T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 11/10/2026“They contract hepatitis B in the context of being part of a research project,” Hansen said, which made their infection happen, in effect, “by design”. 010
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 11/10/2026“'You are now enrolling newborns in a lottery to test a hypothesis,'... The children who are randomly selected not to receive the birth dose of the vaccine, those who “lost the lottery”, face in their earliest days the risk of contracting hepatitis B, which can cause irreversible lifelong damage."theguardian.comControversial vaccine trial touted by RFK Jr gets go-ahead in Guinea-BissauRecommended dose of hepatitis B vaccine will be withheld from thousands of newborns by Danish researchers 112
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 08/10/2026What's preventing physicians (or anyone) from abusing this system to make extra cash? More importantly, how reliable will the data be? #vaccinationcidrap.umn.eduHHS launches new major vaccine injury intuitive 020
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Healthcare affordability and healthcare access are not the same. Unfortunately, Montana has issues with both. #montana #ruralhealthmontanafreepress.orgHow Montana’s candidates for U.S. House and Senate plan to tackle healthcareA majority of Montana voters say healthcare will help decide their vote this November, so we asked the candidates what they’d do about it. 094
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Most people don't go to the CDC website for help with their "personal decisions." They go there to find out what they should do. I also have grave concerns that the HHS administration is using the CDC to deliver politically motivated and often non-science-based messages. #publichealthwsj.comNew CDC Director Is Eager to Change Its CultureThe country’s leading public-health organization needs less “paternalism” and more communication with Americans, Erica Schwartz says. 030
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 07/10/2026I don't think this is the news most Montanans want to hear. #montana #vaccination #hib 010
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Furthermore, antibiotics are commonly thought of as drugs that offer comfort for hospice patients. Clinicians often disregard the consequences of antibiotic therapy for these patients. 010
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 18/09/2026I recently heard from a geriatrician that all the urinary pathogens at a long-term care facility he covers are resistant to nitrofurantoin. Having worked at one, it doesn't surprise me since nurses and families often request antibiotics for assumed UTIs. #AMSSky kffhealthnews.org/aging/3-comm...kffhealthnews.org3 Common Drugs Older Adults Might Be Overusing - KFF Health NewsNot all older people need benzodiazepines, antibiotics, or daily aspirin — and taking them can carry increased risks. 110
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 17/09/2026When will medical schools and residency programs stop teaching trainees that not all hospitalized DFI cases require anti-MRSA and anti-pseudomonal coverage? #AMSSkycambridge.orgFive-year trends in antibiotic use and microbiology of hospitalized diabetic foot infections in the Bronx | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology | Cambridge CoreFive-year trends in antibiotic use and microbiology of hospitalized diabetic foot infections in the Bronx - Volume 6 Issue 1 150
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAIDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Raw milk can carry serious health risks, despite common claims about its benefits and safety. 1187
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 12/09/2026I've experienced the same challenges outlined in this study at my institution. The hardest factor to overcome is the emotions driving the need to order urine testing, such as a clinician's fear of missing a diagnosis or facing potential legal consequences. #AMSSkycambridge.orgRetrospective, multicenter evaluation of stricter reflex urine culture criteria and workflow changes in emergency departments across six hospitals and three off-campus sites | Antimicrobial Stewardshi...Retrospective, multicenter evaluation of stricter reflex urine culture criteria and workflow changes in emergency departments across six hospitals and three off-campus sites - Volume 6 Issue 1 010
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 12/09/2026This study should help dispel a common myth that all immunocompromised patients with CAP need empiric broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy over standard therapy because these patients have higher risk of infection with MRSA and Pseudomonas. #AMSSkycambridge.orgRisk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa community-acquired pneumonia at a high-volume transplant center | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epi...Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa community-acquired pneumonia at a high-volume transplant center - Volume 6 Issue 1 054
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 09/09/2026I doubt toilets will go away because of this, but I think this should prompt engineers to design better, more efficient toilets, at least for healthcare settings. #IPSkysciencedirect.comAerosol and bioaerosol generation from toilet flushing: A systematic review and risk factor analysisToilet flushing is a daily activity that can generate bioaerosols in indoor spaces. This exposure pathway is increasingly important in the context of … 020
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 09/09/2026A good guide for stewards who are proposing a business case for a diagnostic stewardship project to their C-suite. #AMSSkycambridge.orgA business case for diagnostic stewardship: a practical guide from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Diagnostic Stewardship Special Interest Group | Antimicrobial Stewardship &...A business case for diagnostic stewardship: a practical guide from the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) Diagnostic Stewardship Special Interest Group - Volume 6 Issue 1 031
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 09/09/2026A significant proportion of unvaccinated people are willing to get vaccinated. The most common reason for not getting vaccinated is a lack of opportunity (i.e., a convenient time, place, and appointment). The second most common reason is that clinicians do not offer vaccination. #vaccinationcidrap.umn.eduPeople who say they’ll get vaccinated against COVID and flu often don’t. Why not? 020
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAASHE Journal @ashejournal.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Rule-based decision antimicrobial stewardship reduced antibiotic use initially but effects were not sustained. Time-lag analysis revealed bidirectional links between antimicrobial use and CPE incidence, highlighting the need for adaptive, data-driven stewardship strategies. doi.org/10.1017/ash.... 122
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 24/08/2026In Montana, this is all too true... #ruralhealth #montana 010
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSASociety of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists - SIDP @sidpharm.bsky.social · 21/08/2026This infographic is a fantastic summary of the beta-lactamase inhibitors reviewed in the new #Breakpoints episode "Beta-lactamase inhibitors: Scientifically elegant, just complex." Use this infographic as a reference, and be sure to share! #infographic #newepisode 073
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSABen Ereshefsky, PharmD @brainofbpharm.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Please don’t waste time and money sending a test that tells you someone has bacteria in their urine. We know they do; it’s not sterile! #IDSky 0105
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 18/08/2026What's more concerning is the increase in vaccination exemptions. 020
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 18/08/2026A 0.1% drop may not sound like much, but we should consider that any downward trend, while vaccine-preventable infections are rising in the U.S., is not good. Montanans should also be aware that this analysis does not include Montana immunization data. #immunization #mtpol #publichealthreuters.comUS kindergarten vaccine coverage continues downward trend, falling 0.1%U.S. kindergarten vaccination coverage fell 0.1% during the 2025-2026 school year, continuing a downward trend that has seen declines every year except one since the onset of COVID-19, according to d... 151
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSASociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) @sheaepi.bsky.social · 11/08/2026The President’s executive order changing childhood vaccine recommendations, signed today does not reflect current scientific evidence and does not represent the “Gold Standard” in vaccine research. Read SHEA and APIC's joint statement: shea-online.org/shea-and-api... 022
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAIDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 11/08/2026At a time when measles outbreaks are already threatening communities across the country, making vaccination more complicated and burdensome risks leaving more children vulnerable. Our response to the vaccine executive order: www.idsociety.org/news--public... 317472
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAJonathan Ryder, MD @jonathanrydermd.bsky.social · 04/08/2026New in @jamanetworkopen.com from BrighT STAR Collaborative: Diagnostic stewardship via clinical decision support in pediatric endotracheal aspirate Cx's associated with 16% reduction in cultures, but no change in antibiotics. No safety concerns identified pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42536370/ 153
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAJonathan Ryder, MD @jonathanrydermd.bsky.social · 04/08/2026New RCT from @nejm.org Evidence: PO Vanc x10 d VS PO Vanc Taper/Pulse VS Fidaxomicin for 1st or 2nd Recurrence of CDiff (n=308) Day 59 sustained clinical response: Vanc TP: 58.6% vs Vanc x10: 44.1% vs Fidaxo: 44.1% (p>0.0255 = not significant) #IDSky #CDiff evidence.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... 3124
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAJonathan Ryder, MD @jonathanrydermd.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Cool survey of >1400 US adults on their perceptions around antibiotic use in @ofidjournal.bsky.social Survey participants preferred - Longer antibiotic courses - Always finishing the prescribed course We need to convince the public that shorter is better! #IDSky academic.oup.com/ofid/article...academic.oup.comValidate User 1172
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAJonathan Ryder, MD @jonathanrydermd.bsky.social · 22/07/2026Excited to share a new piece in @ashejournal.bsky.social! STI care and antimicrobial stewardship programs are often siloed. However, with doxyPEP there has been a lot of concerns about stewardship. Can we integrate these fields? Yes! @shawna-san.bsky.social www.cambridge.org/core/journal...cambridge.orgThe intersection of sexually transmitted infections and antimicrobial stewardship: opportunities for synergy | Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology | Cambridge CoreThe intersection of sexually transmitted infections and antimicrobial stewardship: opportunities for synergy - Volume 6 Issue 1 275
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 09/07/2026It's striking how autism has become what ADHD was in the 1990s. The only difference is how much more politically charged autism is than ADHD. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...jamanetwork.comAutism Overdiagnosis and Its Harmful EffectsThis Viewpoint describes the extent and mechanisms of overdiagnosis in autism and reviews its harmful implications. 000
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 09/07/2026This feels like a real life episode of Law and Order, and Children's Health Defense really wants us to believe that vaccines suffocated this woman's twins at the same time. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/u...nytimes.comPlaintiff for Anti-Vaccine Group’s Suit Is Charged With Murder of Her Twins 000
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 09/07/2026This outbreak highlights the vulnerability of the U.S. food production and distribution, and the importance of stringent food safety surveillance. With the current administration having slashed funding to FoodNet, we'll continued to see outbreaks like this. #publichealth #cyclosporatime.comWhat to Know About the Diarrhea Outbreak Tied to Fresh ProduceHundreds of people in the U.S. have gotten sick so far from cyclosporiasis. 030
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 08/07/2026Since cost is a major barrier to vaccine access for many people, including those in the U.S., this is a very promising solution to address an infection that can cause more issues than just an unappealing skin growth. 000
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 08/07/2026"The E coli-produced 9vHPV vaccine was well tolerated, immunogenic, and highly protective against vaccine-targeted HPV types. Given its low production cost, this vaccine has the potential to improve global access to high-valency HPV vaccination." #vaccination #HPV www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...thelancet.comEfficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of an Escherichia coli-produced nine-valent human papillomavirus vaccine: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trialThe E coli-produced 9vHPV vaccine was well tolerated, immunogenic, and highly protective against vaccine-targeted HPV types. Given its low production cost, this vaccine has the potential to improve gl... 110
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Nurses can be valuable in diagnostic stewardship. However, the challenge remains in reassuring clinicians concerned about missed diagnoses and meeting patient satisfaction expectations when antibiotic therapy is expected. #diagnosticstewardship #AMSSky 010
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAASHE Journal @ashejournal.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Can nurses lead outpatient UTI stewardship? This EHR-integrated triage tool improved symptom documentation, reduced unnecessary urine cultures, and cut antibiotic treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria—all without increasing pyelonephritis. #ABXstewardship #NursingResearch doi.org/10.1017/ash.... 142
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 07/07/2026It's only July and the U.S. is about to exceed the number of measles cases in 2025. It's hard to see how this is making America healthier #measles #vaccination #publichealth www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...washingtonpost.comWhy U.S. measles outbreaks have grown harder to extinguishThe nation is already nearing last year’s record case total, and experts say the virus is forcing doctors to relearn a disease many thought had been consigned to history. 010
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 01/07/2026The current administration should focus research on identifying the actual cause of these patients' symptoms rather than attributing them to a fictitious condition. www.cidrap.umn.edu/lyme-disease...cidrap.umn.eduCIDRAP Op-Ed: The wrong cure—how the new federal Lyme plan validates a diagnosis that often isn't there 000
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSASociety for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) @sheaepi.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Registration is now open for Improving Infection Prevention and Antibiotic Use in Long-Term Care: From Guidance to Practice, a live virtual workshop taking place November 5–6, 2026. Register today to reserve your spot: learningce.shea-online.org/content/impr... 112
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 30/06/2026And Wyoming DoH just announced a second measles case in recent weeks, inching closer to Montana... #measles #vaccination #publichealth www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/cidr...cidrap.umn.eduCIDRAP Op-Ed: Call it what it is—the US has lost its hold on measles elimination 164
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAASHE Journal @ashejournal.bsky.social · 29/06/2026SMX-TMP is commonly used as step-down therapy for gram-negative bacteremia. The results of this study indicate that patients who received low-dose (< 8 mg/kg TMP) had similar outcomes to those who received high-dose (>/= 8 mg/kg TMP). doi.org/10.1017/ash.... 162
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAIDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 29/06/2026Additional funding is critically needed to address the Ebola epidemic in Central Africa, save lives and contain the outbreak. Funding only the Department of State ignores the reality that outbreak response requires coordination across agencies. Our statement: bit.ly/4vCkcdZ 024
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Most of these people will likely not be eligible for Medicaid. When they seek medical care, they be labeled as "Self-Pay" and if they're lucky, the hospital may offer some charge reduction or payment options. Even with that, everyone without insurance will be stuck with huge medical debts. 000
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026"I don't see data that point to that conclusion that a 5 million person drop can be explained by allegations of fraud,"... "There's lots of evidence pointing to people making decisions based on what they can pay each month." #healthequity #ACA www.npr.org/2026/06/26/n...npr.org5 million have dropped ACA insurance after Trump and the GOP let prices skyrocketThe number of people who signed up for a health plan and then didn't pay their premium fell much more sharply than it has in years past. Trump officials blame fraud. Health policy experts blame costs. 110
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026However, I find it perplexing how people are selective about the things whose safety they are concerned about. One hunters they interviewed was concerned about the safety of the vaccine but not worried about the possibility of lead poisoning when using lead containing pellets when shooting turkeys. 000
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Asking vaccine-skeptic who has used his authority to decimate immunization programs to endorse a Lyme disease vaccine is like asking a vegetarian to endorse eating meat. #vaccination #lymedisease www.npr.org/2026/06/27/n...npr.orgIf a Lyme disease vaccine gets approved, how would it go over? We asked huntersDrugmakers are working on a potential new shot to prevent the tick-borne illness. How might it fare in the era of vaccine skepticism? 100
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Well, for many people, ignorance is bliss. 010
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSAIDSA @idsainfo.bsky.social · 26/06/2026The new charter of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices changes the fundamental focus, membership structure and governance of the committee. Our response with @pidsociety.bsky.social, @sheaepi.bsky.social and @sidpharm.bsky.social: bit.ly/4eN1oBq 093
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 26/06/2026"Both reports conclude that maintaining high measles vaccination coverage is the most effective intervention for preventing measles and limiting disruptions to schools and communities." 082
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Despite these reports, the current administration has continued to focus primarily on vaccine-related injuries, even though far more people were injured by measles. #vaccination #publichealth #measles www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/two-...cidrap.umn.eduTwo new reports highlight obstacles to containing US measles outbreaks 1105
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 26/06/2026What's the point of keeping the word "immunization" in the name if the goal is not to immunize anyone? 010
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA @kutneil.bsky.social · 26/06/2026I suppose if one can't win at a game then it's time to change the rules. Is he looking to going back to inoculating people with cowpox or having parents take their chances by sending their children to chickenpox parties? #vaccination #publichealth #pedsky www.statnews.com/2026/06/25/a...statnews.comNew ACIP charter broadens criteria for members, calls for review of alternatives to vaccinesA new charter for the panel that advises the CDC on vaccine use substantially refocuses the responsibilities of the committee, downplaying its role in recommending the use of new vaccines. 110