Infectious Diseases Archive — Page 2 of 13

February 18, 2026

Novel vaccine protects against C. diff disease and recurrence

New study represents a major step forward for vaccine development for C. diff, the leading cause of health care- and antibiotic-associated infection.

By Leigh MacMillan
(iStock)
February 13, 2026

Anti-Marburg antibody from Vanderbilt Health sent to Ethiopia during outbreak

There currently are no approved treatments or vaccines to protect against the infection, which can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and in roughly 50% of cases, death.

By Bill Snyder
Members of the Vanderbilt Health team are evaluating the efficacy of the immunomodulatory drug baricitinib for treating the persistent neurological and cardiopulmonary symptoms of long COVID. (photo by Donn Jones)
February 6, 2026

Vanderbilt Health to lead expanded multisite study of immunomodulation in long COVID

The public health burden of long COVID is estimated to be the largest seen from an emerging disease in the past century, yet there remain no effective interventions.

By Jill Clendening
Clostridium difficile bacterium, 3D illustration
January 28, 2026

Gut microbiome differs according to C. diff symptom status

In a study of children with symptomatic or asymptomatic C. diff, symptom status loomed as the strongest association with differences in gut microbial abundance and diversity.

By Paul Govern
Lili Tao, MD, PhD, medical director of Mycology and Immunoserology, shows Maggie Weiss a culture plate on which the fungus that causes histoplasmosis is growing. (photo by Susan Urmy)
January 22, 2026

A grateful patient says ‘thank you’ to Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories

The infection can result from inhaling spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which grows in soil throughout Middle Tennessee, especially in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. Previously, blood samples had to be sent to a reference lab in Utah.

By Bill Snyder
(iStock)
January 20, 2026

VIGH, Ugandan partners land grant to study bunyaviruses in Tennessee and Uganda

Bunyaviruses can lead to many illnesses, ranging from mild fevers to serious and sometimes deadly diseases such as hemorrhagic fevers and encephalitis in both children and adults.

By Kristin Centers