Study shows wastewater detections accurate for norovirus
A recent study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases reveals that norovirus can be effectively monitored through wastewater samples. This method can assist in detecting outbreaks and trends related to the virus, as demonstrated by wastewater surveillance conducted in California.
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Norovirus is a major contributor to stomach infections in the United States, but tracking its spread is difficult, as many instances go unreported, according to the authors. Since monitoring wastewater has been shown to be effective and reliable for detecting various viruses, including COVID-19, the researchers evaluated its potential for identifying norovirus as well.
The researchers gathered wastewater information from December 17, 2022, to December 17, 2023, from 76 wastewater treatment facilities in California as part of the WastewaterSCAN initiative.
The researchers analyzed wastewater samples to detect norovirus viral RNA and then compared their results with the positivity rates for norovirus tests reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) at both the national level and within the western United States.
Southern California Activity Hit Peaks In February
The information was then compared with confirmed GII norovirus outbreaks from the California Norovirus Laboratory Network (NLN), which releases updates on these cases each month.
We noted a positive outcome that was statistically significant (p 0.05).
The writers noted that they noticed specific regional trends in norovirus outbreaks across the state. They found that the activity reached its highest point on February 22, 2023, in Southern California, while a peak occurred later on March 24, 2023, in the San Joaquin Valley.
Since there is no other local data on norovirus surveillance in California, researchers have turned to wastewater data as a primary and timely source of information to aid in the investigation of outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses.
"Since there are no other local surveillance data for norovirus in California, researchers have turned to wastewater data as an important local indicator for tracking gastrointestinal illness outbreaks. This information has allowed local health departments (LHDs) to adjust their response strategies during outbreaks of gastroenteritis, depending on the severity of the situation. These investigations and control measures can be very demanding in terms of time and resources, impacting LHDs, the public, and the businesses involved."
Post-COVID Carbapenem Resistance High In Brazil
Rates of carbapenem resistance among severely ill patients in Brazilian hospitals increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and have stayed elevated compared to levels before the pandemic, according to a report released last week in the American Journal of Infection Control.
In this research, scientists conducted a retrospective analysis of data regarding critically ill adults on mechanical ventilation who were admitted to eight hospitals in Brazil between January 1, 2018, and April 30, 2023. They divided the patients into three timeframes: pre-surge (from January 1, 2018, to March 1, 2020), surge (from March 1, 2020, to October 1, 2021), and post-surge (after October 1, 2021). The primary focus was on the number of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria found in each of these periods.
Brazil experienced one of the most severe impacts of COVID-19 globally, and there have been significant reports of increased use of carbapenem antibiotics in hospitals across the country during the initial phase of the pandemic.
Worries Over Persistently High Resistance Rates
Out of the 9,780 patients analyzed in the research, 3,718 were during the pre-surge phase, 3,185 during the surge, and 2,247 in the post-surge phase. The characteristics and outcomes of patients in the pre-surge and post-surge phases were quite similar. However, those in the surge phase tended to be younger, with a median age of 70 compared to 74 in the pre-surge group and 75 in the post-surge group. Additionally, a higher percentage of the surge patients were male (57%) compared to the pre-surge (48%) and post-surge (51%) groups, and they also experienced longer durations of mechanical ventilation, averaging 7 days compared to 5 days for both the pre- and post-surge patients.
The occurrence of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria rose during the surge, with a rate ratio of 1.8 (95% confidence interval of 1.5 to 2.2) compared to the period before the surge. After the surge, this prevalence dropped to a rate ratio of 0.72 (95% CI of 0.6 to 0.9), but it was still above pre-surge levels, showing a rate ratio of 1.3 (95% CI of 1.0 to 1.6). The resistance rates for Pseudomonas aeruginosa decreased from 32% to 23% from the pre-surge to the post-surge phase. In contrast, resistance rates for Klebsiella pneumoniae increased dramatically during the surge, jumping from 26% to 52%, and settled at 42%, which is still higher than the pre-surge figures.
In a world shaped by COVID-19, where new infectious diseases are appearing and existing ones continue to pose problems, the need to maintain the effectiveness of antimicrobials is crucial, according to the authors of the study. They emphasized the importance of working together to keep antimicrobial resistance rates from staying high permanently and to prevent future failures in managing antimicrobial use.
Italy To Fund CARB-X Initiative
The Italian government has pledged $21 million over three years to aid the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X).
At a recent meeting of G7 Finance and Health Ministers, Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci revealed a new commitment aimed at boosting CARB-X’s initiatives in the early development of innovative antimicrobials, vaccines, and diagnostic tools to combat drug-resistant pathogens. With this announcement, Italy becomes the sixth nation to contribute funding to CARB-X, which has backed 104 research and development projects across 13 countries since its establishment in 2016.
Kevin Outterson, JD, the Executive Director of CARB-X, stated in a CARB-X press release, "Italy's contribution significantly enhances the backing we get from our worldwide group of financial supporters, which includes other G7 countries and prominent global health organizations. This united initiative highlights how vital international cooperation is in the battle against antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Together, we are fostering innovation and making sure that the most promising research is developed into life-saving therapies for patients around the globe."
Italy, which is currently in charge of the G7's yearly presidency, has prioritized antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a key issue in the recent G7 ministerial gatherings.
Avian Flu Biomarker Found In Texas Wastewater Early
According to research shared at IDWeek, a study used wastewater monitoring with an H5N1 avian flu test to look back at unusually high cases of influenza A in Texas in early 2024. This method successfully identified the virus two weeks prior to any reported cases and a month before it was formally confirmed. This early detection could have helped to expedite the public health response.
The WastewaterSCAN team at Stanford University has created and implemented a tool that detects a specific biomarker for bird flu in plants throughout the United States. This initiative monitors the presence of 11 viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in 190 municipal wastewater systems, doing checks three times a week to aid public health efforts at local, regional, and national levels.
Essential Tool For Public Health
The investigation found the H5N1 biomarker at three treatment facilities in Texas. Two of these locations confirmed that animal protein had already been shipped out from places like dairy farms. Following this, the researchers analyzed the findings alongside clinical information about flu-related medical visits.
