Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for June 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Poll Finds Seniors Struggling With Drug Costs Don’t Seek Help
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many older Americans who have difficulty paying for their medications don’t seek help in finding more economical options, according to the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
Clindamycin, TMP-SMX Linked to Better Outcomes for Abscesses
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For small skin abscesses, treatment with clindamycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is associated with improved short-term outcomes versus incision and drainage alone, according to a study published online June 28 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
In HIV, Greater BMD Decline for Immediate Versus Delayed ART
FRIDAY, June 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Immediate antiretroviral (ART) initiation at HIV diagnosis is associated with greater bone mineral density (BMD) declines compared with deferred initiation, according to a study published online June 26 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Doctors Urged to Take Care With Electronic Communications
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Care should be taken when conveying electronic messages to patients, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Health of the Nation Presented in 40th Annual CDC Report
THURSDAY, June 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The health of the United States is summarized in the 40th annual report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
FDA Seeks to Increase Number of Generic Drugs on Market
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — New measures to increase the number of generic prescription drugs available to Americans have been taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dissolvable Microneedle Patch for Flu Vaccine Found Safe, Effective
WEDNESDAY, June 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An experimental flu vaccine patch with dissolving microneedles appears safe and effective, according to research published online June 27 in The Lancet.
Sound Progress Made Toward Global Containment of Poliovirus
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — With the eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 in 2015, progress has been made toward containment of the virus, according to research published in the June 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
HIV Testing Inadequate in Young Men Who Have Sex With Men
MONDAY, June 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Few young men who have sex with men (MSM) receive HIV testing, although they account for most new diagnoses, according to research published in the June 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC: Zika Can Be Found in Placental, Fetal Tissue at Birth
FRIDAY, June 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Testing placental and fetal tissue after a child is born can confirm or rule out Zika infection, according to research published in the June 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Protective Association Identified for Asthma Against Sepsis
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with infections, those with asthma have reduced risk of sepsis, according to a letter to the editor published online May 22 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
1991-2014 Saw Minimal Change in Health Spending Per State
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 1991 to 2014 there was minimal change in health spending by state, according to a study published online June 14 in Health Affairs.
Nearly 60 Percent With Conjunctivitis Fill Antibiotic Rx
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotic prescriptions are filled by nearly 60 percent of patients newly diagnosed with acute conjunctivitis, according to a study published online June 14 in Ophthalmology.
2006 to 2013 Saw Increase in ER Use for Herpes Zoster
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2006 to 2013 there was an increase in the number of emergency department visits for herpes zoster (HZ), according to a study published online June 21 in JAMA Dermatology.
CDC: Number of U.S. Counties With Zika-Carrying Mosquitoes Up
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Mosquitoes that can spread Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses are in more counties in the southern United States than previously thought, according to a study published online June 19 in the Journal of Medical Entomology.
HCC Drops Beyond Five Years of Entecavir/Tenofovir Tx for Hep B
WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For Caucasian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) decreases beyond year five of entecavir/tenofovir therapy, particularly in those with compensated cirrhosis, according to a study published online June 16 in Hepatology.
Financial Incentives May Increase Viral Suppression in HIV
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For HIV-positive patients, financial incentives can lead to increased viral suppression, according to a study published online June 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Support for Financial Penalties Up With Emphasis on Patient Harms
TUESDAY, June 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians who receive information about patient harms are more likely to support financial penalties targeting inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, according to a research letter published online June 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Chronic Lyme Disease Treatments Tied to Serious Adverse Effects
MONDAY, June 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Serious bacterial infections have been documented during treatment for chronic Lyme disease, according to research published in the June 16 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Donor Microbes Can Persist Long-Term After Fecal Transplant
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say their small study, published online June 7 in Biofilms and Microbiomes, offers the first proof that therapeutic donor microbes remain for months or years in patients who’ve undergone fecal microbiota transplantation.
Health Insurers Recruiting Former Pharma Reps to Cut Costs
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health insurers are recruiting former pharmaceutical company representatives to educate doctors and help save money on prescription medications, according to a report published June 8 in Kaiser Health News.
Unusual Measles Outbreak Described in Ontario in Early 2015
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Eighteen cases of measles were recorded as part of an unusual outbreak in Ontario, Canada, in early 2015, according to research published in the July issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases.
20 Percent of Hospital Patients Have Side Effects From Abx Rx
FRIDAY, June 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — About 20 percent of U.S. hospital patients who receive antibiotics experience side effects from the drugs, according to research published online June 12 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
High HCV Cure Rates in HIV Coinfection Cases at Urban Clinic
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients in an urban clinic with hepatitis C virus (HCV) with HIV coinfection, HCV treatment is effective with standardized nurse/pharmacist support, according to a study published online June 13 in Hepatology.
AMA Endeavors to Increase Transparency of Rx Pricing
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) is calling for more transparency in drug pricing amid rising costs that are putting some lifesaving medications out of reach for patients and communities.
Risk of HPV-Linked Second Cancers Up After Anal Cancer
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Survivors of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) have an elevated risk of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related second primary malignancies (SPMs), according to a study published online June 13 in Cancer.
Novel Retinal Lesion Seen in Some Ebola Survivors
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A small percentage of Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors have a novel retinal lesion, according to research published in the July issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Amphotericin Tops Itraconazole in HIV-Linked Talaromycosis
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with HIV with talaromycosis, amphotericin B deoxycholate (amphotericin) is superior to itraconazole, according to a study published in the June 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
OpenArray PCR Platform Detects Pathogens in Plasma, Blood
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The high-throughput OpenArray polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform can detect and discriminate agents in plasma and blood samples, according to a study published online June 14 in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
Factors Predictive of Parental Intent to Vaccinate Against HPV
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Maternal education, Hispanic ethnicity, and provider recommendations are associated with parental intent to vaccinate adolescents against human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published in the June 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
Inpatient Clinicians Show Limited Understanding of PCN Allergy
WEDNESDAY, June 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inpatient hospital practitioners often have a limited understanding of the management of patients with a history of penicillin allergy, according to a study published online June 13 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Expedited Partner Therapy Helps Reduce STI Incidence
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — States that let doctors prescribe drugs to treat chlamydia or gonorrhea in both partners when only one makes an office visit have lower rates of the sexually transmitted infections, according to a study published online May 17 in Sexually Transmitted Infections.
Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease Reported in NYC, Las Vegas
TUESDAY, June 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cases of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City and Las Vegas are being investigated by health officials.
Medical Students Lacking Proficiency in BP Measurements
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Medical students frequently do not achieve mastery of the skills necessary for accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP), according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
Reduced Corneal Nerve Fiber Density in Patients With HIV
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Patients with HIV and HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) have reduced corneal nerve fiber density, which can be identified using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCCM), according to a study published online June 8 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Review: Depression Screening As Inpatient Important, Feasible
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Depression affects about one-third of hospital patients and could slow their recovery, according to research published recently in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
FDA Approves Generic Version of HIV Drug Truvada
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The first generic version of the HIV drug Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
New Bill With Tort Reforms Will Protect Iowa Physicians
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new bill with tort reforms to protect Iowa physicians will take effect July 1, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
CDC: ~5 Percent of Pregnancies With Zika Result in Birth Defects
FRIDAY, June 9, 2017 (HealthDay News) — About one in 20 women in the U.S. territories who were infected with Zika during pregnancy had babies with possible Zika-associated birth defects, according to research published in the June 8 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
U.S. Leads in Income-Based Health Care Inequalities
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The United States has larger income-related differences in perceptions of health and health care than other middle- and high-income countries, according to a report published in the June issue of Health Affairs.
Liver Cancer the Fastest-Growing Cause of Cancer Deaths in U.S.
THURSDAY, June 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Liver cancer is the fastest-growing cause of cancer deaths in the United States, with substantial disparity in mortality rates for race/ethnicity and state of residence, according to a study published online June 6 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
CDC: Legionella Present in Hospital, Nursing Home Plumbing
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Legionella has been found in the water systems of hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities, putting the most vulnerable patients at risk, U.S. health officials said Tuesday.
CDC: High-Deductible Health Plan Use Rising Among Employers
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — High-deductible health plans are becoming more common among U.S. adults with employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, according to a report issued June 6 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Next-Generation Metagenomic Sequencing IDs Novel RNA Virus
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Next-generation metagenomic sequencing (NGMS) can detect new viral infections, including a novel RNA virus, human hepegivirus-1 (HHpgV-1), according to a study published online June 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Inpatient Progress Note Content Often Cut and Pasted
WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Less than 20 percent of progress note content is entered manually by medical students, residents, and direct care hospitalists, according to a research letter published online May 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Prevalence of Advanced HIV at ART Initiation Decreasing
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2004 to 2015 there were decreases in the prevalence of advanced disease at initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 10 high-burden countries, according to research published in the June 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Conception Options Available for HIV-Discordant Couples
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Various methods are available for reducing the risk of HIV transmission in HIV-discordant couples who would like to attempt conception, according to research published in the June 2 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Cool Water Works As Well As Hot for Ridding Hands of Germs
FRIDAY, June 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For effective hand hygiene, water temperature matters less than time, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Food Protection.
Drug-Resistant Bacteria Seen in Many Nursing Home Residents
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB), such as Escherichia coli, can be found in more than one-quarter of nursing-home residents, according to a study published in the May 1 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Antiretroviral Regimen Adherence Up for Americans With HIV
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More Americans with HIV are adhering to antiretroviral therapy regimens, according to a study published online May 16 in AIDS.
Three-Drug Combo Pill Nearly 100 Percent Effective in Curing Hep C
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A pill containing the antiviral drugs sofosbuvir, velpatasvir, and voxilaprevir is nearly 100 percent effective in curing hepatitis C in patients whose disease returned after treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents, according to research published in the June 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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