The FDA has approved Vowst (Seres Therapeutics/Nestle HealthScience), an oral capsule containing live fecal microbiota spores, for prevention of additional recurrences of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in adults. Vowst is the first orally administered microbiota-based treatment to be approved for this indication. A rectally-administered live fecal microbiota-based suspension (Rebyota) was approved in 2022 for the same indication. Neither product is approved for acute treatment of CDI.

Since 2007, antimicrobial prophylaxis for dental procedures has been recommended to prevent viridans group streptococcal infective endocarditis only for patients at highest risk of an adverse outcome. Limiting use to such patients does not appear to have led to an increased incidence of infective endocarditis or increased mortality due to infective endocarditis.

More antibiotics are prescribed for treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) than for any other infection in young children. Children with AOM typically present with otalgia, fever, and bulging and erythema of the tympanic membrane.

The FDA has approved Xacduro (Innoviva), a combination of the beta-lactam antibacterial sulbactam and the beta-lactamase inhibitor durlobactam, for IV treatment of adults with hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by susceptible isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex (ABC).

Influenza is generally a self-limited illness, but pneumonia, respiratory failure, and death can occur, especially in persons at increased risk for influenza complications (see Table 1). Updated information on influenza activity and antiviral resistance is available from the CDC at cdc.gov/flu.

The FDA has approved a subcutaneous formulation of the recombinant human anti-CD20 antibody ofatumumab (Kesimpta – Novartis) for treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including clinically isolated syndrome (initial neurological episode), relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive MS (SPMS). Kesimpta is the second anti-CD20 antibody to be approved for these indications; IV ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), which is also approved for treatment of primary progressive MS, was the first. An IV formulation of ofatumumab (Arzerra) has...

The investigational monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab (REGEN-COV – Regeneron) have been available in the US under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) since late 2020 for use together to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in persons ≥12 years old who weigh ≥40 kg and are at high risk of progression to severe disease or hospitalization. The FDA has now expanded this EUA to allow use of the antibodies together for post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in such persons, if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or are unlikely to have an adequate immune response...

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends use of certain vaccines in adults residing in the US. Routine childhood immunization has reduced the overall incidence of some of these vaccine-preventable diseases, but many adults remain susceptible. Recommendations for vaccination against COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and monkeypox and vaccination of travelers have been reviewed separately.

View the Comparison Table: Some Drugs for Plaque Psoriasis

The FDA has approved deucravacitinib (Sotyktu – BMS), an oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, for once-daily treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. Deucravacitinib is the first selective TYK2 inhibitor to be approved in the US for any indication.