New Monoclonal Authorized to Prevent COVID in Immunocompromised People
The FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for pemivibart (Pemgarda) as COVID-19 pre-exposure prophylaxis in immunocompromised individuals who are unlikely to mount a sufficient immune response following vaccination, the agency announced on Friday. A long-acting monoclonal antibody, pemivibart is specifically authorized for people ages 12 years and older (and weighing 40 kg or more) […]
Study Tests Office-Based Transperineal Approach to Prostate Biopsies
A multicenter randomized trial compared transperineal prostate biopsy without antibiotic prophylaxis versus transrectal biopsy with targeted prophylaxis, examining infections, prostate cancer detection, pain, and other measures. The findings were presented at the recent Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. In this exclusive MedPage Today video, investigator Jim C. Hu, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York […]
Study: Let’s Revisit Extended Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Joint Replacement
SAN FRANCISCO — Routinely giving antibiotic prophylaxis for 10 days in arthroplasty patients apparently did nothing beyond what was achieved with shorter protocols to prevent prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) at one major medical center. PJI rates at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville were no lower after a policy was implemented in 2020 to provide […]
Use These Antibiotics for Close Contacts of Invasive Meningococcal Disease, CDC Says
Rifampin, ceftriaxone, or azithromycin are recommended as first-line alternatives to ciprofloxacin prophylaxis for close contacts of people with meningococcal disease in areas where the disease is highly resistant to ciprofloxacin, according to new guidance from the CDC. Health departments should consider using other antibiotics for prophylaxis when, over the course of the past 12 months, […]
Co-Pays Hurt PrEP Use, Study Suggests
Higher out-of-pocket costs for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were projected to lead to more people discontinuing PrEP altogether in a new analysis, raising concerns about a possible rise in HIV infections. Risk-adjusted abandonment rates climbed from 5.5% among patients with no cost sharing to a projected 42.6% for patients with $500 out-of-pocket costs in a […]
Apixaban Prophylaxis Fails to Reduce Clots in Pediatric ALL
Prophylaxis with apixaban (Eliquis) failed to reduce the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma, according to results from the phase III randomized PREVAPIX-ALL study. During a median follow-up of 27 days, 12% of patients receiving the direct oral anticoagulant had a composite VTE compared with 18% […]
Emicizumab Can Delay Immunosuppressive Tx in Acquired Hemophilia A
Early emicizumab (Hemlibra) prophylaxis alone prevented clinically relevant bleeds in patients with newly diagnosed acquired hemophilia A, while avoiding the infectious complications of immunosuppressive therapy in this vulnerable population, a phase II study showed. Over 12 weeks of therapy, a high-dose regimen of the factor VIIIa mimetic antibody yielded a low mean breakthrough bleeding rate […]
CDC Proposes ‘Morning After’ Pill to Prevent STIs
The CDC has moved to recommend doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for gay and bisexual men and transgender women to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). With a growing body of evidence showing the antibiotic’s effectiveness for the indication, the agency developed the proposed guideline and posted it to Regulations.gov on Monday, with a 45-day comment period. […]
One PrEP Regimen Linked to Higher Risk of Hypertension, Statin Use Over Another
Use of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) was associated with an increased risk of hypertension and the initiation of statin use within 2 years compared with the use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF; Viread), especially for people over age 40, a retrospective cohort study found. In a cohort of patients without […]
Long-Acting Injection Preferred Over Daily Pills for PrEP
BRISBANE, Australia – When given a choice for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent infection with HIV, women preferred injectable cabotegravir (Apretude) every 2 months rather than an oral pill daily, researchers reported here. About 78% of women enrolled in the landmark HPTN 084 trial said they preferred the injection over taking the pills, said Mina […]