Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for December 2019. 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.
Nurses Can Help Manage Drug Interactions in HIV/Hep C Treatment
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Drug interactions between antiretroviral therapy (ART) and direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) pose a clinical challenge in patients with HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection, according to an article published online Dec. 17 in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
Machine Learning System Makes More Alerts for Med Errors
TUESDAY, Dec. 31, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A machine learning system can generate clinically valid alerts for medication errors that might be missed with existing clinical decision support (CDS) systems, according to a study published in the January issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.
CDC: Cases of Flu Continue to Mount Across America
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Flu continues to spread throughout the United States and has reached elevated levels in nearly every state, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Samoa Ends State of Emergency Over Measles
MONDAY, Dec. 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Slowing infection rates and a surge in vaccinations have prompted the South Pacific island of Samoa to end a six-week state of emergency over a measles outbreak, the BBC reported Sunday.
BBC Article
Protection Similar With Single, Multiple HPV Vaccine Doses
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — U.S. women who have received one dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have similar protection as women who have received two or three doses, according to a research letter published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Network Open.
Psychological Safety at Work Tied to Hospital Infection Prevention
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Hospitals reporting high levels of psychological safety in their work culture are more likely to have comprehensive infection prevention and control programs, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Many Hospitals Fail to Provide Instructions for Patient Portals
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many hospital patient portals fail to educate patients fully and set expectations for secure messaging, according to a study recently published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Most Children Do Not Have Positive Results to Antibiotic Challenge
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Most children with non-β-lactam antibiotic (NBLA) allergy can be delabeled, with positive results on allergy testing for only 18 percent, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in Pediatrics.
Patient Share of Out-of-Network Costs Rising
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network (OON) care grew rapidly for privately insured Americans from 2012 to 2017, according to a study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.
Transplant Outcomes Similar With Lungs From ‘Increased-Risk’ Donors
TUESDAY, Dec. 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Using lungs for transplant from donors who are considered at high risk for certain infectious diseases has similar one-year outcomes for recipients compared with using lungs from standard-risk donors, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Enrollment in Affordable Care Act Holds Steady for Third Straight Year
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage for next year has surpassed 8 million, a sign that many Americans still turn to the government health insurance program to help pay for their medical care.
Vaccination Rates Improved With Removal of Nonmedical Exemptions
MONDAY, Dec. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of a policy that eliminated nonmedical exemptions from school entry requirements correlated with an increase in vaccination coverage and a reduction in nonmedical exemptions in California, according to a study published online Dec. 23 in PLOS Medicine.
FDA Gives First Ebola Vaccine for Adults the Green Light
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The first Ebola vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a single-dose injection called Ervebo. The vaccine from Merck & Co. is approved to protect against the Zaire ebolavirus in people ages 18 years and older.
Private Care Program for U.S. Vets Gets $8.9 Billion in Budget Deal
THURSDAY, Dec. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A controversial program meant to get more U.S. veterans to use private health care received $8.9 billion as part of a government spending bill approved by the House.
AP News Article
FDA to Allow States to Import Prescription Drugs From Other Countries
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Federal health officials have unveiled plans to allow prescription drug imports from Canada and other foreign nations.
USPSTF Recommends Behavioral Counseling for STI Prevention
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends behavioral counseling for sexually active adolescents and for adults with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk. These recommendations form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Dec. 17 by the USPSTF.
Draft Recommendation Statement
Draft Evidence Review
Comment on Recommendation Statement
Possible Measles Exposures Occurred at LA International Airport
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People who were at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 11 may have been exposed to the measles virus, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned Monday.
CNN Article
Hospital-Level Home Acute Care Can Cut Costs, Health Care Use
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For acutely ill adults, hospital-level care at home is associated with reduced costs, health care use, and readmissions compared with usual hospital care, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
One in 10 Hospital Patients May Carry C. Diff at Admission
TUESDAY, Dec. 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Nearly one in 10 patients admitted to a hospital with no symptoms of diarrhea may be a carrier of Clostridioides difficile, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Outcomes Worse for Rural Residents With Chronic Conditions
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Rural Medicare beneficiaries with complex chronic conditions have higher preventable hospitalization and mortality rates than their urban peers, which is partially explained by reduced access to specialists, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
Five-Year Mortality Up in Older Adults With Unplanned Admission
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Death within five years of first unplanned hospital admission is common among older adults, according to a study published in the Dec. 16 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Ups Risk for Serious Viral Infections
MONDAY, Dec. 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a threefold higher risk for systemic serious viral infections (SVIs) compared with the general population, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in the United European Gastroenterology Journal.
Hahn Confirmed as New FDA Chief
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Stephen Hahn, M.D., was confirmed as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a 72-18 Senate vote on Thursday.
The New York Times Article
Incidence of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease Rising
FRIDAY, Dec. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The incidence and prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease is increasing in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Few Child Care Centers Report Flu Vaccine Requirements
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Few child care center directors report having an influenza vaccine requirement for children and adult caregivers, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.
Antibiotics Often Prescribed Without Documented Indication
THURSDAY, Dec. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A considerable proportion of antibiotics are prescribed without a documented indication, according to a study published online Dec. 11 in The BMJ.
State Legislators React to Preventable Disease Outbreaks
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Increases in vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) outbreaks are associated with an increase in proposed state legislation that would restrict vaccine exemptions, according to a research letter recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.
U.S. Primary Care Doctors Face Challenges in Coordinating Care
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians from the United States and other high-income countries report difficulties with care coordination, with a substantial proportion of U.S. physicians not receiving timely notification or the information needed from specialists or other sites of care, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in Health Affairs.
U.S. Health Care Spending Up 4.6 Percent in 2018
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2018, U.S. health care spending increased 4.6 percent, a faster rate than that seen in 2017, according to a report published online Dec. 5 in Health Affairs.
Few MMR-Vaccine Eligible Children Receive Vaccine Before Travel
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Less than half of pediatric travelers who are eligible for pretravel measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination are vaccinated during pretravel consultation, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in JAMA Pediatrics.
2016 to 2019 Saw Increase in Medical Students With Disabilities
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2016 to 2019, there was an increase in the proportion of medical students reporting disabilities, according to a research letter published in the Nov. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Extending HPV Vaccination to Age 45 Provides Small Additional Benefit
MONDAY, Dec. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Extending the current human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program to age 45 years is expected to produce small additional reductions in HPV-associated diseases with high additional costs, according to a study published online Dec. 10 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Rural Population Underrepresented Among Medical Students
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2017, less than 5 percent of all incoming medical students were rural students, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
Retail Prescription Drug Prices Fall for First Time in 45 Years
FRIDAY, Dec. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Retail prescription drug prices in the United States fell by 1 percent last year, a new government report shows.
AP News Article
More Than 100 E. Coli Illnesses Now Linked to Romaine Lettuce
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Federal health officials are currently investigating a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli infection linked to romaine lettuce thought to be grown in Salinas, California.
More Information: CDC
More Information: FDA
Annual Reported Measles Incidence Dropped From 2000 to 2018
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The annual reported measles incidence decreased from 2000 to 2018, but the number of cases increased from 2016 to 2018, according to research published in the Dec. 6 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Seven Deaths in California From Infections Tied to Black Tar Heroin
THURSDAY, Dec. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Infections linked to injections of black tar heroin have killed seven people in San Diego County in the past two months, health officials said Wednesday.
NBC News Article
County of San Diego Press Release
Services Affected by Rural Hospitals Joining Health Systems
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — While affiliating with health systems may boost a rural hospital’s financial viability, the affiliation is often associated with reductions in critical services, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs, a theme issue on rural health.
New HIV Infections Remained Stable in U.S. From 2013 to 2017
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2017, the number of new HIV infections remained stable, and only 18.1 percent of the 1.2 million people with indications for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) had been prescribed the medication in 2018, according to research published in the Dec. 3 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Adults Not Living in Metro Areas Have Reduced Access to Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Adults not living in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) are more likely to have reduced access to or use of health care services, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the National Health Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Physician Depressive Symptoms Tied to Higher Risk for Medical Errors
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Physicians showing depressive symptoms are at higher risk for medical errors, according to a review published Nov. 27 in JAMA Network Open.
Digital Sepsis Monitoring May Improve Inpatient Outcomes
TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A digital sepsis alert is associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
New Federal Program Provides Free HIV Prevention Drugs to Uninsured
TUESDAY, Dec. 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new program to provide free HIV prevention drugs to people who cannot afford them because they do not have health insurance was announced Tuesday by the U.S. government.
AP News Article
Outcomes of Hep C Screening Intervention Examined
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A multicomponent intervention can improve hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening, although there is considerable variation by practice, according to a study published online Dec. 3 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Government Shut Down as Samoa Battles Measles Outbreak
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The government of Samoa will close on Thursday and Friday as civil servants join the fight against a measles outbreak in the South Pacific Island nation that has killed 53 people, the country’s prime minister said Monday.
CNN Article
End-Stage Renal Disease Patients at Higher Risk for Syphilis
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are at a higher risk for contracting syphilis, according to a study recently published in the Clinical Kidney Journal.
Risk for Hospital Admission Up With Short-Term PM2.5 Exposure
MONDAY, Dec. 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) is associated with increased hospital admission risks and costs, according to a study published online Nov. 27 in The BMJ.
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