Petri Dish is Infectious
Petri Dish is Infectious
ID, COVID, Clinical and a few other little tidbits with a quiz at the end!
As I post this, Milton have made landfall. I don’t know how many Floridians are on substack but please stay safe and follow directions. Let us know how are you doing.
Rare and Emerging Disease
Burkholderia multivorans: A rare yet emerging cause of bacterial meningitis
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221425091730238X
Burkholderia multivorans is a rare yet emerging cause of meningitis as demonstrated in our case. Although Burkholderia multivorans is commonly isolated in patients with CF and CGD, nosocomial infections are increasing in number. Its complex antimicrobial susceptibility profile in conjunction with its ability to evade multiple antimicrobials makes its management quite complicated. TMP/SMX remains useful in the management of meningitis since it provides excellent penetration into the CSF and retains activity against Burkholderia multivorans.
Burkholderia multivorans Infections Associated with Use of Ice and Water from Ice Machines for Patient Care Activities ― Four Hospitals, California and Colorado, 2020–2024
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7339a4.htm
What is already known about this topic?
During 2021–2022, contaminated ice and water from ice machines were linked to 23 Burkholderia multivorans cases at two southern California hospitals.
What is added by this report?
Twenty-three additional, previously unreported B. multivorans cases occurred during 2020–2024: 13 at a northern California hospital, eight at a hospital in Colorado, and two additional cases at one of the southern California hospitals. All environmental and clinical isolates were highly genetically similar. The same brand of ice machine and the same filters, descaling, and sanitizing products were used by all four hospitals.
What are the implications for public health practice?
During outbreaks of water-related organisms in health care facilities, health care personnel should consider avoiding the use of tap water, including ice and water from ice machines, for patient care.
I remember ice chips when I was a child after Tonsillectomy. Still a part of after surgery care. After all, anesthesia leave your mouth drier than a desert. This is a bit concerning.
Beyond Human Babesiosis: Prevalence and Association of Babesia Coinfection with Mortality in the United States, 2015–2022: A Retrospective Cohort Study
https://academic.oup.com/ofid/article/11/10/ofae504/7798103?searchresult=1
Conclusions In this extensive study of >3000 patients with babesiosis in the United States, 4 in 10 patients had coinfecting tick-borne zoonoses. The prevalence rates of coinfection were highest with Borrelia burgdorferi, followed by ehrlichiosis, and lowest with anaplasmosis. Coinfection with other tick-borne infections was not associated with severe disease. It is plausible that this finding is due to the likelihood of treatment of coinfections with doxycycline. Future studies are needed to investigate the possible therapeutic benefits of doxycycline in babesiosis patients as, to date, no trials with doxycycline have been conducted in human patients with Babesia infections.
I find this interesting since Babesiosis or piroplasmosis is a malaria-like parasitic was covered previously in https://substack.com/@kb501/p-137948071. What is interesting is the that usually treated with atovaquone, azithromycin, clindamycin, and quinine. Quinine is widely used with clindamycin or doxycycline in the treatment of Malaria. Seems a worthwhile pursuit of this treament in a trial. Coinfections seems to be a bit common and further validation of Hickam’s Dictum.
‘Bird Flu’
Dozens of Zoo Tigers Die After Contracting Bird Flu in Vietnam
https://time.com/7049329/zoo-tigers-die-bird-flu/?lctg=207538533
Sad story but notable for no cases among the zoo personnel. Should mention there are two more cases of dairy workers in California but still haven’t seen more about the Missouri case(s)?
Why hasn’t deadly bird flu reached Australia yet?
Several theories explain why Oceania is the last region free of the H5N1 virus.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03208-5
Intriguing question for me as H5N1 have reached the Antarctic. Of course they are expecting it to show up down the road. The fact there a a few birds that do migrate from long distance.
COVID!
COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations Among U.S. Adults Aged ≥18 Years — COVID-NET, 12 States, October 2023–April 2024
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7339a2.htm
What is already known about this topic?
Hospitalization due to COVID-19 remains a public health concern. The risk for hospitalization among adults increases with age.
What is added by this report?
During October 2023–April 2024, adults aged ≥65 years accounted for 70% of all COVID-19–associated hospitalizations among adults. Most hospitalized adults had multiple underlying medical conditions. Only 12% had received the recommended COVID-19 2023–2024 formula vaccine.
What are the implications for public health practice?
Adults at increased risk for COVID-19–associated hospitalization should reduce their risk for severe COVID-19 by adopting measures to reduce risk for contracting COVID-19, receiving recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, and seeking prompt outpatient antiviral treatment after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. (emphasis mine)
FDA authorizes sale of first home COVID/flu combo test outside of emergency use
As the country heads into the respiratory illness season, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced yesterday its marketing authorization of the first over-the-counter (OTC) rapid-antigen COVID-19/flu combination test outside of emergency use authorization.
The Healgen Rapid Check COVID-19/Flu A&B Antigen Test takes 15 minutes to detect proteins from both COVID-19 and influenza A and B in nasal swabs. It joins other OTC COVID-19/flu tests already available under emergency use authorization. The test is designed for use by people aged 14 years or older collecting and testing their own sample or those 2 and older with adult assistance.
Wonder what the price is going to be?
Six Tips on Coronavirus Testing for Doctors and Patients
If doctors detect SARS-CoV-2 infection early, they can prescribe Paxlovid, for example, to reduce morbidity and mortality risks. Conversely, people without specific risks should test themselves if they plan to visit vulnerable individuals.
What more do we need to get these things prescribed more?
SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells are not durably established in the bone marrow long-lived compartment after mRNA vaccination
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03278-y
This study only looked at one vaccine platform and we don’t know about other ‘traditional’ platforms. If this can be repeated with, let’s say, Novavax, its entirely possible that we find the the antigen is the culprit. Thinking they could also look at other Corona Viruses infections to see if we get bone marrow durability. A brief discussion on TWiV.
COVID Levels Start to Dip, New Variant Emerges
What a surprise, a new variant!
Each time a new variant makes a grand entrance onto tracker lists, health officials take notice because it ‘may’ mean there’s an important change in behavior of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID.
The rate at which a new variant takes the stage doesn’t always predict how severe it will be. Around this time last year, health officials sounded alarms about another Omicron variant called BA.2.86, dubbed Pirola, that ultimately didn’t make major waves.
Of course, nothing about XEK , another XEC and KP.2.3 recombinant variant. As usual, we will see but still caution is advised. So get your booster shot. Another look at XEC. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448924-what-to-know-about-the-new-covid-19-xec-variant/
Clinical News
‘Cancer Doesn’t Wait’: How Prior Authorization Harms Care
Could the Body Roundness Index One Day Replace the BMI?
The BMI debates are still on-going, this is yet another proposed index. I don’t see any clinical recommendations update anytime soon.
Social Media Trend Promotes Nitrous Oxide Misuse
— "Galaxy Gas" and others introduce an old drug to a new generation
Something to watch for in clinics.
With boost from RFK Jr. and Tucker Carlson, two chronic disease entrepreneurs vault into Trump’s orbit
Calley and Casey Means push anti-corporate message to ‘Make America Healthy Again’
Chronic diseases are fodders of the ‘wellness’ industrial complex and I do not see this as different from the usual snake oil. But hey, two ‘health experts’ are joining in on this scheme.
Science and Nature
Mysterious form of high-energy radiation spotted in thunderstorms
Daring flights in an old spy plane observe powerful gamma-ray flashes that could help explain the cause of lightning.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03206-7
No, this isn’t about space lasers or cyclonic storms.
Bacteria implanted in fungi hints at ancient relationships that helped cells evolve
Biologists created a symbiotic system that hints at how features such as mitochondria and chloroplasts might have emerged a billion years ago
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03224-5
I think we are turning the Endosymbiotic hypothesis into theoretic realm. This is not far fetched for me as corals have algae living inside in a true symbiotic relationship. More on the Endosymbiotic hypothesis: https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/studies/mitochondria/mitorigin.html
On Navajo Lands, Ancient Ways Are Restoring the Parched Earth
Farming once thrived in the Black Mesa region, before overgrazing and climate change wreaked havoc with the land. Today, the Navajo are restoring their watersheds — and boosting their food sovereignty — with earthen berms and small dams made of woven brush, sticks, and rocks.
https://e360.yale.edu/features/navajo-natural-infrastructure-dryland-streams
There is wisdom to be gleamed from indigenous people.
Believe it or not, this lush landscape is Antarctica
Vegetation is spreading at an alarming rate in a place where temperatures are soaring.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03219-2
Hummocks of moss cover Ardley Island off the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.Credit: Dan Charman
Climate seems to be changing at a rather worrisome rate.
Quiz Time
https://www.britannica.com/quiz/diseases-disorders-and-more-a-medical-quiz
Try this out, a bit of fun and other quizzes too! I did warn you this time.
Wonderful issue! I had read already much of this including the greening of the Antarctic peninsula, but the rest, including the gamma radiation I hadn't! All links worthy of following up!
Now you should know, KB, that all of this is a concerted Conspiracy to misinform us! We are being manipulated by the Illuminati or Bilderbergers or somebody! The Antarctica region is actually getting colder! KB is in the pay of European banking elites! Substack is a liberal hoax!
I rest my case..