Patterns and predictors of COVID-19 vaccination among young adults at 44 US sites: Secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled, open-label trial, March - December 2021.

Background: The introduction of vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to slow transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but initial uptake of COVID-19 vaccination was slow. We analyzed data from a randomized clinical trial of the mRNA-1273 vaccine (NCT04811664) to describe the patterns of uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among young adults.

Methods: The CoVPN 3006 trial randomized adults ages 18-29 from 44 sites in the United States to receive 1) immediate mRNA-1273 vaccination from the study site, or 2) standard of care, including the option to seek vaccination at any time in the future.

Prioritizing Equity in Antimicrobial Stewardship Efforts (EASE): a framework for infectious diseases clinicians.

Health equity gaps persist across minoritized groups due to systems of oppression affecting health-related social needs such as access to transportation, education and literacy, or food and housing security. Consequently, disparities in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant infections, infectious disease outcomes, and inappropriate antimicrobial use have been reported across minoritized populations. The Joint Commission and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have formally acknowledged the importance of integrating health equity-focused initiatives into existing hospital quality improvement (QI) programs.

Which Topics Drive Dissemination? Alternative Bibliometrics Analysis of the Highest-Ranking Articles in 3 Infectious Diseases Journals Before COVID-19.

Dissemination of research is paramount to improving patient care. Historically, dissemination is reported in conventional bibliometrics. However, with the increased utilization of digital platforms for communication, alternative bibliometrics describe more real-time dissemination of information.

Demographic representation among speakers at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) spring conferences.

Background: The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) is a leading medical society for infection prevention and antibiotic stewardship. This descriptive study evaluated speaker demographics at the annual SHEA Spring conferences from 2019 to 2022.

Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive analysis of the demographic composition of speakers at the annual SHEA Spring conferences between 2019 and 2022, excluding the cancelled 2020 conference.

Health Equity and Antibiotic Prescribing in the United States: A Systematic Scoping Review.

We performed a scoping review of articles published from 1 January 2000 to 4 January 2022 to characterize inequities in antibiotic prescribing and use across healthcare settings in the United States to inform antibiotic stewardship interventions and research. We included 34 observational studies, 21 cross-sectional survey studies, 4 intervention studies, and 2 systematic reviews. Most studies (55 of 61 [90%]) described the outpatient setting, 3 articles were from dentistry, 2 were from long-term care, and 1 was from acute care.

Implementation of a Rapid Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Pneumonia Panel and Subsequent Antibiotic De-escalation.

Background: Net effects of implementation of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) pneumonia panel (PNP) on antimicrobial stewardship are thus far unknown. This retrospective study evaluated the real-world impact of the PNP on time to antibiotic de-escalation in critically ill patients treated for pneumonia at an academic medical center.

Methods: This retrospective, quasi-experimental study included adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with respiratory culture results from 1 May to 15 August 2019 (pre-PNP group) and adult ICU patients with PNP results from 1 May to 15 August 2020 (PNP group) at Nebraska Medical Center.

Inclusion, diversity, access, and equity in antimicrobial stewardship: where we are and where we are headed.

Purpose Of Review: This review summarizes existing data on health inequities in antimicrobial stewardship, identifies data gaps and barriers, and reflects on mitigating factors for achieving inclusion, diversity, access, and equity in antimicrobial stewardship.

Recent Findings: Studies show variable antimicrobial prescribing patterns and adverse events according to race/ethnicity, rurality, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Most studies demonstrating these inequities typically do not address their upstream drivers or interventions to mitigate them.

Barriers to Disclosure of Disability and Request for Accommodations Among First-Year Resident Physicians in the US.

Importance: Ensuring access to accommodations is critical for resident physicians and their patients. Studies show that a large proportion of medical trainees with disabilities do not request needed accommodations; however, drivers of nonrequests are unknown.

Objective: To assess the frequency of accommodation requests among first-year resident physicians (ie, interns) with disabilities and to identify possible drivers of nonrequest for needed accommodations.

Impact of specialty on the self-reported practice of using oral antibiotic therapy for definitive treatment of bloodstream infections.

Background: No established guidelines exist regarding the role of oral antibiotic therapy (OAT) to treat bloodstream infections (BSIs), and practices may vary depending on clinician specialty and experience.

Objective: To assess practice patterns regarding oral antibiotic use for treatment of bacteremia in infectious diseases clinicians (IDCs, including physicians and pharmacists and trainees in these groups) and non-infectious diseases clinicians (NIDCs).

Design: Open-access survey.

Adoption and Utilization of Social Media Among Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Divisions and Fellowship Programs in the United States.

Background: Social media (SoMe) is ubiquitous, but its adoption and utilization by infectious diseases (ID) divisions are poorly characterized in the United States.

Methods: A systematic search of US ID fellowship/division Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts occurred in November-December 2021. Social media account and program characteristics, post frequency and content, and other measures of SoMe adoption and utilization were recorded and compared between adult and pediatric programs.

Call to Action: Prioritizing the Use of Inclusive, Nonstigmatizing Language in Scientific Communications.

The language we use in our scientific communications can either empower or stigmatize the people we study and care for. Clinical Infectious Diseases is committed to prioritizing the use of inclusive, nonstigmatizing language in published manuscripts. We hereby call upon submitting authors, reviewers, and editors to do the same.

Wondering If I'd Get There Quicker If I Was a Man: Factors Contributing to Delayed Academic Advancement of Women in Infectious Diseases.

Background: Gender inequities in academic advancement persist in many specialties, including Infectious Diseases (ID). Prior studies of advancement disparities have been predominantly quantitative, utilizing large physician databases or surveys. We used qualitative methods to explore ID physicians' experiences and beliefs about causes and ways to mitigate gender inequities in advancement.

Interventions Associated With Racial and Ethnic Diversity in US Graduate Medical Education: A Scoping Review.

Importance: Racially and ethnically minoritized individuals remain underrepresented in graduate medical education relative to their proportion in the population. While many programs and initiatives have been developed to address this problem, there is little consensus regarding strategies that work to improve representation across specialties.

Objective: To examine and synthesize evidence-based practices that have been used to increase the proportions of underrepresented in medicine (URiM) trainees at US residency and fellowship programs.

Slowed progression: The utility of Test to Treat initiatives in improving the neglected inequities of COVID-19 among racially/ethnically minoritized groups.

In the United States, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in more than 95 million infections and 1 million deaths (as of September 2022), with individuals of racially/ethnically minoritized groups being disproportionately represented among these numbers. Despite the apparent pandemic fatigue in many communities, systemic and structural racism continue to place racially/ethnically minoritized groups at a disadvantage for overcoming the virus, especially as it relates to receiving vaccinations and COVID-19 targeted therapeutics. Test to Treat programs have the potential to mitigate these disparities by rapidly identifying the presence of a COVID-19 infection and readily offering treatment options.

Demographic Representation Among Speakers and Program Committee Members at the IDWeek Conference, 2013-2021.

Background: In 2016, the IDWeek program committee was charged with ensuring gender equity in speaker sessions. Whether this charge also resulted in more opportunities for historically underrepresented speakers is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of trends in the demographic composition of IDWeek speakers and program committee members between 2013 and 2021.

#Curbsiding: Potential Value and Patient Confidentiality Implications of Infectious Disease Clinician Peer Consultations via Social Media.

Background: Infectious Disease (ID) clinician's social media use for peer consultation is unstudied.

Methods: We reviewed ID peer consultation via Twitter over a 6-week period.

Results: We found this practice frequently solicited meaningful replies, but we identified potential for confidentiality breaches.

Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Respiratory Illnesses in Persons With HIV Compared With Persons Without HIV.

Background: Antibiotic overuse increases health care cost and promotes antimicrobial resistance. People with HIV (PWH) who develop acute respiratory infections (ARIs) may be assumed to be "higher risk," compared with non-PWH, but comparative antibiotic use evaluations have not been performed.

Methods: This observational, single-center study compared antibiotic prescribing in independent clinical encounters for PWH and non-PWH diagnosed with ARI in outpatient clinical practices using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes between January 1, 2014, and April 30, 2018.

The Value of a Longitudinal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Track for Medical Students: 10-Year Program Evaluation.

We surveyed graduates of a longitudinal medical school human immunodeficiency virus curriculum to evaluate its impact. Respondents felt comfortable caring for people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) and found value from the curriculum regardless of ultimate career path. Programs like this contribute to the development of culturally sensitive clinicians comfortable caring for PWH.

Lower Respiratory Tract Coinfection in the ICU: Prevalence and Clinical Significance of Coinfection Detected via Microbiological Analysis of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid With a Comparison of Invasive Methodologies.

Unlabelled: Pneumonia remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, with increasing interest in the detection and clinical significance of coinfection. Further investigation into the impact of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) sampling methodology and efficient clinical utilization of microbiological analyses is needed to guide the management of lower respiratory tract infection in the ICU.

Design: Retrospective observational study.

COVID-19 Pathogenesis and Clinical Manifestations.

In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the virology, the host-pathogen interactions and pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 in humans. We also describe the various clinical presentations of the disease including respiratory system and extrapulmonary manifestations.