Original research
Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
Original research relevant to this speciality, newest first.
- Pausing selected arthritis treatments for COVID vaccination increases flares without improving antibody responses
JAMA Internal Medicine
COVER randomized trial, 840 patients. A two-week interruption increased flares. Applies to the studied biologics and JAK inhibitors. - Combining nutritional supplements with routine immunization increases measles vaccine uptake
Nature Medicine
NutriVax cluster-randomized trial, northern Nigeria. Card-verified first-dose coverage improved by approximately 20 percentage points relative to control over time. - Intranasal BPZE1 induces mucosal pertussis immunity in children without compromising Tdap responses
The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Phase 2b randomized trial, 368 enrolled children aged 6–17. Immunogenicity and tolerability findings support further development; clinical protection was not established. - Adding inhaled liposomal amikacin improves culture conversion in newly diagnosed MAC lung disease
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
ENCORE phase 3b trial, 425 patients. Month-13 conversion: 82.4% versus 55.6%. Both groups received azithromycin and ethambutol; the comparator was not a rifampicin-containing triple regimen. - Eight weeks of sofosbuvir–velpatasvir is noninferior to twelve weeks in selected patients with hepatitis C
The Lancet
RESOLVE randomized trial, 880 treatment-naive, noncirrhotic patients. Per-protocol sustained virological response: 98.8% versus 99.0%. - Gepotidacin improves uncomplicated UTI symptoms within 24 hours in many patients
JAMA Network Open
Single-arm phase 3b study. 54.4% had symptom improvement at 24 hours; no comparator to establish superiority. - Influenza vaccination reduced the risk of hospitalisation and severe outcomes during the 2024–2025 season.
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Test-negative study across 26 US centres: estimated effectiveness 40% against hospitalisation, 58% against ICU admission, and 52% against death. - Timely hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination was associated with less mother-to-child transmission.
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Ethiopian observational study, 387 infants. Transmission occurred in 0/39 receiving birth-dose vaccination alone versus 20/131 without birth immunoprophylaxis. Small, nonrandomised groups. - A multistrain probiotic was associated with fewer deaths or NEC in very preterm infants.
JAMA Network Open
Swedish cohort, 4,695 infants: adjusted RR 0.28 for death/NEC. Applies to the studied formulation and infants born at 28–31 weeks, not automatically to extremely preterm infants. - Therapeutic anticoagulation did not significantly reduce death or thrombosis in HERO-19.
JAMA Network Open
Small RCT, 139 hospitalised COVID-19 patients. HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.38–1.48; uncertainty remains substantial. - Protection from tuberculosis preventive treatment wanes sooner in high-burden settings.
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
- RSV vaccination was associated with substantially fewer hospitalizations in older adults.
JAMA Network Open
- Nirsevimab was associated with substantially fewer infant RSV hospitalizations.
JAMA Network Open
- Adoption of azithromycin prophylaxis for unscheduled cesarean delivery was associated with fewer postpartum infections.
JAMA
- Shorter, response-guided antibiotics increased treatment-free days in stable endocarditis but increased relapse.
NEJM
- Daily zinc reduced infections in a small trial of young children with sickle-cell anaemia.
JAMA
- Weekly oral islatravir–lenacapavir was noninferior to daily bictegravir-based therapy for maintaining HIV suppression.
NEJM
- Oral amoxicillin step-down after clinical improvement was noninferior to continued IV treatment for severe childhood pneumonia without complicating factors.
The Lancet