Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for October 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.
Antibiotics, Acid Suppressants in Infancy May Up Obesity Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prescription of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications in early childhood is associated with an increased risk for obesity, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Gut.
AMA Announces Initiative to Reinvent Physician Training
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced a new $15 million competitive grant initiative, the “Reimagining Residency” initiative, aimed at improving residency training.
Community Health Worker Intervention Beneficial
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A standardized community health worker (CHW)-delivered intervention, Individual Management for Patient-Centered Targets, improves patient-perceived quality of care and reduces hospitalizations for low-income patients with chronic diseases, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Health Officers Express Concerns About Vaccine Exemptions
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After the passage of Senate Bill 277 (SB277) in California, which eliminated nonmedical vaccine exemptions for school entry, health officers and immunization staff reported concerns including an increase in medical exemptions, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in Pediatrics.
Low Levels of Flu Reported in U.S. From May to October
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From May 20 to Oct. 13, 2018, low levels of influenza activity were reported in the United States, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Many Hospitals Noncompliant With Record Request Regulations
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among top-ranked U.S. hospitals, data reveal discrepancies in information provided to patients regarding medical records release processes as well as noncompliance with state and federal regulations, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
In Complicated UTI, Cefiderocol Noninferior to Imipenem-Cilastin
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For complicated urinary tract infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative uropathogens, the siderophore cephalosporin cefiderocol is non-inferior to imipenem-cilastatin, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Prior-Season Vaccination Does Not Curb Flu Shot Effectiveness
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prior-season vaccination is not associated with reduced vaccine effectiveness (VE) among children aged 2 to 17 years, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Trump Administration Announces Plan to Cut Drug Prices
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to cut high drug costs, the prices paid by Medicare for certain prescription drugs would be based on those in other advanced industrial nations, according to a proposal announced Oct. 25 by the Trump administration.
HHS Study
New York Times Article
High-Coverage Rollout of PReP Tied to Drop in HIV Diagnoses
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A rapid, targeted, high-coverage rollout of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is associated with a decrease in HIV diagnoses among high-risk men who have sex with men (MSM), according to a study published online Oct. 17 in The Lancet.
Pneumococcal Vaccine Recs Cause Confusion Among Docs
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — While primary care physicians overwhelmingly recommend pneumococcal vaccines, there is a gap in their knowledge of how to implement related vaccine recommendations, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Infant HIV Infection Ups Risk for Congenital CMV Infection
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — HIV-exposed infants have high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, and in utero HIV infection seems to be a major risk factor for cCMV, according to a study published in the October issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.
Pace of Change Has Accelerated in Alternative Payment Models
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The impact of alternative payment models (APMs) on physician practices has been described in a study published by the RAND Corp. and the American Medical Association.
Nearly Half of Children Seen in ED for Bronchiolitis Get Radiography
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite guideline recommendations to the contrary, nearly half of children seen in the emergency department for bronchiolitis receive radiography, according to a research letter published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Algorithm-Defined Tx Duration Non-Inferior in Staph Bacteremia
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with staphylococcal bacteremia, an algorithm that defines treatment duration results in a non-inferior rate of clinical success compared with usual care, according to a study published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
7 Children Dead From Adenovirus Outbreak in New Jersey
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New Jersey health officials on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of seven children after infection with an adenovirus.
FDA Approves First New Influenza Drug in 20 Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of antiviral influenza drug.
Hispanics With HIV Face Higher Risk for HPV-Related Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — HIV-infected Hispanics have an increased risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers than Hispanics in the general population, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Cancer.
High-Dose Flu Vaccine May Cut Hospitalization in Dialysis Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of the high-dose influenza vaccine in 2016 to 2017 was associated with lower rates of hospitalization among dialysis patients, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Most Supplements Contain Prohibited Stimulants
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many supplements contain one or more stimulants that have been the subject of U.S. Food and Drug Administration-issued public notices, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
White House Unveils New Insurance Option for Small Firms
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A plan to allow small businesses to use tax-free accounts to provide health coverage for employees was announced today by the Trump administration.
Advance Care Planning Lowers Symptoms in Teens With HIV
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Family-centered pediatric advance care planning (FACE pACP) is associated with a lower likelihood of symptoms and suffering for adolescents with HIV, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in Pediatrics.
Postnatal Education Increases Pain Relief Use at Vaccinations
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In-hospital postnatal education about infant pain management at vaccinations leads to more frequent use of pain relief interventions, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Variability in Geographic Availability of New Antibiotics
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variability in the geographic availability of antibiotics, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in PLOS ONE.
CDC: Vaccination Rates More Than 95 Percent for Kindergartners
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall vaccination coverage is high among the nation’s kindergarten students, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC: First U.S. Case of Rat-Borne Andes Virus Diagnosed
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first confirmed U.S. case of a virus carried by South American rodents occurred earlier this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
CNN Article
CDC Case Report
2014 to 2016 Saw 470 Percent Increase in HIV PrEP Use in U.S.
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2016 there was an increase in the annual number of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users in the United States, although only about 7 percent of those with indications for PrEP were prescribed PrEP in 2016, according to research published in the Oct. 18 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Bioinformatics Tool Can ID Source of Bloodstream Pathogens
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A streamlined bioinformatics tool can match bloodstream pathogens to a candidate source, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Nature Medicine.
HPV Vaccination Not Tied to Risky Sexual Behavior in Teen Girls
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of a school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Canada did not lead to an increase in sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescent girls, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Sharp Drop in U.S. Life Expectancy Rankings by 2040
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The United States will have the largest drop in life expectancy rankings of all high-income countries by 2040, a new study says.
WHO: Congo Ebola Outbreak Not a Global Emergency
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The latest Ebola outbreak in Congo is not yet severe enough to be declared a global emergency, the World Health Organization decided after a meeting of experts yesterday.
Clostridium difficile Spores Survive Laundering of Sheets
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Clostridium difficile spores are able to survive laundering through a commercial washer extractor, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Procurement Requirements Drive Interoperability in Health Care IT
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Interoperability of health care information technology (IT) must be improved to facilitate creation of a fully integrated health care system that can improve health and health care at lower cost, according to a report published by the National Academy of Medicine.
Limited Evidence for OTC Preps to Treat Nasal Symptoms of Colds
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Limited evidence is available for over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for nasal symptoms of the common cold, according to a report published online Oct. 10 in The BMJ.
CDC: Many Pregnant Women Not Receiving Immunizations
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many pregnant women are not getting recommended vaccinations, with less than half of those pregnant during the peak influenza vaccination period in 2017 to 2018 reporting being vaccinated before or during their pregnancy, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC Warns of Salmonella Illnesses Linked to Raw Chicken
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of people sickened in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken products now stands at 92 people in 29 states, U.S. health officials said today.
Giving Flu Shots in Pharmacies Could Up Vaccination Coverage
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Administering influenza vaccines through pharmacies in addition to traditional locations can increase vaccination coverage in the event of an epidemic, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Vaccine.
Seven-Day Metronidazole Better for Trichomoniasis Tx in Women
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A seven-day dose of metronidazole is associated with a reduced likelihood of being Trichomonas vaginalis-positive at test-of-cure compared with single-dose treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
CDC Warns of Polio-Like Virus Striking More U.S. Children
TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A rare but devastating polio-like virus appears to have made itself at home in the United States, partially paralyzing hundreds of children.
HealthDay Article
More Information: CDC
Without Medicaid Expansion, Poor Patients Forgo Medical Care
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Doing without medical care is much more common among low-income residents of states that have not expanded Medicaid than among low-income people in other states, according to a Government Accountability Office report.
AP News Article
Number of Children Not Receiving Vaccines Slightly Increased
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, vaccine coverage for children aged 19 to 35 months remained high and stable from 2013 to 2017; however, a small, but growing number of children received no vaccinations, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Population Density, Structure Impact Length of Flu Season
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Population density and structure may impact the length of the influenza season regardless of climatic conditions, according to a study published in the Oct. 5 issue of Science.
Active Pharmaceuticals ID’d in >700 Dietary Supplements
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Dietary supplements often include active pharmaceuticals, even after warnings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in JAMA Network Open.
Hospitalization Tied to Brain Abnormalities in Older Adults
MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalization is associated with lower white matter integrity among older adults, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Flu Vaccine Cuts Hospitalization Rates in Pregnant Women
FRIDAY, Oct. 12, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among pregnant women, the flu vaccination is effective at reducing the risk for flu-related hospitalizations, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in Clinical Infectious Disease.
Nine Cases of Polio-Like Illness Suspected in Children in Illinois
THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nine recent cases of a rare, polio-like disorder in children are being investigated in Illinois, health officials said yesterday.
CNN Article
More Information: CDC
Low Recurrence With Shortened IV Abx Course in GBS Bacteremia
THURSDAY, Oct. 11, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For infants with uncomplicated, late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia, a shortened intravenous (IV) course of antibiotic therapy is sometimes prescribed and is associated with low rates of disease recurrence and treatment failure, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in Pediatrics.
Aetna-CVS Merger Approved
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A $69 billion merger between health insurer Aetna and pharmacy manager CVS Health has been approved, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
The New York Times Article
Retention in HIV Care Drops Steadily After Prison Release
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For criminal justice-involved persons living with HIV (PLWH), sustained retention in care decreases over time post-release, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in PLOS Medicine.
Hand Hygiene Program Beneficial for Day Care Centers
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An educational and hand hygiene program involving hand sanitizer can reduce the risk for respiratory infections (RI) for children attending day care centers (DCCs), according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Pediatrics.
FDA Approves HPV Vaccine for People Through Age 45
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the Gardasil 9 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been expanded to include people ages 27 through 45, the agency said in a news release.
Flea-Borne Typhus Outbreak in Los Angeles County
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An outbreak of flea-borne typhus in Los Angeles County has so far resulted in 57 cases, including 20 in Pasadena and nine in downtown Los Angeles, public health officials say.
CNN Article
More Information: CDC
Polio-Like Condition in Children on Rise Again in the United States
TUESDAY, Oct. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A rare, polio-like condition in children is on the rise again in the United States, with 38 confirmed cases in 16 states so far this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
NBC News Article
More Information: CDC
Minority Residents Experience Burdens Linked to Race/Ethnicity
TUESDAY, Oct. 9 2018 (HealthDay News) — Minority residents describe burdens associated with race/ethnicity, including microaggressions and bias on a daily basis, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Network Open.
AZ Company Recalls Raw Beef Products Linked to Salmonella
FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — An Arizona company has recalled more than 6.5 million pounds (2.9 million kilograms) of beef linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 57 people in 16 states. Fourteen people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
AP News Article
CDC Food Safety Alert
Industry-Funded Trials Often Involve Employees in Studies
FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Industry employees are often involved in the design, conduct, and reporting of industry-funded trials in high-impact journals, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in The BMJ.
More Than 14 Million Preteens Need to Receive HPV Vaccine
FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 (HealthDay News) — More than 14 million additional 11- to 12-year-olds need to be vaccinated to reach the American Cancer Society goal of 80 percent of adolescents being up to date (UTD) with the human papillomavirus vaccination (HPVV) by their 13th birthday by 2026, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in Cancer.
Price Hikes Noted in Small Subset of Generic Drugs
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A small but growing subset of generic drugs experienced sudden large price increases from 2007 to 2013, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Tips Provided for Budgeting in Medical Residency
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical residents should start budgeting and save for the future, according to an article published in the American Medical Association AMA Wire.
Three-Quarters of Health Care Workers Got Flu Shot Last Year
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Just over three-quarters of health care personnel received a flu vaccine last season, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Cancer Risk Varies for Hispanics, Including in Puerto Rico
THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Hispanics have lower incidence and mortality than non-Hispanic whites for all cancers combined, although there is considerable variability in cancer risk within the U.S. Hispanic population, according to a report published online Oct. 4 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Gravel Ridge Farms Eggs
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to Gravel Ridge Farms cage-free large eggs has grown, and consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, serve, or sell the eggs, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
Uninsured Rate at 8.8 Percent in First Quarter of 2018
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In the first quarter of 2018, the uninsured rate was 8.8 percent, not significantly different from a year earlier, according to a report released Aug. 29 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
For Employer-Based Plans, Spending Across Services Steady
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite large health policy changes, the distribution of spending across service areas has remained fairly consistent over the past 10 years for those enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Telemedicine RTI Visits Shorter When Antibiotic Prescribed
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine setting, respiratory tract infection (RTI) encounters in which antibiotics are prescribed are shorter than other encounters, according to a research letter published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Interviews Can Help Ensure Physician Candidates Fit Culture
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In preparing to interview to hire a new physician, practices must understand their own cultures, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Number of Health-Related Data Breaches Increasing
TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of health data breaches has steadily increased since 2010, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
First Human Case of Rat Strain of Hepatitis E Seen in Hong Kong
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The first human case of a strain of hepatitis E previously found only in rats was diagnosed in a Hong Kong man who received a liver transplant in May 2017.
The New York Times Article
WHO: ‘Very High Risk’ That Ebola Will Spread From Congo
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is a “very high” risk that the latest Ebola outbreak in Congo will spread beyond that nation’s borders, the World Health Organization warns.
FDA Approves New Drug for Antibiotic-Resistant Lung Disease
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Arikayce (amikacin liposome inhalation suspension) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat lung disease caused by Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) bacteria among patients who do not respond to conventional therapies, the FDA said in a news release.
Hospital Privacy Curtains Become Increasingly Contaminated
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Curtains surrounding patient beds become progressively contaminated with bacteria, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
More Non-Elderly Americans Uninsured in 2017 Versus 2016
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2016 to 2017, there was an increase in the number of uninsured non-elderly Americans, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism Recurrence High
MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The risk of recurrence after incident venous thromboembolism is high, particularly among patients with cancer-related venous thromboembolism, according to a study published in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
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