Articles Tagged With:
-
2022-2023: A Severe Season for Respiratory Syncytial Virus
The 2022-2023 northern hemisphere respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season began with fury, crowding hospitals and making many young children extremely ill. Meanwhile, advancing research points to potential means of better preventing RSV infection.
-
Viral Swarm: ‘Tripledemic’ Pushes Healthcare Facilities to the Brink
Respiratory infections are causing hospitalizations and deaths nationally in an unprecedented trifecta of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19.
-
Device Nurses Can Prevent CLABSIs
A recent study estimated the average central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) costs $48,108, while increasing patient mortality by 12% to 25%. These costs and patient consequences may ensue if the central line is not routinely observed and maintained. Thus, one hospital system justified hiring two epidemiology nurses in 2018 after years of trying to claw back CLABSI rates by various interventions.
-
Vaccine Second Shot, Boosters Kick in Protective Effect
A study of healthcare and other frontline workers with COVID-19 showed that a history of two or three messenger ribonucleic acid vaccine doses lessened the severity of illness significantly.
-
EPINet: Needlesticks Spike 13% from 2020 to 2021
The largest noticeable needlestick increases from 2020 to 2021 were among injections with disposable syringes, especially with insulin needles and those used for vaccinations, says Amber Mitchell, DrPH, director of the International Safety Center, noted for its longstanding EPINet surveillance system for needlesticks, sharps injuries, and mucosal blood exposures.
-
Another Emerging Infection, as Cholera Makes a Call
Clinicians should be prepared to identify and treat cholera in returning travelers using designated infection control measures to prevent hospital transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
-
Statin Use with Daptomycin: Do We Finally Have a Definitive Answer?
A meta-analysis on published literature and a disproportionality analysis using Food and Drug Administration data found that statin use was associated with the occurrence of daptomycin-induced musculoskeletal adverse events. In most cases, statin use should be discontinued while patients are on daptomycin.
-
Salmonella Gastroenteritis — The Risk of a Rapid, Accurate Diagnosis
Availability of molecular testing panel results that were positive for Salmonella in children led to increased hospital admissions, increased subsequent microbiologic testing, and increased antibiotic use — all without benefit to patients.
-
Resistance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants to Monoclonal Antibodies
Prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants are increasingly resistant to therapeutic and prophylactic monoclonal antibodies but remain susceptible to Paxlovid, remdesivir, and molnupiravir.
-
When More Is Not Better: Treatment of Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis Due to Staphylococci
Clear evidence of benefit from adjunctive administration a β-lactam and/or a glycopeptide in the treatment of prosthetic valve endocarditis due to staphylococci is lacking. Current guidelines need to be reassessed.