Key Highlights
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A study from South Africa reports that bloodstream infections caused by the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris increased at a faster rate during the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlights the pandemic’s unintended consequence of worsening the spread of dangerous, hard-to-treat infections in healthcare settings.
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An analysis of intensive care units in Chile found that high rates of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections are being driven by the use of specific antibiotics, namely quinolones and carbapenems. This means that stricter rules on prescribing these powerful antibiotics and better oversight by specialists are key strategies to reduce this serious threat.
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A new commentary stresses the critical importance of clear communication about the effectiveness of the annual flu shot, especially following recent severe seasons with high numbers of pediatric deaths. This is vital for public trust, as the vaccine remains our best tool to protect against serious complications, including severe respiratory and even neurological issues in children.
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Research using data from two large US healthcare systems found that a simple blood test marker of inflammation, called the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), is linked to a higher future risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This suggests that chronic, body-wide inflammation, which this test can detect, may play a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
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