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July '23 Infectious Diseases Update

Posted by Doug Black, PharmD., Ann Lloyd, PharmD on Jul 11th 2023

Sanford Guide ID Update features current developments in infectious diseases, curated by the Sanford Guide Editorial Board and our AMS Program Manager. Links marked with a * are available to Sanford Guide Web Edition and All Access clients. All other links are available without a Sanford Guide subscription. To receive monthly updates via email, sign up now. 

 

JULY 2023

Free webinar: Which Drug for that Bug?

  • Join us this Thursday for a free 60-minute webinar with Sanford Guide editorial board member, Dr. Henry F. "Chip" Chambers. Ann Lloyd, Sanford Guide AMS Program Manager, will lead a discussion of the spectra of activity, unusual organisms, and colonization/contamination. Register here.

SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19

Locally Acquired Malaria in the US

  • CDC issued a Health Advisory (CDCHAN-00494) to share information regarding five US residents (four in Florida, one in Texas) diagnosed with locally-acquired, mosquito-transmitted Plasmodium vivax. In the US, most cases of malaria are diagnosed in people who have traveled to an endemic region. Locally acquired mosquito-borne malaria has not occurred in the US since 2003. Despite these cases, the risk of locally acquired malaria remains extremely low.

RSV Vaccine: Key Points

  • The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) now advises that adults aged ≥60 years MAY receive a single IM dose of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine with either Abrysvo (Pfizer; unadjuvanted) or Arexvy (GSK; uses same adjuvant as Shingrix), using shared clinical decision-making. Immunocompromised persons SHOULD be vaccinated even if such individuals were not included in the clinical trials.
  • Both vaccines demonstrated significant vaccine effectiveness against RSV induced lower respiratory tract infection among older adults that lasted over at least 2 consecutive seasons; a second dose after 1 year conferred no additional protection. Data were insufficient (few cases in placebo group) to determine statistically significant vaccine effectiveness in persons aged ≥75 years or against hospitalization. Co-administration with all types of influenza vaccine appears safe without statistically significant effect on vaccine effectiveness for either vaccine, although titers for each vaccine were somewhat lower. Availability of both vaccines is anticipated for the 2023-24 winter RSV season (mid-September through mid-May; peaks late December to mid-February).Vaccination is recommended as soon as vaccine becomes available. Cost is expected to be USD 180-270 for Abrysvo and USD 200-295 for Arexvy.
  • A review of the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of RSV infections vs. influenza in adults hospitalized with acute respiratory illness over a three-year period suggests that outcomes are worse in persons with RSV, and they frequently have underlying cardiopulmonary conditions (Clin Infect Dis 2023;76:1980).

New Clinical Practice Guidelines

AMS Pearl - Key Strategy to Prevent MRSA Infections

  • A new guideline sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) provides focused recommendations to help acute-care hospitals prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission and infection.  The guideline, a collaboration between SHEA, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and The Joint Commission, includes essential practices that should be adopted by all acute-care hospitals.  
  • Notable among these is the recommendation to implement an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program. AMS implementation was previously an unresolved issue in the 2014 iteration of this guideline. Stewardship programs may consider using this guideline as evidence to support efforts around preventing MRSA infections. (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiolo. 2023 June 29;1-29).

Drug Shortages (US)

  • Bicillin-LA and Bicillin-CR availability: See Dear Healthcare Professional letter here.
  • Antimicrobial drugs or vaccines in reduced supply or unavailable (as of July 10, 2023) due to increased demand, manufacturing delays, product discontinuation by a specific manufacturer, or unspecified reasons: 
    • New shortages since June 12, 2023:
      • Cefdinir (all oral formulations)
      • Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfates GU Irrigant
      • Podofilox 0.5% topical gel
      • Tedizolid 200 mg tablets
    • Shortage recently resolved:
      • Azithromycin injection
      • Clotrimazole 10 mg oral troches
      • Rifampin injection
      • Rifapentine 150 mg tablets
      • Rifaximin tablets (200 mg, 550 mg)
    • Antibacterial drugs:
      • Aminoglycosides:
        • Amikacin injection
        • Gentamicin injection
        • Neomycin tablets
        • Tobramycin injection
      • Bacitracin ophthalmic ointment (unavailable)
      • Carbapenems:
        • Meropenem injection
      • Cephalosporins:
        • Cefazolin injection
        • Cefixime 400 mg capsules
        • Cefotaxime injection (FDA is allowing temporary importation of product from SteriMax in Canada, in conjunction with Provepharm Life Solutions and its distributor Direct Success. Click here for details),
      • Clindamycin injection
      • Doxycycline oral suspension
      • Fluoroquinolones:
        • Ciprofloxacin injection
        • Ciprofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution
        • Ofloxacin 0.3% ophthalmic solution
      • Glycopeptides, glycolipopeptides, lipopeptides:
        • Vancomycin injection
      • Macrolides/azalides:
        • Azithromycin ophthalmic solution 1% (unavailable)
        • Erythromycin 0.5% ophthalmic ointment
      • Metronidazole injection
      • Nitrofurantoin oral suspension
      • Penicillins:
        • Amoxicillin (all oral formulations)
        • Amoxicillin-clavulanate (all oral formulations)
        • Dicloxacillin capsules (250 mg, 500 mg)
        • Penicillin G benzathine injection (Bicillin-LA)
        • Penicillin G benzathine/Penicillin G procaine (Bicillin-CR)
        • Penicillin VK tablets (250 mg, 500 mg), oral solution (250 mg/5 mL)
        • Piperacillin-tazobactam injection
      • Polymyxin B sulfate/Trimethoprim sulfate ophthalmic solution
      • Sulfacetamide 10%/Prednisolone 0.2% ophthalmic ointment (unavailable)
      • Sulfanilamide 15% vaginal cream (unavailable)
    • Antifungal drugs: 
      • Amphotericin B injection
      • Amphotericin B Lipid Complex (ABLC)
    • Antimycobacterial drugs: 
      • Isoniazid injection (100 mg/mL)
      • Isoniazid 100 mg, 300 mg tablets
      • Rifampin capsules
    • Antiparasitic drugs:
      • Primaquine
    • Antiviral drugs: 
      • Oseltamivir capsules, powder for oral suspension
      • Ribavirin for inhalation solution
      • Valganciclovir tablets, powder for oral solution
    • Vaccines:
      • None
  • Antimicrobial drugs recently discontinued: 
    • Penicillin G procaine 600,000 units/mL IM injection (June 2023)
    • Ritonavir oral solution 80 mg/mL (January 2023)
    • Lindane 1% shampoo (discontinued by Wockhardt USA in June 2022, no other supplier)
    • Quinupristin-Dalfopristin (discontinued by Pfizer in early 2022, no other supplier)
    • Gemifloxacin 320 mg tablet (August 2022, no further US distribution)
    • Gentamicin sulfate 0.3% ophthalmic ointment (July 2022)
    • Mupirocin calcium 2% cream (Bactroban [GSK], June 2020)
    • Bacitracin injection (February 2020)
    • Interferon alfa-2b (Intron A, October 2019)
    • Mupirocin calcium 2% nasal ointment (Bactroban Nasal [GSK], August 2019)
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