Infectious Disease Alert – January 1, 2022
January 1, 2022
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Mumps in Vaccinated Children
Recent mumps outbreaks in the United States have involved vaccinated individuals without international travel. The genotype of the mumps virus circulating in North America and Europe is different than that of the virus used to manufacture the attenuated vaccine used in the United States.
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Malassezia restricta as a Cause of Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis
The authors of a retrospective study from France used DNA detection methods to assess the microbial etiologies of 16 cases of culture-negative infective endocarditis. They identified three cases of Malassezia restricta, a yeast considered a member of the human skin microbiota. Notably, serologic testing cross-reacted between M. restricta and Candida albicans.
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Malaria in the United States
The number of cases of imported malaria in the United States continues to increase, with most cases caused by Plasmodium falciparum and most of the infections acquired in Africa, particularly West Africa. Almost three-fourths of U.S. residents with malaria had failed to take chemoprophylaxis and the remaining one-fourth often did not take recommended medications.
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Treatment of Severe Plasmodium falciparum Malaria with Intravenous Artesunate
A prospective nationwide study in France found intravenous artesunate use was rapidly adopted by clinicians and was safe and highly effective in the treatment of severe malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum.
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Screening and Diagnosis of Chagas Disease in the United States
Chagas disease is an important public health problem in the United States. An expert panel has made a series of specific recommendations for screening for and diagnosis of Chagas disease in at-risk groups.
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Infections Before Age 20 Years Increase the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
The relationship between childhood infections and the risk of multiple sclerosis is supported by mounting evidence. Using the Swedish Total Population Register, researchers found patients diagnosed with infection in adolescence showed a higher risk of multiple sclerosis, even after exclusion of infectious mononucleosis, pneumonia, and central nervous system infection.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Candida auris Outbreak in Southern California; Healthcare Worker Vaccine Mandates