Prophylaxis News and Research

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Researchers develop nasal antiviral platform using AI technology to block flu and COVID-19

Respiratory viruses that have diverse strains and mutate rapidly, such as influenza and COVID-19, are difficult to block perfectly with vaccines alone.

15 Dec 2025

Expanded donor matching makes stem cell transplants accessible

For years, the search for a stem cell donor has felt like a quest for a rare key-one that fits a lock with eight intricate tumblers, each representing a genetic marker.

10 Dec 2025

Study explains why mpox cases can appear weeks after exposure

Mpox virus clade Ib shows a longer and more variable incubation period than previously characterized clades, with symptom onset extending well beyond 21 days in a substantial minority of cases. Incubation varies by transmission route, with shorter intervals after sexual exposure and longer periods following nonsexual community transmission, raising implications for surveillance and postexposure guidance.

9 Dec 2025

WHO urges action to end the AIDS epidemic

On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on governments and partners to rapidly expand access to new WHO-approved tools including lenacapavir (LEN) to drive down infections and counter disruption to essential health services caused by cuts to foreign aid.

2 Dec 2025

Updated Canadian guideline aims to raise awareness of new HIV prevention strategies

Multiple pre-exposure (PrEP) and postexposure (PEP) treatments are now available to prevent HIV infection. An updated Canadian guideline published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.250511 contains 31 recommendations and 10 good practice statements to help clinicians and other health care professionals offer these safe and effective options to teen and adult patients.

1 Dec 2025

Simple hospital program reduces severe maternal infections by 32%

The APT-Sepsis program significantly reduced infection-related outcomes in maternal care, demonstrating the impact of coordinated interventions in hospitals.

24 Nov 2025

Young donor age proves critical for survival after stem cell transplantation

The selection of suitable donors is crucial for the long-term recovery of patients after an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

21 Nov 2025

Medicaid expansion boosts PrEP access for people at risk of HIV diagnosis

Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) significantly increased the number of people at risk of HIV diagnosis who were prescribed preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a preventative medication taken in pill or injectable form, according to Rutgers Health–led research.

17 Nov 2025

WHO and EU join forces to advance digital health in sub-Saharan Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) announced today a new agreement to support the digital transformation of health systems and wider adoption of WHO's Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) in sub-Saharan Africa.

15 Oct 2025

Tanzania turns to mass dog vaccination and smarter surveillance against rabies spread

Salama Issa watched in helpless shock as her seven-year-old son was set upon by a stray dog in Mmongo village, in the Lindi region of Tanzania.

7 Oct 2025

Azelastine nasal spray prevents COVID-19 and rhinovirus infections

Researchers discuss the effects of azelastine nasal spray on the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection as compared to placebo.

6 Oct 2025

Mucins show promise in preventing Salmonella infections

Mucus is more than just a sticky substance: It contains a wealth of powerful molecules called mucins that help to tame microbes and prevent infection.

25 Sep 2025

Gladstone researchers expand mission to tackle emerging infectious threats

From influenza and COVID-19 to HIV, viruses continue to pose a serious danger to global health.

25 Sep 2025

Philippines unveils new technologies to detect and manage African Swine Fever

Three new technologies to detect and manage African Swine Fever have been unveiled in the Philippines amid ongoing concerns about a vaccine imported from Vietnam.

15 Sep 2025

UCLA team develops engineered antibodies to fight cytomegalovirus infection

A UCLA research team has found a new way to prompt the immune system to kill cells infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a life-threatening infection that is particularly deadly in immunocompromised people.

13 Sep 2025

Can an allergy spray help prevent COVID-19?

Researchers determine the efficacy and safety of azelastine nasal spray for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthy adults.

8 Sep 2025

Frailty and microbial imbalance drive GI complications in bladder cancer surgery

Gastrointestinal (GI) complications, such as postoperative ileus (POI) and intra-abdominal infections (IAI), remain a major concern after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

8 Sep 2025

Daily probiotic reduces pouchitis risk after colon removal surgery but may not be cost-effective

A new UCLA Health study found that taking an 8-strain probiotic daily may reduce the risk of pouchitis, a common inflammatory condition that occurs after colon removal surgery for ulcerative colitis, but the treatment may not be worth the cost depending on a patient's likelihood of flare-ups.

3 Sep 2025

New guidelines improve care for respiratory infections in leukemia patients

People with leukemia have a weakened immune system due to the disease itself and treatment, which leads to an increased susceptibility to infections.

28 Aug 2025

New oral antiretroviral shows potential as long-acting HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

A new HIV antiretroviral shows promise as a long-acting, oral prophylactic agent, according to a new study by Izzat Raheem, Tracy Diamond and colleagues from Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, published August 26th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.

26 Aug 2025