Joshua Rhein, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, discusses whether obesity affects vaccine response and what can be done.
Investigators know that obesity affects how well a patient responds to a vaccine. However, according to Joshua Rhein, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in the division of infectious disease in the program of HIV medicine, University of Minnesota Medical Center, why vaccines are not as effective in patients who are obese. Rhein spoke with Infection Control Today® about the subject in a 2-part interview.
Rhein discusses how investigators are researching the connection between obesity and vaccine response. “It’s poorly understood and under research, but we do know that obesity itself can affect the immune system. We know this from different vaccine studies that we've done and epidemiology studies on kinds of infection rates. Overall, we don't understand how this works, and more research is needed to determine the link between obesity and reduction [of infection rates],” according to Rhein.
Part of the reason that obesity is not well understood is “it's something that isn't routinely collected. When we're collecting study data on vaccines is something other than what we usually think of as having an important effect on immune responses. Hopefully, as we recognize that there is a link between obesity, the immune system, and vaccine effectiveness, patient weight is something that we can start to collect routinely,” Rhein told ICT. “Not once either because [a patient’s weight] is such a liquid measure, something that can be measured throughout participation and clinical trials.”
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
What Lies Beneath: Why Borescopes Are Essential for Verifying Surgical Instrument Cleanliness
July 16th 2025Despite their smooth, polished exteriors, surgical instruments often harbor dangerous contaminants deep inside their lumens. At the HSPA25 and APIC25 conferences, Cori L. Ofstead, MSPH, and her colleagues revealed why borescopes are an indispensable tool for sterile processing teams, offering the only reliable way to verify internal cleanliness and improve sterile processing effectiveness to prevent patient harm.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.