. https://freepub.edqm.eu/publications/17/detail LiteratureDrekonja DM et al (2024) Clin Infect Dis, doi: 10.1093/cid/ciae467
This is episode 2 of the series: The Antibiotic Crisis: The Role of Antibiotic StewardshipEpisode 1: Antibiotic resistance is a critical global health issue that threatens the effectiveness of essential treatments. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses play a vital role in promoting antibiotic stewardship, ensuring appropriate use, and preventing the spread of resistance. This podcast episode empowers nurses with essential knowledge and tools to become effective stewards of antibiotics, emphasizing the importance of education, global impact, and successful stewardship strategies. Episode 2: This episode focuses on practical strategies for promoting antibiotic stewardship across clinical settings. It highlights the importance of effective communication, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, and robust infection prevention measures. The discussion also covers the use of data to monitor antibiotic use, improve outcomes, and the role of stewardship in agriculture. Listeners will gain insights into resources and training to help healthcare professionals champion responsible antibiotic practices. ---Nurses may be able to complete an accredited CE activity featuring content from this podcast and earn CE hours provided from Elite Learning by Colibri Healthcare. For more information, click hereAlready an Elite Member? Login hereLearn more about CE Podcasts from Elite Learning by Colibri HealthcareView Episode TranscriptView this podcast course on Elite LearningSeries: The Antibiotic Crisis: The Role of Antibiotic Stewardship
This is episode 1 of the series: The Antibiotic Crisis: The Role of Antibiotic StewardshipEpisode 1: Antibiotic resistance is a critical global health issue that threatens the effectiveness of essential treatments. As frontline healthcare providers, nurses play a vital role in promoting antibiotic stewardship, ensuring appropriate use, and preventing the spread of resistance. This podcast episode empowers nurses with essential knowledge and tools to become effective stewards of antibiotics, emphasizing the importance of education, global impact, and successful stewardship strategies. Episode 2: This episode focuses on practical strategies for promoting antibiotic stewardship across clinical settings. It highlights the importance of effective communication, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, and robust infection prevention measures. The discussion also covers the use of data to monitor antibiotic use, improve outcomes, and the role of stewardship in agriculture. Listeners will gain insights into resources and training to help healthcare professionals champion responsible antibiotic practices. ---Nurses may be able to complete an accredited CE activity featuring content from this podcast and earn CE hours provided from Elite Learning by Colibri Healthcare. For more information, click hereAlready an Elite Member? Login hereLearn more about CE Podcasts from Elite Learning by Colibri HealthcareView Episode TranscriptView this podcast course on Elite LearningSeries: The Antibiotic Crisis: The Role of Antibiotic Stewardship
Despite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis remains a major global health threat, infecting over 10 million people and claiming more than 1 million lives every year. In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Navaneeth Narayanan discuss tuberculosis with experts Lorenzo Guglielmetti of Doctors without Borders and Olha Konstantynovska of Kharkiv National University, Ukraine. Key topics include the history, transmission, and pathophysiology of tuberculosis, as well as current diagnostic challenges and treatments for drug-resistant strains. The conversation highlights Lorenzo's work on the endTB project and Olha's experiences managing tuberculosis during the war in Ukraine. Despite advancements in treatment, the episode underscores the urgent need for political will and funding to combat this global health threat.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Dr. Maria Ana de Quadros Flores e Santos of Unidade Local de Saude Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal. Abbreviations and terminology used in this episode:MSF: Médecins sans Frontières, or Doctors without Borders (msf.org)FIND: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (www.finddx.org)‘Intoxication symptoms' are synonymous with ‘constitutional symptoms' or ‘B symptoms' of tuberculosis and include fever, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss. Literature:endTB ProjectAnnual global tuberculosis report by WHO 2024 Dorman SE, et al. Four-Month Rifapentine Regimens with or without Moxifloxacin for Tuberculosis. N Engl J Med 2021 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2033400Guglielmetti L, et al. Oral Regimens for Rifampin-Resistant, Fluoroquinolone-Susceptible Tuberculosis. N Engl J Med 2025 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2400327
In this, Kent discusses some embarrassing moments in hospital rooms and then dives into antibiotics (and other drugs) for pets. You don't know better than your vet, please don't tell them they need to give you antibiotics without consult. Thanks!
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) affect millions globally daily, and multidrug-resistant strains are complicating treatment. Hosts Angela Huttner and Josh Davis welcome experts Dr. Teodora Elvira Wi from WHO and Professor Catriona Bradshaw from Monash University to discuss critical issues surrounding ‘super gonorrhoea,' chlamydia, syphilis, Mycoplasma genitalium, and bacterial vaginosis. The episode reviews the latest epidemiology and highlights the need to innovate diagnostics and treatment options, destigmatise STIs, and promote people-centred healthcare strategies to manage and prevent these infections. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer-reviewed by Dr. Arjana Zerja of Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania. Literature: Guidelines for the management of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Chris Kenyon et al. on screening impact for gonorrhoea and chlamydia infections in key populations The Lancet HIV 2024.
On this episode of The ICHE Podcast, we dive into research priorities in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial stewardship (AS) with experts Robin Jump, Jennie Kwon, Daniel Livorsi, Lona Mody, and Eli Perencevich. The discussion explores the importance of publishing research agendas to stimulate focused research, guide researchers in prioritizing critical topics, and inform funding decisions. By addressing these goals, the panel aims to align research efforts with pressing clinical challenges, foster innovation, and bridge gaps between research and implementation. The guests also discuss the structured methodologies used to draft these research agendas, detailing how key priorities were identified and refined to address the most urgent needs in the field. The panel reviews three recently published agendas in ICHE: A Call to Action: The SHEA Research Agenda to Combat Healthcare-Associated Infections, Research Agenda for Transmission Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration, 2024–2028, and Research Agenda for Antibiotic Stewardship within the Veterans Health Administration, 2024–2028. Key topics include addressing antimicrobial resistance, improving diagnostic tools, and tackling HAIs in vulnerable populations. The conversation further examines the applicability of findings from VA-specific agendas to non-VA healthcare settings, concluding that many insights are broadly relevant. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of the research landscape and actionable ways to contribute to advancements in patient safety and healthcare quality. For further details, explore the full articles discussed in this episode at Cambridge.org/ICHE.
Rising anti-vaccine sentiment and dissemination of misinformation are threats to public health. In the US, calls to revoke certain public health mandates have been proposed by likely members of the incoming administration, among them vaccination against polio. The fourth instalment of the Nightmare Series is both a cautionary tale and an effort to preserve and share clinical expertise on how to diagnose and manage polio and rubella in a world where, until now, few doctors have had to face these illnesses in the clinical setting. Host Angela Huttner welcomes Professor Emeritus of Infectious Diseases Bernard Hirschel at the University of Geneva and Dr. Kerrigan McCarthy of the Centre for Vaccines and Immunology at South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) for that discussion. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer-reviewed by Dr. Barbora Píšová in Antwerp, Belgium. Literature Link-Gelles R et al (2022) MMWR https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7133e2.htm Ryerson AB et al (2022) MMWR https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7144e2.htm Kasstan B et al (2023) Epidemiol Infect doi: 10.1017/S0950268823001127 NICD (2024) Report: Rubella in South Africa, 2024.https://www.nicd.ac.za/surge-in-rubella-cases-in-south-africa-november-2024/
The last episode of the year carries a special end-of-year message from the CMI Comms editors and replays the very first episode of Communicable aired on 10 May 2024, in which editors Angela Huttner, Marc Bonten, and Erin McCreary discuss late-breaker clinical trials presented at ESCMID Global 2024 in Barcelona, providing insights into the trials' designs, results, and implications. The DOTS trial compared two doses of long-acting dalbavancin to standard of care in patients with complicated S. aureus bacteraemia. GAME-CHANGER compared cefiderocol to standard of care for Gram-negative infections. PediCAP compared oral step-down therapy with amoxicillin with or without clavulanic acid at shorter durations to the current WHO-recommended standard of five days of intravenous antibiotic therapy in children with severe pneumonia. Additional results from the MULTICAP and CLEEN trials, the CAMERA-2 follow-on in vitro analysis, and the Burkina Faso Escherichia coli transmission study are also discussed. This episode was peer-reviewed by Dr. Yousra Kherabi (Clinical Trials Research Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris Cité, Paris; and Université Paris Cité, Inserm, IAME, Paris, France).
Matters Microbial #70: Food Safety and Antibiotic Resistance December 18, 2024 Today, Dr. Dr. Erika Ganda, Assistant Professor of Food Animal Microbiomes in the Department of Animal Science at Pennsylvania State University, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss the varied interests of her research team studying the intersection of animal husbandry, microbiome studies, and the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest: Erika Ganda Subscribe: Apple Podcasts, Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode A video that Dr. Quinn and yours truly did for an event at Harvard University about #LuxArt. A video of a #LuxArt event I ran at ASMCUE a few years ago. An overview from the CDC about the One Health concept. The story of “Typhoid Mary.” An overview of rumen microbiology. The glass artwork of Jane Hartman. An article about Salmonella dublin and the impact on the dairy industry. An introduction to strategies of antibiotic resistance. A TED talk about the threat of antibiotic resistance. The concept of low level antibiotics to promote growth in chickens and other animals. A video demonstrating the swift rise of antibiotic resistance using the MEGAPLATE approach. The accident in Brazil in 2015 releasing metal mining waste leading to increased antibiotic resistance. Evidence that microbial zinc resistance leads to increased antibiotic resistance. An explainer for proper antibiotic use. Dr. Ganda's faculty website. Dr. Ganda's research website Intro music is by Reber Clark Send your questions and comments to mattersmicrobial@gmail.com
Send us a textIn this episode, Ben and Daphna speak with Dr. Martin Stocker, head of neonatology and pediatric intensive care at the Children's Hospital of Central Switzerland. Dr. Stocker discusses the challenges of identifying sepsis in neonates and the overuse of antibiotics in this vulnerable population. He emphasizes the importance of balancing the risks of sepsis with the long-term consequences of antibiotic overuse. The conversation explores the role of clinical signs, risk factors, and biomarkers like IL-6, as well as the need for algorithms to guide decision-making. This insightful discussion highlights the complexities of neonatal sepsis management.As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!
Substandard and falsified (SF) antimicrobials are a neglected global health problem and have been implicated as drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Substandard medicines are authorized medical products that fail to meet either their quality standards or their specifications, whereas falsified medicines are those that deliberately and fraudulently misrepresent their identity, composition or source. Host Angela Huttner is joined by Pernette Bourdillon Esteve, Technical Officer for the World Health Organization's Substandard/falsified Medical Products group, and Ben Cooper, epidemiologist at Oxford University and head of its Drug-Resistant Infection and Disease Dynamics (DRIaDD), to explore the effects of SF antimicrobials on people and AMR.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer-reviewed by Dr. Arjana Zerja of Mother Teresa University Hospital in Tirana, Albania. Literature Cavany S et al. Nat Commun 14, 6153 (2023). doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41542-w WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for substandard and falsified medical products (2017). https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241513425
In this episode, Drs. Erica Stohs, Ryan Stevens, and Jame McCrae join Dr. Megan Klatt to discuss antimicrobial stewardship practices at transitions of care and in the outpatient setting. Hear from the experts on how to establish programs in this space, best practices for data/reporting, and other tips for stewardship intervention. Follow us on Instagram! @breakpointspodcast_sidp References: Pharmacist-Driven Transitions of Care Practice Model for Prescribing Oral Antimicrobials at Hospital Discharge. 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.11331 From concept to reality: Building an ambulatory antimicrobial stewardship program. 10.1002/jac5.1528 Cracking the code(s): Optimization of encounter-level diagnosis coding to inform outpatient antimicrobial stewardship data modeling. 10.1017/ice.2023.296 Antibiotic Prescribing Variability in a Large Urgent Care Network: A New Target for Outpatient Stewardship. 10.1093/cid/ciz910 DART communication for respiratory illness treatment resources: Dialogue Around Respiratory Illness Treatment (DART) – iMTR (uwimtr.org)
Dr Keith Hamilton joins Ethics Talk to discuss his article, coauthored with Dr George Maliha, Keith Robert Thomas, and Mary Ellen Nepps: “When Should Patients At the End-of-Life Get Antimicrobials?” Recorded March 14, 2024. Read the full article for free at JournalOfEthics.org
The Elective Rotation: A Critical Care Hospital Pharmacy Podcast
Show notes at pharmacyjoe.com/episode909. In this episode, I’ll discuss a novel metric for antibiotic stewardship. The post 909: Is this a better metric for antibiotic stewardship? appeared first on Pharmacy Joe.
The Elective Rotation: A Critical Care Hospital Pharmacy Podcast
Show notes at pharmacyjoe.com/episode909. In this episode, I’ll discuss a novel metric for antibiotic stewardship. The post 909: Is this a better metric for antibiotic stewardship? appeared first on Pharmacy Joe.
In this episode, Dr. David Kaufman discusses his interest in pediatrics and infectious disease, particularly in the prevention and treatment of neonatal infections. He highlights the challenges of antibiotic use in the NICU and the interplay between probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, and infections. Dr. Kaufman emphasizes the need for better quality control and standardization of probiotics, as well as the importance of consent and shared decision-making in their use. He also discusses the potential benefits of lactoferrin in reducing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and the future directions in infection management. The episode concludes with a discussion of the Neonatal Antibiotic Stewardship web app. As always, feel free to send us questions, comments, or suggestions to our email: nicupodcast@gmail.com. You can also contact the show through Instagram or Twitter, @nicupodcast. Or contact Ben and Daphna directly via their Twitter profiles: @drnicu and @doctordaphnamd. The papers discussed in today's episode are listed and timestamped on the webpage linked below. Enjoy!