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CIDRAP NEWS SCAN: Public concern over antibiotic resistance; Saudi MERS case; Adenovirus in New Jersey

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  • CIDRAP NEWS SCAN: Public concern over antibiotic resistance; Saudi MERS case; Adenovirus in New Jersey

    Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-persp...an-nov-12-2018

    News Scan for Nov 12, 2018
    Public concern over antibiotic resistance; Saudi MERS case; Adenovirus in New Jersey

    Filed Under:
    Adenovirus; Antimicrobial Stewardship; MERS-CoV

    Survey shows vast majority of Americans are concerned about resistance

    A new public opinion survey shows that more than 8 in 10 Americans are concerned about the health threat posed by antibiotic resistance, and majorities across the political spectrum think the federal government should do more to address the issue.
    In the survey of 1,004 US adults, commissioned by Research!America in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), 65% of respondents said antibiotic resistance is a public health problem and 81% said they're concerned that resistance will make infections more difficult or impossible to treat. Seventy-six percent of respondents?81% of Democrats, 76% of Republicans, and 70% of Independents?said the federal government should increase funding for research and public health initiatives, while 74% agreed that the government should provide incentives to encourage increased private sector investment in antibiotic development.
    "Americans understand that antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' are a public health threat, and they support putting the public and private sector research continuum to work to address this intensifying health threat," Mary Woolley, Research!America president and CEO, said in a press release.
    The survey also revealed, however, that Americans may need more education on appropriate antibiotic use. While 91% of respondents said healthcare providers should only prescribe antibiotics when they're needed, more than a third (37%) said antibiotics are effective for treating viral infections, and 29% said they would be dissatisfied if their child did not receive an antibiotic for a viral infection. Only 57% were aware that even a single course of unnecessary antibiotics can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
    Nov 12 Research!America press release

    New Saudi MERS case reported in Qassim region

    Saudi Arabia?s Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS case for epidemiologic week 45 yesterday.
    The patient is a 39-year-old man from the Qassim region. He is hospitalized for his MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infection. He's listed as a secondary household contact of a previously reported case, and had no contact with camels.
    This is the second MERS case reported in the Qassim region in epidemiologic week 45, and it lifts the global number of MERS-CoV infections reported since 2012 to 2,265, at least 803 of them fatal.
    In other news, the World Health Organization (WHO) published details on eight MERS cases reported in Saudi Arabia in October, including one death. One of the cases was a household contact of a case reported in September.
    The WHO said the age group 50 to 59 still appears to be at the highest risk for MERS. The case-fatality rate for the virus stands at 38.7%.
    Nov 11 MOH report
    Nov 11 WHO situation report

    New Jersey officials record 3 more adenovirus cases in pediatric facilities

    Health officials in New Jersey updated case counts on two separate adenovirus outbreaks in pediatric facilities in the state, noting two more cases of the type 7 virus at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, and one more type 3 case at the Voorhees Pediatric Facility.
    Type 3 adenoviruses tend to cause milder illnesses than type 7 viruses. There have now been 8 type 3 adenoviruses cases recorded at the Voorhees facility since Oct 20. The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation outbreak total now stands at 34 cases, including 10 deaths.
    Typically, adenoviruses cause cold-like symptoms and sometimes sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and pink eye. According to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDH), people with weakened immune systems or existing respiratory or cardiac disease are more likely than others to get very sick from an adenovirus infection.
    The two outbreaks appear to be unrelated, officials say.
    Nov 12 NJDH update



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