Waterborne Illnesses

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PCR Demonstrates Superiority to Urine Antigen Testing for Legionellosis Diagnosis

By

Zahra Masoud

Polymerase chain reaction testing may be superior to urinary antigen testing when diagnosing legionellosis.

Vaccine-Related Viral Shedding Leads to High Rate of Rotavirus Overdiagnosis

By

Infectious Disease Advisor Contributing Writer

Over a 2-year period, roughly half of positive cases of rotavirus in infants were the result of vaccine-related viral shedding.

New LAMP Assay a Suitable Alternative Molecular Test for Characterizing E coli Culture Isolates

By

Sweta Gupta

Eazyplex EHEC assay, a molecular assay based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), is fast, easy to perform, and provides reliable results.

North Carolina Outbreak of Legionnaires’ Traced to Hot Tub Display

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that has sickened 116 and killed one at the state fair may have started at a hot tub display.

Efficacy of Lefamulin vs Moxifloxacin for Legionella CABP

By

Natasha Priya Dyal, MD

Lefamulin appears to be noninferior in safety and efficacy compared with moxifloxicin in the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia.

Effect of Histo-Blood Group Antigen Status on Enteric Infections in Childhood

By

Zahra Masoud

Histo-blood group antigens may affect the incidence of all-cause diarrhea and enteric infections in young children.

Drug-Resistant Salmonella Typhi Cases in Travelers Between Pakistan-US

By

Bradley van Paridon

A large outbreak of extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever in Pakistan during 2016-2018 resulted in 5 travel-related cases in the United States.

Tap Water in Neti Pot Linked to Death From Brain-Eating Amoeba

The use of tap water in a nasal-flushing Neti pot likely led to a Seattle woman’s death from a Balamuthia mandrillaris brain infection.

Two New Typhoid Vaccines Show Efficacy in Reducing Rates of Stool Shedding

By

Roxanne Nelson, BSN, RN

Shedding of Salmonella Typhi or Paratyphi in the stool/urine leads to contamination of food/water, but vaccines can reduce stool shedding.

CDC IDs Outbreak Trends Tied to Treated Recreational Water

Outbreaks with confirmed infectious etiology usually caused by Cryptosporidium, Legionella, Pseudomonas.

WHO Issues Position Paper for Typhoid Fever Vaccine

By

Roxanne Nelson, BSN, RN

The World Health Organization recommends vaccination in cases of confirmed outbreaks of typhoid fever, although data on the use of vaccines in controlling outbreaks are very limited and research to assess the value of vaccination in these cases is strongly recommended.

Oral Bivalent Whole-Cell Cholera Vaccine Efficacy Over 5 Years

By

Zahra Masoud

Researchers found that oral cholera vaccine efficacy was statistically significantly higher when administered to children 5 and older compared with children younger than 5, a difference that had been suspected but not conclusively demonstrated in previous trials.

Legionella Linked to Most Drinking Water-Associated Outbreaks

Most drinking water-associated waterborne disease outbreaks and waterborne disease outbreaks associated with environmental or undetermined exposure to water are due to Legionella.

Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Protective Against Oral Salmonella Typhi Challenge

By

Jessica Martin

Investigators review results from the first study to assess the efficacy of a Vi-conjugate vaccine using a controlled human infection model of typhoid fever.

Cholera Vaccine Recommendations Issued by ACIP

By

Diana Ernst, RPh

Report provides new recommendations and guidance for vaccination providers and travelers about the use of lyophilized CVD 103-HgR (Vaxchora, PaxVax, Redwood City, California).

CDC Aids In Response To Cholera Outbreak In Haiti Following Hurricane Matthew

By

Sandra Fyfe

The CDC is leading efforts to assist Haiti after Hurricane Matthew in examining damage to public health systems and provide support to affected Haitians.

FDA Approves Vaxchora for Cholera

By

Sweta Gupta

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously to recommend Vaxchora for US travelers to areas of active cholera transmission.

Presenters Recall Legionnaires, 4 Decades After Disease Discovery

Clinicians discussed their perspectives from the research during the 1976 outbreak.

America’s Water Systems May Contain Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Thousands may get sick every year with bacteria living in water pipes.

CDC Official: Flint Water Crisis Could Easily Have Been Avoided

Agency looked at children’s blood levels before, during, and after city’s switch to local water.