Diploma in Infection Prevention & Control

01/01/2026

AMR now links to about 12,000 deaths annually in Italy; experts urge diagnostics-led stewardship, better HTA recognition of diagnostics, and strengthened access to testing and treatment to protect antibiotics and the health system.

As editor of a curated One Health newsletter for IPC professionals, I flagged the latest findings released during World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2025: antimicrobial resistance remains a major national threat with significant mortality and economic implications for the National Health Service. An international expert group convened by the Office of Health Economics highlights that many current HTA methods underrecognise diagnostics’ role as an “enabling lever” for appropriate antibiotic use. The case is straightforward—accurate, rapid laboratory diagnosis either confirms infections that need treatment or confidently rules them out, preventing unnecessary antibiotic exposure. The recommendations are clear: scale up diagnostics access, integrate diagnostic stewardship with antimicrobial stewardship across hospital and community care, revise HTA frameworks to value diagnostic impact, and ensure uptake of innovative technologies to guide targeted clinical decisions and preserve antibiotic efficacy. https://go.upcontent.com/5ba1eb5d-9b50-4ef6-b60f-e21b26a10617

31/12/2025

WHO’s Integrated Drug Resistance Action Framework 2026–2030 targets drug resistance in HIV, hepatitis B/C and STIs with a people‑centred, integrated strategy emphasising stewardship, surveillance, laboratory capacity and equitable access to care.

The WHO framework is a five‑pillar roadmap to preserve treatment effectiveness and reverse threats to gains against HIV, hepatitis B and C, and sexually transmitted infections. It frames urgent, coordinated action around: prevention and response; monitoring and surveillance; research and innovation; laboratory capacity; and governance and enabling mechanisms. Key priorities include strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, robust surveillance systems, equitable access to high‑quality prevention, diagnosis and treatment services, and investment in laboratory and workforce capacity. The Framework aligns with WHO global health sector strategies, the SDGs and the Global Action Plan on AMR, and responds to renewed political momentum after the 2024 UN High‑level Meeting on AMR. WHO highlights the stakes: without integrated, multisectoral implementation, drug resistance could drive more new infections, treatment failures and preventable morbidity and mortality. For infection prevention and control officers, antimicrobial stewardship leads, clinical teams and hospital managers, the document is a call to operationalise surveillance, laboratory strengthening, stewardship policies and community‑centred services within national and facility plans.

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Without urgent action, drug resistance could lead to more new infections, treatment failures and higher morbidity and mortality.

30/12/2025

Weekly curated roundup of our best work and standout community members — free, concise, and tailored for infection control, One Health, antimicrobial stewardship, and hospital leadership professionals.

As editor of One Health Update from the Infection Control Academy of India, I curate a focused weekly selection: evidence-based articles, IPC guidance, antimicrobial stewardship insights, microbiome and AMR findings, and profiles of practitioners driving practical change. Each edition distills indexed-journal content and actionable tools for infection control officers, nurses, and hospital managers, with links to deeper reads and implementation resources. It’s designed to save you time, sharpen clinical and operational decisions, and showcase real-world practice innovations. The mailing is complimentary and you can unsubscribe anytime if it’s not a fit. https://go.upcontent.com/0fc7f4a6-ab94-4d08-96ca-06411cdbeb3f

Researchers from Harvard University and the University of São Paulo identified metabolites that travel from the intestine through the hepatic portal vein to the liver and then throughout the body, playing a crucial role in controlling liver metabolism and insulin sensitivity. By analyzing blood fro...

29/12/2025

Part 1 (concise,

A low-dose antibiotic developed in Leiden may stop C. difficile infections more effectively by targeting the pathogen while preserving the gut microbiome. Researchers in Leiden have developed a new antibiotic called EVG7 that can combat the dangerous gut bacterium C. difficile using only a very s

28/12/2025

Rapid single-test genomics detects pathogenicity and resistance markers in Klebsiella pneumoniae, enabling earlier targeted therapy and stronger infection-control measures.

Prof. Dr. Can’s team at Koç University has developed a molecular diagnostic that, in one rapid assay, identifies genetic markers of both virulence and antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae—traditionally assessed separately through slower workflows. By combining pathogenicity and resistance profiling, the test promises faster, more accurate clinical decisions that can reduce mortality, shorten hospital stays, and curb transmission of high-risk strains. Nature selected the project for its MDx Impact Award, citing originality, translational relevance and potential for broad implementation; international industry collaboration supports clinical rollout. Beyond diagnostics, the program probes immune-evasion mechanisms to inform next-generation therapeutics, with AI-assisted drug discovery flagged as a future avenue. For infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship teams, this tool strengthens molecular epidemiology and precision diagnostics at the bedside and in IPC programs. https://go.upcontent.com/dcaa8cb7-1d77-4f4b-9e5d-f8e8595f2968

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing - and quietly advancing - challenges facing modern medicine. Among the most dangerous bacterial pathogens driving this crisis is Klebsiella pneumoniae, a microorganism capable of causing severe infections while evading both antibiotics and the human....

27/12/2025

Zoonotic Streptococcus imports host glucose to suppress the (p)ppGpp-mediated stringent response, sustaining growth and virulence during meningitis.

In a Nature Microbiology study, Yuan et al. show that during meningitis these Streptococcus strains actively import environmental glucose to interrupt alarmone accumulation and prevent entry into growth arrest. Using metabolomics, transcriptomics, genetic knockouts and in vivo models, the team mapped how upregulated glucose transporters and downstream metabolic reprogramming fuel cell wall synthesis, protein translation and replication machinery—promoting rapid bacterial proliferation in nutrient-poor cerebrospinal environments. Critically, transporter-deficient strains had lower bacterial loads and improved survival in mice, demonstrating that disrupting glucose uptake restores stress responses and attenuates disease. The work highlights a direct mechanistic link between carbohydrate metabolism and virulence regulation, with implications for diagnostics (metabolic biomarkers), adjunctive therapies that modulate host or bacterial sugar access, and novel antimicrobials targeting metabolic vulnerabilities—an especially attractive strategy as antibiotic resistance grows. The zoonotic context also raises One Health concerns about how animal reservoirs and nutrient-rich niches select for pathogens that can override canonical stress responses. For infection control officers and hospital clinicians, the study points to metabolism-focused targets and the potential to combine metabolic inhibitors with existing stewardship efforts to blunt invasive disease.

—Editor, One Health Update, Infection Control Academy of India

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Microbiology, researchers have unveiled a sophisticated tactic employed by zoonotic Streptococcus species during meningitis infections. This pathogen

26/12/2025

1) U.S. AST market projected to reach $1.8B by 2035 (CAGR 3.4%): rapid, automated and molecular testing scaling up to support stewardship and tackle rising AMR, but adoption hampered by cost and workforce gaps.

2) As editor of One Health Update, I flag this FMI market brief for infection control leaders: demand for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is rising steadily as hospitals and diagnostic labs seek faster, more accurate guidance for antibiotic therapy. Key drivers include increasing antibiotic-resistant and multidrug-resistant infections, expansion of antimicrobial stewardship programs, investments in diagnostic infrastructure, and technological advances—automated platforms, high-throughput systems and molecular resistance assays. FMI forecasts instruments (≈40% share) dominate spend; sepsis and respiratory infections are leading clinical applications. Regional growth is strongest in the West (3.9% CAGR) with notable activity in the South and Northeast; the market faces headwinds from high capital and consumable costs, technical complexity, workforce needs, and continued reliance on empirical therapy in urgent settings. Major players—Thermo Fisher (~24% share), BD, Danaher, Bio‑Rad—are competing on speed, accuracy and regulatory compliance. Opportunities center on integrating rapid AST into stewardship workflows, expanding molecular testing for resistance genes, and leveraging automation and data tools for real-time surveillance. https://go.upcontent.com/181620ce-3c0d-4678-b720-c37dc9c51271

The United States Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing AST market is on a trajectory of steady expansion projected to grow from USD 1 3 billion in 2025 to USD 1 8 billion by 2035 achieving a compound annual growth rate CAGR of ...

25/12/2025

1) Antibiotic exposure during immune checkpoint blockade was linked to higher risk of immune-related skin toxicities—particularly with broad‑spectrum agents—underscoring the need for careful antibiotic stewardship in patients on immunotherapy.

2) In a retrospective cohort of 9,912 patients with solid tumors treated with immune checkpoint blockade at Memorial Sloan Kettering (2016–2021), 7.2% developed oncodermatologist‑confirmed immune‑related cutaneous adverse events (pruritus 51.1%, maculopapular rash 31.0%). Antibiotic use during immunotherapy—modeled as a time‑varying exposure—was associated with increased hazard of skin toxicity (HR 1.62, P < .001). Notably, agents considered to have lower potential for microbiome perturbation showed a larger association (HR 2.89) than those with medium/high potential (HR 1.48), and broad‑spectrum antibiotics carried increased risk (HR 1.91) while narrow‑spectrum agents did not (HR 0.68). Authors caution that causality cannot be inferred from observational data; limitations include potential underreporting of dermatologic events and residual confounding from preexisting conditions and concomitant medications. The study, published in JAMA Dermatology and led by Lukas Kraehenbuehl et al., supports judicious antibiotic use during ICB and highlights the urgent need for prospective work to clarify how the skin microbiome contributes to immune‑related cutaneous adverse events.

Exposure to antibiotics during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy may increase the risk for immune-related cutaneous adverse events.

24/12/2025

In the field of infectious diseases, rapid and precise diagnosis is important to ensure not only timely treatment, but effective surveillance as well. https://go.upcontent.com/baf4c972-0310-462f-b039-b75d9b1a5817

Global healthcare and biotechnology companies like Abbott, bioMérieux, Cepheid, and Roche have miniaturized these tests to make them suitable for POC use, be it in urgent care facilities, pharmacies, elderly care homes, or even mobile clinics designed to reach patients in remote areas.

23/12/2025

Editor’s note: Case reports link SARS‑CoV‑2 to new‑onset urinary urgency and cystitis‑like symptoms, frequently with negative bacterial cultures—important for IPC, diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship in acute and post‑COVID care.

In this Cureus case series, authors describe de novo urinary urgency and cystitis symptoms emerging after SARS‑CoV‑2 infection. Key observations: symptoms often mimic bacterial urinary tract infection but cultures may be negative, suggesting a non‑bacterial, likely inflammatory or neurogenic mechanism. Proposed explanations include viral tropism for urothelial tissue via ACE2 receptors, immune‑mediated inflammation, and dysregulation of bladder sensory pathways. For clinicians and infection control teams this raises practical concerns: avoid reflexive empirical antibiotics when bacteriology is unconfirmed, perform targeted urine testing and cultures, document temporal association with COVID‑19, and consider urology referral or symptomatic management when appropriate. The report highlights gaps—incidence, pathophysiology, and long‑term bladder outcomes remain unclear—and calls for vigilance in post‑COVID clinics and stewardship programs to prevent unnecessary antimicrobial exposure while ensuring patient comfort and safety. https://go.upcontent.com/8cdd2254-2ea6-4ecd-937e-d9f311fc0831

COVID-19 is widely recognized as a systemic disease with pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neurologic manifestations, yet growing evidence highlights the genitourinary tract as another important site of involvement. A distinct clinical entity, COVID-associated-cystitis (CAC), has been described in whic...

17/12/2025

Recent findings by the CDC reinforce the effectiveness of COVID vaccines in children amid ongoing safety evaluations by the FDA.

The article discusses a new report from the CDC that highlights the robustness of COVID vaccine effectiveness among pediatric populations. This report arrives at a crucial moment as the FDA deliberates on implementing a black box warning regarding potential adverse effects of the vaccines. Such a warning, if enacted, would signify the agency's acknowledgment of serious safety concerns associated with COVID vaccines, thereby heightening public scrutiny and potential hesitancy. The juxtaposition of the CDC's supportive data and the FDA's rigorous safety probe illustrates the complexities healthcare authorities face in managing public health amidst evolving concerns.

For further insights and details on this critical subject, please visit www.onehealthupdate.com. https://go.upcontent.com/c134620b-fdd8-451d-8851-604717409c58

16/12/2025

Recent research has identified two cytokines, CXCL10 and IFN-gamma, as key contributors to myocarditis, particularly post-mRNA vaccination. These proteins significantly impact immune responses and cardiac health.

In the study, macrophages exposed to mRNA vaccines produced high levels of CXCL10, which in turn prompted T cells to generate IFN-gamma. Experiments on mice revealed that these cytokines cause heart damage, correlating with increased markers of cardiac stress and inflammation in heart tissues. Blockade of CXCL10 and IFN-gamma showed promise in preserving immune function while reducing heart injury. Additionally, a soybean-derived compound, genistein, demonstrated protective effects against such cytokine-induced damage in both cell and animal models.

This highlights potential systemic inflammatory responses from mRNA vaccines, suggesting that similar risks may be observed with other vaccines. Further research could explore genistein's effectiveness against broader organ impacts resulting from inflammatory cytokine signaling related to vaccinations.

For further insights into this important study and its implications on myocarditis and vaccine safety, visit www.onehealthupdate.com. https://go.upcontent.com/dd6a3177-1ed1-4508-9772-e5aedc27d548