https://medicalxpress.com/infectious-diseases-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Infectious diseases Acute sinusitis leads to more antibiotic prescriptions for U.S. adults than any other condition, but there is no consensus on which antibiotic is preferred for uncomplicated cases. In a retrospective, nationwide study of more than 500,000 patients with acute sinusitis, a research team led by Mass General Brigham investigators found no major differences in measured outcomes between adults who received standard amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate (a more powerful, combination antibiotic). Patients treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate were at slightly higher risk of contracting secondary infections. Results are published in JAMA. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-standard-dose-antibiotic-choice-treatment.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 07:30:01 EDT news695634731 Measles remains one of the most contagious infectious diseases, spread through coughing and sneezing, with even small declines in vaccination coverage leading to outbreaks. As of 2026, California has reported its highest annual measles case count in seven years. In response to this growing concern, researchers have begun examining gaps in measles-related knowledge and vaccination coverage. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-emergency-room-survey-uncovers-measles.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:40:42 EDT news695713179 Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause severe respiratory illness in infants and young children, including lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It is a leading cause of infant hospitalization worldwide, with early-life infection linked to potential longer-term effects including recurrent wheeze or asthma, repeat hospital admissions and impaired lung health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-maternal-rsv-vaccination-infant-hospitalization.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:04 EDT news695625391 Infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat and are responsible for over 2.8 million infections and more than 35,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. A new study in Nature Communications reports that a drug used to lower blood pressure could also be the basis of a promising new treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-blood-pressure-drug-effective-antibiotic.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 14:20:03 EDT news695650442 A new national cohort study provides important insights into the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The study shows that long-term disease-free survival rates are significantly higher than previous standard indicators suggest. The results, published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe, are based on the analysis of data from 1,299 adult patients treated between 2005 and 2021. The study was in collaboration with researchers from the clinical tuberculosis infrastructure (ClinTB) at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center (FZB). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-term-multidrug-resistant-tuberculosis.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:40:04 EDT news695575021 A study conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil reveals that tissues such as the tonsils and adenoids can serve as hiding places for the rhinovirus, which causes the common cold and is responsible for most respiratory infections worldwide. Using samples from 293 children who underwent surgery to remove these tissues, the study showed that the pathogen can infect immune cells known as lymphocytes and remain there for long periods without causing symptoms. This allows the virus to potentially be transmitted to others without warning. The findings are published in the Journal of Medical Virology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cold-virus-tonsils-adenoids-people.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:40:04 EDT news695569141 An innovative gene-editing strategy could establish a new way for the body to manufacture therapeutic proteins—including certain kinds of highly potent antibodies that are naturally difficult to produce—by reprogramming the immune system itself. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-immune-therapeutic-proteins.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:08 EDT news695550288 While it was previously thought that keratinocytes (skin cells) were only passive conductors that allow the rabies virus to pass through, novel research reveals that these cells play a much more active role. The findings of a new study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID), provide direct evidence that keratinocytes can support viral replication and transmit the rabies virus to neurons. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-skin-cells-rabies-invade-nerves.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:10:01 EDT news695477521 A significant number of Brazilians engage in improper food hygiene and handling practices at home. Examples include washing meat in the kitchen sink and failing to properly wash vegetables. These findings were revealed by a nationwide survey that examined food hygiene, handling, and storage habits in 5,000 households of various income levels across all regions of Brazil. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-poor-hygiene-food-bacterial-outbreaks.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 22:00:03 EDT news695486225 A research team led by the University of California, Irvine's Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health has uncovered a critical biological link explaining why individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, also known as fatty liver disease) face significantly worse outcomes from certain foodborne infections. The study published in Gut Microbes is the first to show how changes in the connection between the gut and liver can make foodborne infections more severe—an illness that is becoming a growing global health concern. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-gut-microbiome-key-driver-bacterial.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:40:07 EDT news695486702 Doctors recommend getting your flu shot annually, since the specific influenza strain it targets varies from year to year. But what if the shot could be more effective while protecting against more strains? Researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine are one step closer to making this happen. When the immune system sees a new strain of a familiar virus, it typically focuses on the parts it "remembers" most, even if those regions have changed. "Epitope-spanning antigenic variation reprograms immunodominance and broadens immunity in sequential influenza vaccination" was recently published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-flu-shot-epitope-widen.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:00:03 EDT news695491082 Syphilis has been rising sharply in the United States, with especially high rates in Southern states. Now, a new study from Tulane University researchers suggests the long-term infection may carry another risk that is often overlooked: serious damage to the heart and blood vessels. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-syphilis-cases-links-infection-higher.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:40:05 EDT news695481422 A study from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health reports a major advance in understanding how interactions between human and viral genomes shape disease risk. The research found that variations in the Epstein–Barr virus, together with a specific immune-related gene (HLA-A*11:01), strongly influence the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. The findings are published in Nature. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-genome-wide-analysis-reveals-hostvirus.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:05 EDT news695394841 An increasing number of fungi are becoming resistant to medication, posing serious risks for patients with weakened immune systems. That is why 50 researchers from around the world, led by Radboudumc, are calling for action against drug-resistant fungi. Their call has been published in Nature Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-drug-resistant-fungi-prompt-global.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:00:01 EDT news695379061 The average human has about 1.8 trillion immune cells. These cells patrol the body for bacteria, viruses, cancers, and other threats. Vaccines enhance this security system by teaching our immune cells to target specific pathogens. According to the World Health Organization, vaccine-induced immunity saves about six lives every minute. But how long does this protective immune "memory" last? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-closer-immune-memory-spur-lethal.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:00:04 EDT news695403061 Antibiotics are designed to kill harmful bacteria and help the body recover from infection. But some antibiotics may also push bacteria to release tiny particles that can make inflammation worse. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-antibiotics-trigger-bacteria-inflammation-tinder.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:04 EDT news695388182 Researchers at Boston University have discovered an unexpectedly high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (TB DNA) in patients hospitalized in Boston, suggesting that tuberculosis disease may be significantly underdiagnosed in the United States. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could reshape how clinicians approach tuberculosis (TB) detection and help accelerate progress toward elimination goals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ultrasensitive-reveals-evidence-previously-undetected.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:07 EDT news695293382 We're keeping an eye on new influenza and SARS-CoV-2 viral variants. Here's what we know about those viruses—and your immune system's ability to fight back. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-flu-covid-variants-immune-defenses.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:00:01 EDT news695313435 Vaccines play a critical role in preventing infectious diseases, but their success often depends on adjuvants—substances that enhance immune responses. While these compounds improve vaccine effectiveness, they can also trigger reactogenicity, such as local swelling or fever. For decades, scientists have assumed that these beneficial and adverse effects are closely linked, making it difficult to improve one without affecting the other. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-vaccine-side-effects-weakening.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:00:01 EDT news695318882 Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) is one of the most challenging viruses for doctors to treat. Even with effective antiretroviral therapy, immune cells infected with HIV can hide and lie inactive in certain areas of the body called latent reservoirs. If treatment is discontinued, these reservoirs may become active again, causing patients to face renewed challenges with symptoms of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-drug-effectiveness-dormant-hiv-immune.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:00:08 EDT news695315881 A Norwegian man has been effectively cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant from his brother, doctors announced on Monday. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-norway-oslo-patient-hiv-remission.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:00:04 EDT news695314193 Chronic hepatitis B is substantially prevalent across the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), affecting an estimated 0.7% of the population in the region in 2022, according to a new study published in Eurosurveillance. While this overall burden represents a decrease from the 2005 to 2015 estimate of 1%, infection rates vary significantly across countries, with the highest estimates found in countries in southern and eastern Europe, and the lowest in northern and western countries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-chronic-hepatitis-affect-million-eu.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:20:03 EDT news695305040 NTU Singapore is working with China's Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and Swedish biotechnology company Lipigon Pharmaceuticals AB to develop a new inhaled treatment aimed at helping patients recover faster from severe lung infections. The treatment is designed to reduce excessive inflammation in the lungs, which can continue even after viruses or bacteria have been cleared from the body. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-inhaled-rna-therapy-lung-inflammation.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:20:01 EDT news695309641 Scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, have discovered that specific proteins in urine can accurately predict the likelihood of dengue patients developing severe dengue. The findings could help doctors assess if a dengue patient can be sent home for recovery or if they require hospitalization for further treatment, prioritizing care for those who need it most as well as easing the burden on health care resources. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-urine-likelihood-severe-dengue-disease.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:06 EDT news695303761 Cats are not just beloved companions; they are emerging as key "research partners" in unraveling viral cancer mechanisms. A team led by Professor Julia Beatty, Chair Professor of Veterinary Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), recently published a review in the journal Nature Reviews Cancer. Titled "Cat viruses as windows into human oncogenesis," the article explores how feline tumor viruses offer vital insights into human oncology and viral carcinogenesis from a comparative oncology perspective. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cats-powerful-front-virus-cancer.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:01 EDT news695306756 Nearly 12,000 people in the U.K. who received a first dose of the MenB vaccine will now be offered a second shot starting next week, after a deadly meningitis outbreak linked to a university in Kent. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-meningitis-vaccine-doses-uk-outbreak.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:20:03 EDT news695296263 Researchers at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have found that stopping mass drug administration for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) was associated with an increase in infections from other parasitic worms, threatening disease control efforts. The study, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, suggests that once wider community treatment programs for LF ended, school-aged children were nearly twice as likely to be infected with the intestinal roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-community-wide-treatment-linked-resurgence.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:40:07 EDT news695301481 As the risk of measles remains an ongoing concern, herd immunity in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, is already slipping. According to data obtained via The Washington Post in January 2026, 1 in 3 Allegheny County kindergartners were in a classroom too far below adequate vaccination coverage to stop a measles outbreak during the 2023–24 school year. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-declining-vaccination-allegheny-county-kindergarten.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:20:01 EDT news695294282 An increasing number of U.S. states have passed laws that allow health care providers—including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists—to refuse to treat patients based on their personal or religious beliefs. While these conscientious objection laws have long existed for issues such as abortion, their effects on LGBTQ+ people have not been well studied. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-doctors-lgbtq-patients-states-religious.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:00:09 EDT news695294161 New findings reveal that obesity significantly impaired the quality and longevity of antibody responses to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine in a mouse model. The impaired antibody production was due to defects in germinal centers, a transient part of the immune system where specialized immune cells, called B cells, produce antibodies and build memory against pathogens. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-obesity-derail-vaccine-response-lung.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:00:01 EDT news695035117