Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for September 2018. 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.
Pharmaceutical Executive Defends 400 Percent Price Hike
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A pharmaceutical executive is defending his company’s 400 percent price hike on an antibiotic, according to a report published in Formulary Watch.
Physicians Often Don’t Address Their Burnout
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than half of physicians experience burnout, and many do not seek treatment for burnout, according to a report published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
CDC: Congenital Syphilis More Than Doubled Since 2013
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is continuing to increase, with an associated increase in the number of cases of congenital syphilis, according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
No Benefit to Negative Pressure Wound Therapy After C-Section
FRIDAY, Sept. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For obese women, use of prophylactic negative pressure wound therapy versus standard dressings does not reduce superficial surgical site infections after cesarean section, according to a study published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Business Degree Increasingly Useful for Doctors
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Having a Master of Business Administration degree (M.B.A.) can help doctors with important, practice-related decisions, according to a report published recently in Physician Practice.
80,000 Americans Died From Influenza Over Last Year
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Influenza was deadlier last season than it has been for at least four decades, killing 80,000 Americans. So said the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Tuesday in an interview with the Associated Press.
AP News Article
Final Update on Salmonella-Tainted Honey Smacks Cereal
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A total of 135 people across 36 states fell ill with Salmonella after eating Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, according to a final update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Practices Should Set Rules for Staff Social Media Use
THURSDAY, Sept. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical practices can take steps to avoid problems related to use of social media by staff members, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
HIV Infection Diagnoses on the Rise in Young Homosexual Men
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among men who have sex with men (MSM), the change in the annual number of HIV diagnoses from 2008 to 2016 varies with age, according to research published in the Sept. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Burnout, Career Choice Regret Prevalent in U.S. Residents
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Symptoms of burnout and career choice regret are prevalent among U.S. resident physicians, according to a study published in the Sept. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Initial Abx Feasible Alternative for Uncomplicated Appendicitis
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The cumulative incidence of appendicitis recurrence within five years is 39.1 percent among patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis initially treated with antibiotics, according to research published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Critics Demand Stop to ‘Guinea Pig’ Sepsis Clinical Trial
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A major non-profit advocacy group is asking that a large government trial comparing treatments for sepsis be shut down.
The New York Times Article
Clovers Clinical Trial
In 2016, Proportion of Uninsured Americans Down to 10 Percent
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2016 there was a reduction in uninsurance among Americans from 17 to 10 percent, according to a report published in September by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Urban Institute.
Physician-Group ACOs Generate Medicare Savings
TUESDAY, Sept. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician-group accountable care organizations (ACOs) participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) generated significantly more savings for Medicare that grew from 2012 to 2015 compared with hospital-integrated ACOs, according to research published in the Sept. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Ground Beef Recalled After E. Coli Outbreak
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than 132,000 pounds of ground beef have been recalled by a Colorado company following a suspected outbreak where one person was killed and 17 were sickened by Escherichia coli after eating the meat.
AP News Article
Cargill Statement
Some Clinicians, Patients Record Clinic Visits for Patient Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of clinicians and patients report having recorded a clinic visit for the patient’s personal use, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease Score Underestimates Mortality
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Pediatric End-stage Liver Disease (PELD) score underestimates the actual probability of 90-day pretransplant mortality for children undergoing a primary liver transplant, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Dozens of Medical Groups Join Forces to Improve Diagnoses
FRIDAY, Sept. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Every nine minutes, a patient in a U.S. hospital dies because a diagnosis was wrong or delayed — resulting in 80,000 deaths a year. That sobering estimate comes from the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine (SIDM).
Research Links Doctor Burnout to Patient Safety Incidents
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physician burnout is associated with increased risk of patient safety incidents, poorer quality of care due to low professionalism, and reduced patient satisfaction, according to a review published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Hospitals Charge 479 Percent of Cost of Drugs on Average
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — On average, hospitals mark up drugs by 479 percent of their cost, according to a report from The Moran Company, commissioned by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
Residents Should Take Advantage of Paid Time Off
THURSDAY, Sept. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Although there are many demands on residents, taking advantage of paid vacation time is one of the perks and should be maximized, according to an article published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
20% of Children, Adolescents Use Prescription Medications
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Almost 20 percent of children and adolescents used prescription medications in 2013 to 2014, and 8.2 percent of concurrent users of prescription medications in 2009 to 2014 were at risk for a potentially major drug-drug interactions (DDIs), according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics.
Patient Health Information Often Shared Electronically
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The most common electronically sent and received types of patient health information (PHI) include laboratory results and medication lists, according to a report published Aug. 15 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Second HPV-Related Primary Cancers Common in Survivors
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of human papillomavirus-associated second primary cancers (HPV-SPCs) among survivors of HPV-associated cancers is significant, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
Global Prevalence of Insufficient Activity 27.5 Percent
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In 2016 the age-standardized prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 27.5 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of The Lancet Global Health.
Active Choice Intervention Tied to Increase in Flu Shot Rates
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An active choice intervention is associated with an increase in influenza vaccination rates, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
Scribes Improve Physician Workflow, Patient Interaction
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Use of medical scribes is associated with decreased physician documentation burden, improved work efficiency, and improved patient interactions, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Compliance With Requirement to Report Results on EUCTR Is Poor
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Half of trials on the European Union Clinical Trials Register (EUCTR) are non-compliant with the European Commission’s requirement that all trials post results to the registry within 12 month of completion, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in The BMJ.
Drug Prices Increase More Than Expected After Shortages
TUESDAY, Sept. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prices for drugs under shortage increase more than twice as quickly as expected in the absence of a shortage, according to a research letter published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Mercury in Traditional Tibetan Medicine Could Be Harmful
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The high mercury (Hg) concentration contained in traditional Tibetan medicine (TTM) could be harmful to humans and contribute to the environmental Hg burden in Tibet, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of Environmental Science & Technology.
Association Health Plans Can Help Small Businesses Offer Coverage
MONDAY, Sept. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Association health plans (AHPs) will provide small businesses with more choices, access, and coverage options, although critics warn that they may undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
Final CDC Update on Salmonella Linked to Backyard Poultry
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — At least 334 people in 47 states have been sickened in Salmonella outbreaks linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Patrons of ‘Vampire Facial’ Spa May Have Been Exposed to HIV
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Customers of an Albuquerque spa who received a “vampire facial” are being warned that they may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C through human blood used in the controversial procedure.
CBS News Article
CDC: Some Sexual Minorities Have Higher Sexual Risk Behaviors
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Bisexual females and “not sure” male students report higher prevalences for many sexual risk behaviors than heterosexual students, according to research published in the Sept. 14 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Extreme Flooding Can Up Exposure to Pathogens
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Extreme flooding, such as was seen in Hurricane Harvey, can increase exposure to pathogens, according to a research letter published recently in Environmental Science & Technology.
Situation Framing, Language Can Influence Decision-Making
FRIDAY, Sept. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — How a situation is framed and the language used to describe risks can influence patients’ decision-making, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
Gains in Insurance Coverage Seen for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Adults
THURSDAY, Sept. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults report continued problems affording care despite coverage gains offered by the Affordable Care Act, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
Six-Step Analysis Can Help Improve Practice Logistics
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A six-step analysis can help redesign and improve the outpatient health care process, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
Residents Working Long Hours Can Increase Alertness
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical residents can take steps to maintain their energy and alertness during long shifts, according to an article published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
High-Touch Surfaces at Airports Often Covered in Pathogens
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many frequently touched surfaces at airports are contaminated with respiratory virus pathogens, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in BMC Infectious Diseases.
AHA: Update on Diagnosis, Tx for Chagas Cardiomyopathy
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Health care providers need to be equipped to recognize, diagnose, and treat Chagas disease, which is growing in prevalence in the United States, according to an American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement published online Aug. 20 in Circulation.
Data Age in Clinical Trials Is About Three Years at Publication
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The median data age in clinical trials in journals with a high impact factor is about three years at publication, according to a study published in the Aug. 10 issue of JAMA Network Open.
Total of 43,371 New Cases of HPV-Associated Cancers in 2015
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A total of 43,371 new cases of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers were reported in 2015, with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most common HPV-associated cancer, according to research published in the Aug. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Medicaid Work Requirements Don’t Impact Many Enrollees
TUESDAY, Sept. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medicaid work requirements will only impact a small proportion of persons and may only generate minimal savings, according to two research letters published online Sept. 10 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Many Opportunities for Doctors Using Twitter
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doctors can use Twitter to build networks and learn more about research in real time, according to a blog post published by Penn Medicine News.
NICU Antibiotic Use Rates Declined From 2013 to 2016
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotic use rates (AURs) in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are declining, but practice variation is still largely unexplained, according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics.
Physician Burnout Rates Vary by Medical Specialty
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of physicians report being burned out, but rates vary substantially by medical specialty, according to an article published in AMA Wire.
Docs, Consumers Agree on Benefits of Virtual Care
MONDAY, Sept. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physicians and consumers agree on the benefits of virtual care, but physician adoption of virtual care technologies is low, according to a report on the Deloitte 2018 Survey of U.S. Physicians.
Southwest Passengers May Have Been Exposed to Measles
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Passengers and crew on four Southwest Airlines flights within Texas in late August are being notified that they may have been exposed to measles. Officials said a passenger who took the four flights over two days was later diagnosed with measles, USA Today reported.
USA Today Article
Influenza Caused Emirates Flight to Be Briefly Quarantined at JFK
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The mysterious illness that kept a plane away from the terminal after some passengers reported feeling sick has been confirmed as the flu, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
AP News Article
AAP Updates Recommendations for Pediatric Flu Vaccination
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — All children and adolescents are advised to undergo annual influenza immunization, ideally with an inactivated influenza vaccine, according to a policy statement published online Sept. 3 in Pediatrics.
Personalized Weighting Could Enhance Hospital Rating Tools
FRIDAY, Sept. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The weighting systems that underlie hospital performance rating tools should incorporate the needs, values, and preferences of patients, according to a perspective article published in the Aug. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Better Training Needed to Boost LGBTQ Patient Health Care
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High-quality health care needs to be provided to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) patients, and improved training is necessary to deliver that care, according to a report published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
Hospital Groups Launch Own Generic Drug Company
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Three U.S. health care foundations and seven hospital groups have formed a generic drug company to combat high prices and chronic shortages of medicines.
AP News Article
Gaps in Prevention, Management of Tickborne Diseases Identified
THURSDAY, Sept. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Though the incidence of tickborne infections in the United States has risen significantly within the past decade, prevention and management are hampered by inadequate diagnostics as well as a lack of treatment options and vaccines, according to a perspective article published in the Aug. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Baloxavir Superior to Placebo for Alleviating Flu Symptoms
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The selective inhibitor of influenza cap-dependent endonuclease, baloxavir marboxil, is superior to placebo for alleviating influenza symptoms, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
130 Now Sickened by Salmonella-Tainted Honey Smacks Cereal
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One hundred thirty people across 36 states have now fallen ill with Salmonella after eating Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
FDA Outbreak Alert
CDC Press Release
Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program Has Uncertain Future
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Uncertainty surrounds the future of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, according to an Ideas and Opinions article published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
~3,000 Excess Deaths Estimated Due to Hurricane Maria
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The total excess mortality attributed to Hurricane Maria is estimated at 2,975 deaths, according to a report issued by George Washington University.
Immune Cells’ Gene Expression May Predict Flu Susceptibility
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — KLRD1-expressing natural killer cells may be a biomarker for influenza susceptibility, according to a study published recently in Genome Medicine.
CDC: HPV Vaccination Rates Increasing Among Adolescents
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage increased 5.1 percentage points from 2016 to 2017, and there was also an increase in the number of adolescents up to date with HPV vaccinations, according to research published in the Aug. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Enrollment in High-Deductible Health Plans Up From ’07 to ’17
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) has increased among adults with employment-based insurance coverage, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Relapse-Free Cure From MDR-TB Higher Than Anticipated
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The frequency of relapse-free cure from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is higher than previously anticipated, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
CDC: Increase in Rate of STDs for Fourth Consecutive Year in U.S.
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 2.3 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were diagnosed in the United States in 2017, marking a fourth consecutive year of sharp increases in these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
USPSTF Reaffirms Screening for Syphilis in Pregnancy
TUESDAY, Sept. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening all pregnant women for syphilis infection. These findings form the basis of a reaffirmation recommendation statement published in the Sept. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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