Infectious Disease Frontier

A recent phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled trial explored the potential of inulin, a prebiotic fiber, to prevent gut pathogen colonization and infection in patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis. Despite its promising role in preclinical studies, inulin did not significantly alter the gut microbiome or improve clinical outcomes in this high-risk population.

A recent secondary analysis of the ARISE and ProCESS trials offers valuable insights into the varying effectiveness of Early Goal-Directed Therapy (EGDT) in patients with septic shock. Despite previous randomized controlled trials showing mixed results, this study highlights significant heterogeneity in treatment responses, suggesting that EGDT may benefit some patients while potentially causing harm to others.

With norovirus cases surging across the U.S. this winter, it seems like everyone knows someone who’s been affected. This highly contagious virus is notorious for causing acute gastroenteritis, but there’s much more to it than just a rough couple of days.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a mosquito-borne virus endemic to Africa and the Middle East, poses significant health risks due to its potential to cause severe encephalitis. In this review, Lindsay R. Wilson and Anita K. McElroy from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine shed light on the viral and host factors influencing RVFV encephalitis. They explore the role of host genetics, immune responses, and the mechanisms of central nervous system invasion.

A recent study published in PLOS Pathogens delves into the intricate mechanisms of protein homeostasis in Candida glabrata, an opportunistic human pathogen known for its resistance to standard antifungal treatments. The research, led by Dipika Gupta, Renu Shukla, and Krishnaveni Mishra from the University of Hyderabad, highlights the critical role of SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) in regulating protein stability within the pathogen.

A recent study published in Critical Care Medicine explores the comparative effectiveness of baricitinib and tocilizumab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Utilizing data from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C)—the largest electronic health records database on COVID-19 in the U.S.—this multicenter, retrospective cohort study analyzed outcomes from over 10,000 patients across 75 hospitals.

A recent letter published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology highlights the critical role of rectal temperature measurement in improving the diagnosis of intrapartum infections. While oral temperature measurements are commonly used, they often underestimate core body temperature, potentially delaying the diagnosis of conditions like chorioamnionitis.

Individuals living with HIV are at a higher risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to immune system impairment and often face poorer prognoses. At the ongoing 2024 IDWeek Conference, Dr. Hua You from the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University presented a groundbreaking study on the development of the first-ever prognostic model tailored for HIV-infected HCC patients—the HIHP model. Demonstrating remarkable performance in both internal and external validation, this model offers promising new directions for the treatment and prognosis of HIV-infected HCC patients.