T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
LightNews LightNews
banner
kutneil.bsky.social
T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
@kutneil.bsky.social
2.4K followers 1.6K following 460 posts
Healthcare epidemiologist, public health, and health equity advocate. Promoting diagnostic stewardship in #IDSky, #AMSSky, and #IPSky. Southerner at heart. Cat and corgi dad. Fly angler. Love snarky comments.
Posts Replies Media Videos
kutneil.bsky.social
Getting measles is likely worse than getting a lump of coal for Christmas. No child should have to spend Christmas recovering from measles but that's apparently what is happening in parts of the US.
#measles #publichealth #vaccination
www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/sout...
South Carolina now has 156 measles cases, as states see highest activity in 30 years
Utah also reported six new cases.
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Starting broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in patients who present with sepsis is very ingrained in many clinicians. However, I hope this study will help convince hospitalists to de-escalate therapy those patients without MRSA or Pseudomonas infection.
#AMSSky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Antibiotic De-Escalation in Adults Hospitalized for Community-Onset Sepsis
This target trial emulation study assesses outcomes of broad-spectrum antibiotics de-escalation compared with continuation on encounter day 4 in patients hospitalized for community-onset sepsis.
jamanetwork.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
I'd have more respect for the current administration if they just admitted that they are prejudiced against transgender people, rather than trying to convince Americans that gender-affirming care is malpractice because of an alleged study that said it's harmful.
www.reuters.com/world/us-hea...
Kennedy seeks to cut US children's access to gender-affirming care
His position contradicts the nation's largest medical organizations.
www.reuters.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
I think we all know the real reason why HHS is punishing AAP. Sadly, children will be the collateral damage with this move. I implore all my pediatrician friends and colleagues to keep on fighting for their patients.

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr.
HHS cuts key AAP grants, citing concerns about “identity-based language” and insufficient focus on agency priorities. The organization said the cuts could harm child health.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:37 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
It's unbelievable that ACIP panelists used (illegal) immigrants as a reason to justify their votes.
#HBV #vaccination #publichealth #PedsSky #healthequity
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Racially charged language on mothers and babies taints vaccine advisory meeting
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 17, 2025 at 2:48 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
This isn't surprising given how the work culture in healthcare encourages presenteeism. What's concerning is that those who practice presenteeism are also less likely to be vaccinated.
#IPSky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Presenteeism Among Health Care Personnel With COVID-19
This cohort study evaluates the frequency of presenteeism among health care personnel with symptomatic COVID-19.
jamanetwork.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:45 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
This will confuse people and discourage them from getting the COVID-19 vaccine. How will this make America healthy again?
#vaccination #publichealth
www.cnn.com/2025/12/12/h...
FDA intends to put its most serious warning on Covid vaccines, sources say | CNN
The US Food and Drug Administration intends to put a “black box” warning on Covid-19 vaccines, according to two people familiar with the agency’s plans.
www.cnn.com
December 16, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
sheaepi.bsky.social
Check out ASHE's latest Editors' Choice manuscript! Congratulations to the authors of "Bacterial contamination of healthcare workers' attire."

www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
December 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
This is a great reason to vaccinate your child against COVID-19, unless you enjoy spending time in the ER or urgent care clinic.
#vaccination #covid19 #publichealth
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
Effectiveness of 2024–2025 COVID-19 Vaccines in Children...
This report describes COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among children ages 9 months to 17 years.
www.cdc.gov
December 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
If this helps get more people vaccination against COVID-19, who am I to judge. Besides, it's much more than what the current administration is doing right now...
#publichealth #vaccination #COVID19
thehill.com/business/564...
thehill.com
December 13, 2025 at 2:37 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
And yet, the HHS plans to spend taxpayer money for research to disprove something that has already been proven.
#vaccination #autism #publicheath
www.who.int/news/item/11...
WHO expert group’s new analysis reaffirms there is no link between vaccines and autism
New analysis from a WHO global expert committee on vaccine safety has found that, based on available evidence, no causal link exists between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The conclusio...
www.who.int
December 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Finally, something from CDC I can agree with.

Flu season is ramping up on Montana. If you haven't received the flu shot yet, this is a friendly reminder got yours before the holiday season gets too crazy.
#influenza #vaccination #montana
www.cidrap.umn.edu/influenza-ge...
In call with clinicians, CDC recommends flu vaccines widely
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 12, 2025 at 2:26 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
As this is likely a very confusing time for parents on what's best for their children, I encourage them to talk to medical professionals who have actually managed patients, especially in vaccine-preventable infections.
#vaccination #ACIP #PedsSky #IDSky #publichealth
apnews.com/article/vacc...
What are parents to do as doctors clash with Trump administration over vaccines?
The nation’s leading doctors groups are in a standoff with federal health officials over vaccines. The conflict intensified when an advisory panel, handpicked by Health Secretary Robert F.
apnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 3:55 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Many developed countries, including Denmark, have universal, comprehensive healthcare. Pregnant women from those countries have much better access to prenatal care than in the US.
#healthcare #immunization #publichealth
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump asks RFK Jr. to ‘fast track’ vaccine schedule review
The president weighed in after the health secretary’s vaccine advisers recommended a major change to the shots routinely given to children.
www.politico.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by T. Neil Ku, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA
ameracadpeds.bsky.social
“This irresponsible and purposely misleading guidance will lead to more hepatitis B infections in infants and children.” Read our full statement by AAP President Dr. Susan J. Kressly:
www.aap.org/en/news-room...
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
These are the last 4 responses I received from US Rep. Downing after petitioning him about various healthcare issues (i.e., preserving funding for ID research, rejecting Medicare reimbursement cuts for physicians in MT, and calling for RFK Jr.'s resignation). 3 of them are exactly the same.
#mtpol
December 7, 2025 at 4:07 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
It's pretty disturbing to see that none of the panelists who wanted to change the immunization schedule has actually took care of infants and children.
#vaccination #ACIP #publichealth
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
Relatively calm afternoon ACIP session still cauldron of ‘misinformation, disinformation, and information taken out of context’
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 7, 2025 at 12:28 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
Very disappointing but not surprising.
#HBV #vaccination #ACIP
pbsnews.org PBS News @pbsnews.org · Dec 5
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel voted Friday to end the longstanding guidance that all babies born in the United States be vaccinated against hepatitis B on the day of their birth.
December 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
I suspect this won't change much after today's vote on hepatitis B vaccination during the ACIP meeting. So much for restoring public trust in CDC.
#HBV #vaccination #publichealth
www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-healt...
Poll shows Americans trust AMA over CDC when it comes to vaccines
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 5, 2025 at 4:59 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
Pathogens causing infectious diseases don't cherry pick who they infect and they certainly don't care who the Trump administration makes deals with. This is the reason politicians should not make global health policies.
#globalhealth #publichealth
www.pbs.org/newshour/wor...
WATCH: Rubio and Kenyan President Ruto speak after signing 'America First' global health deal
The Trump administration has signed the first in what are expected to be dozens of “America First” global health funding agreements that will prioritize combating infectious diseases in countries deem...
www.pbs.org
December 5, 2025 at 12:32 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
Montana ranks among the bottom 10 US states for overall healthcare experience, and affordability is a major issue.
news.gallup.com/poll/698042/...
How Do Americans Experience Healthcare in Their State?
New state rankings from West Health-Gallup reveal sizable differences in residents' experiences of healthcare cost, quality, and access and an urgent need for improvement in every U.S. state.
news.gallup.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
kutneil.bsky.social
There's still time to get the flu shot if you haven't already done so.
#vaccination #publichealth #influenza
dailymontanan.com/briefs/monta...
Montana records first 2025-25 flu season death
Montana recorded its first influenza death of the 2025-26 flu season on Monday, Missoula Public Health and state DPHHS announced.
dailymontanan.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:18 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
There appears to be a big discrepancy between what Congressman Downing is saying and what @kff.org reports. Clearly, the ACA subsidies are not just drops in the bucket...
#ACA #mtpol #healthcare
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
Mapping the Uneven Burden of Rising ACA Marketplace Premium Payments due to Enhanced Tax Credit Expiration | KFF
Enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this year. Among those with incomes over 400% poverty who are losing the tax credit altogether, the impact will be greatest for those whose unsubsidiz...
www.kff.org
December 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
In anticipation of the upcoming ACIP meeting. I can only hope that the panelists take the time to review the evidence before voting on this issue.
#vaccination #HBV #publichealth
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
New review finds no evidence to support delaying universal hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination
www.cidrap.umn.edu
December 2, 2025 at 2:34 PM
kutneil.bsky.social
"When asked...about Montanans impacted by the end of the enhanced subsidy, Downing said that the...financial aid has made up a 'really small amount' of the total subsidies Montanans receive through the ACA."
#healthequity #mtpol #ACA

montanafreepress.org/2025/12/01/m...
Facing a subsidy sunset, Montanans brace for health insurance increases
“I’m in a bind,” one resident said. “I’ve got to have the insurance.”
montanafreepress.org
December 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM