First-Trimester Antibiotic Use for Urinary Tract Infection and Risk of Congenital Malformations
The use of certain antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) during the first trimester of pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations. In this cohort study of first-trimester antibiotic exposure, the risk of any malformation, severe cardiac malformation, other cardiac malformation, and cleft lip and palate was higher for infants exposed to TMP-SMX vs β-lactam antibiotics. No elevated risk was observed for nitrofurantoin. Full Access: JAMA
Atzumi Nasal Powder Approved for Acute Treatment of Migraine
The FDA has approved Atzumiâ„¢, a nasal powder formulation of dihydroergotamine (DHE), for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. This marks the first and only DHE delivered via nasal powder, offering rapid absorption with significant pain relief seen within two hours, while maintaining a favorable safety profile compared to existing DHE sprays or injections. Full Access: EMPR
Rare Pneumonic Plague Fatality Reported in Arizona
Health authorities in Coconino County, Arizona, have confirmed the region’s first fatal case of pneumonic plague since 2007. With just 7 cases annually on average, plague remains rare in the US and poses minimal public risk. Yersinia pestis is endemic in parts of the southwestern US and is maintained in enzootic cycles involving rodents and fleas. Human infection most commonly results from flea bites or contact with infected animals. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare, with the last such case recorded in 1924. Full Access: Coconino Health CountyÂ
ECDC Warns: Warmer Seas, Greater Vibrio Danger
With summer temperatures rising and sea surface conditions shifting, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning about the growing seasonal risk of infections caused by Vibrio bacteria in European coastal waters. As climate change contributes to higher sea temperatures and reduced salinity, the ECDC anticipates a broader geographic spread of these bacteria. Several Vibrio species can cause serious disease, including foodborne illness from consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, and wound infections that may progress to necrotizing fasciitis, sepsis, or limb amputation. Full Access: ECDC