This year’s most-read articles on infectious disease explored topics like vitamin D deficiency, COVID-19 masking, and Clostridioides difficile infection.
The top 5 most-read infectious disease articles on AJMC.com this year explored recent findings on disease states like Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), Candida auris, and COVID-19.
Here are the 5 most-read infectious disease pieces of 2023.
Infectious disease
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5. Cesarean Delivery More Common When CDI Is Present, Study Finds
Pregnant individuals have traditionally been considered at low risk of contracting CDI, but this article published in May summarized study findings that pregnant patients with CDI are at a significantly increased risk of delivering via cesarean section. The researchers compared women who contracted CDI to a control group to better understand the infection’s impact; they found that 26.5% of pregnancies in the CDI group resulted in cesarean section deliveries compared with 10.2% in the control group.
4. Health Care Systems Unlikely to Stop Masking Despite New Guidelines
Although the CDC altered its guidance on the control and prevention of COVID-19, this article published in April shared study findings that showed most health systems planned to continue masking. The study surveyed 34 respondents who represented health systems across the United States about the new guidelines. Of the respondents, 33 (97.1%) reported their facility was not planning to halt universal masking, mainly to prevent non-COVID-19 seasonal respiratory viruses (90.9%) and because of the effect masking had on employee staffing capacity (72.7%).
3. C difficile, COVID-19 Coinfection Risk Greatest in Older Women
This article originally published on Contagion Live in September summarized the findings of a retrospective analysis that examined outcomes in patients with COVID-19 and CDI coinfection using the National Inpatient Sample database. Of the 1,045,125 COVID-19 hospitalizations identified, 4920 had a CDI coinfection. Older White female patients were more likely to be coinfected, and those coinfected had nearly double the length of hospital stays. Also, patients with coinfection had higher total hospital costs and saw higher inpatient mortality (21.6% vs 11%; P < .001).
2. Dangerous Drug-Resistant Yeast Infection Rising Across the US, CDC Says
The CDC released a report in March about how Candida auris, a highly contagious fungal infection with a high mortality rate, is rising nationwide and becoming more resistant to therapy, which this article summarized. The report examined clinical cases where individuals became sick, colonization screening, and data from the CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network. It found that cases of the dangerous yeast infection rose drastically between 2019 and 2021 by multiple measures; the percentage increase in clinical cases grew each year, with a 44% increase in 2019 and a 95% increase in 2021.
1. Vitamin D Deficiency Linked With CDI Recurrence, Study Finds
This article published in August shared results from a study suggesting that patients with vitamin D deficiency (VDD) who become infected with CDI have a higher risk of recurrence. The researchers gave several reasons for the link between VDD and higher rates of recurrence, including that vitamin D promotes the structural integrity of the intestinal lining and helps to protect the gut microbiome; therefore, those with a lack of vitamin D are more vulnerable to recurrence. For patients with VDD to reduce their reinfection risk, they suggested using vitamin D supplements during initial CDI cases.
Overdiagnosis of Adult ADHD Is Exacerbating the Stimulant Shortage
March 11th 2025The authors argue that the stimulant shortage is being perpetuated by the overdiagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults because executive functioning deficits are not included in diagnostic criteria.
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Politics vs Science: The Future of US Public Health
February 4th 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, on the public health implications of the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization and the role of public health leaders in advocating for science and health.
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Reviving the Classics: The Role of Older Medications in Modern Dermatology
March 9th 2025Older, generic medications, including ones for cyclosporine, nicotinamide, and dapsone, can effectively treat patients with various dermatological conditions while helping to reduce insurance and cost barriers.
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Bird Flu Risks, Myths, and Prevention Strategies: A Conversation With the NFID's Dr Robert Hopkins
January 21st 2025Joining us for this episode of Managed Care Cast is Robert H. Hopkins Jr, MD, medical director at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), who will help separate fact from fiction about avian influenza and discuss what needs to be done to prevent a future escalation.
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Ruxolitinib Cream Shows Long-Term Safety in AD, Potential for PN Treatment
March 8th 2025Two posters presented at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting reaffirmed the impact of ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura; Incyte) in atopic dermatitis (AD), while late-breaking research highlighted its potential efficacy in prurigo nodularis (PN).
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