The most recent revelations from an international phase 3 clinical trial showcase that those who commenced the antiviral drug ensitrelvir within 72 hours after a family member tested positive for COVID-19 had substantially decreased likelihood of infection. Shionogi, a Japanese pharmaceutical conglomerate, created ensitrelvir, which is currently permitted in Japan for handling mild to moderate COVID-19. The trial, known as the Stopping COVID-19 progression with early Protease Inhibitor treatment—Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (SCORPIO-PEP), investigated a 5-day course of oral ensitrelvir for infection prevention post-exposure from June 2023 through September 2024.
Of the 2,387 trial participants that included U.S. residents aged 12 years and above, 9.0% of placebo recipients contracted COVID-19 from a family member, compared with 2.9% of ensitrelvir recipients. This correlates to a 67% reduction in the risk of symptomatic infection, with a similar risk of adverse events within the two groups. It was suggested by Frederick Hayden, MD, a professor emeritus with the University of Virginia School of Medicine, that post-exposure prophylaxis with an oral antiviral can significantly aid in the prevention of COVID-19 in exposed individuals, especially those at high risk of severe disease. Hayden also pointed out that if the FDA approves its use, the oral antiviral could be a crucial addition to current preventive strategies.
Following a recent nightclub fire in North Macedonia, European health officials have urged hospitals across Europe to enact precautions when treating patients with burn injuries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) noted that burns are often colonized by gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp, and Enterobacterales that are resistant to multiple antibiotics and can spread quickly in hospitals. The officials also alerted healthcare systems to take the necessary precautions to avoid the spread of Carbapenem-Resistant (CR) bacteria in transferred patients. To aid in this fight, ECDC advocated the judicious use of antibiotics, strict hand hygiene and environmental cleaning, and single room isolation immediately upon admission.
In the United States, a retrospective study at Jackson Health System in Miami found a sudden increase in the volume and complexity of infections caused by Candida auris over recent years. Expressed as rates per 100,000 patients, there was a sevenfold increase from 2019 to 2023. With the hospital witnessing a notable rise in soft-tissue and bone infections in recent years, the researchers highlighted the necessity for infection prevention programs and clinical laboratories to quickly identify patients infected with C. auris. They warn that managing such infections often requires wound care, which can hasten the environmental contamination of C. auris in hospitals and endanger others.