Home Emergency Medicine January 2016 Briefing – Emergency Medicine

January 2016 Briefing – Emergency Medicine

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Emergency Medicine for January 2016. 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.

Demand for Medical Office Space High and Increasing

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Demand for medical office space for ambulatory care is at a high point and looks likely to continue increasing, according to an article published in Forbes.

FDA Warns of Lead Poisoning Risk From Cosmetic Clay

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A beauty clay sold at major retail outlets may put users at risk for lead poisoning, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Friday.

Severe Reaction to Pneumococcal Vaccines in Patients With CAPS

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Pneumococcal vaccines can trigger a severe local and systemic inflammatory reaction in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Guidance Issued for Endoscopic Management of Foreign Bodies

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines, published online Jan. 25 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases, have been developed for endoscopic management of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

AMA Highlights Top Four Issues to Promote in State Legislation

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The top four issues that will be promoted in state legislation in 2016 were discussed at the 2016 American Medical Association (AMA) State Legislative Strategy Conference, according to a report published by the AMA.

~1% of Physicians Account for One-Third of Malpractice Claims

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A small number of physicians account for a considerable proportion of all paid malpractice claims, according to a study published in the Jan. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Drug Shortages Affecting Emergency Med Up 2008 to 2014

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — From 2008 to 2014 there was an increase in drug shortages within the scope of emergency medicine (EM) practice, according to a study published in the January issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.

Possibility for Health Care Legislation Changes in 2016

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Given the current political climate and issues of bipartisan concern, 2016 could see certain changes to health care legislation, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

Varicella Zoster Vaccine Linked to Corneal Inflammation

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Varicella zoster virus vaccination has been linked to corneal inflammation, but the number of such cases is small, according to research presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Las Vegas.

Pulse Pressure Linked to Multiple Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Pulse pressure (PP) is associated with multiple adverse cardiovascular outcomes, according to a study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Prednisolone Therapy Induces Procoagulant State

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For healthy subjects, 10 days of prednisolone therapy induces a procoagulant state, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Overweight, Obesity Linked to Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and non-SCD, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Coronary CT Angiography Findings Modify Statin, Aspirin Rx

MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Knowledge of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) results is associated with improved alignment of aspirin and statin prescribing with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Guidelines for Appropriate Use of Cardiac Imaging in the ER

MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — New guidelines, published online Jan. 22 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, have been developed for assessing the appropriateness of imaging for patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain.

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IV Thrombolysis Aids Patients Dependent Before Their Stroke

FRIDAY, Jan. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) treatment might benefit stroke patients who needed help with daily living before their stroke, according to research published online Jan. 21 in Stroke.

Opt-Out Testing in the ER May Boost HIV Testing Rates

THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — “Opt-out” testing could significantly increase the number of patients who agree to be tested for HIV, according to research published online Jan. 19 in The BMJ.

Blood Test May Help Guide Appropriateness of Antibiotic Rx

THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say they’re closer to developing a blood test that distinguishes between viral and bacterial respiratory infections. The findings are published in the Jan. 20 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Uptick in CT Scans for Minor Trauma Cases in California

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The use of computed tomography (CT) on patients with minor trauma doubled in California in recent years, according to a study published in the Journal of Surgical Research.

Physicians Choose Less Aggressive Care at End of Life

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians facing death are less likely to demand aggressive care, according to two research letters published in the Jan. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on death, dying, and end of life.

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ACP, CDC Offer Antibiotic Rx Guidelines for ARTIs

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued new guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in adults. The guidelines were published online Jan. 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Greater Transparency Being Promoted in Research

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Greater transparency is being promoted in clinical research, according to a health policy brief published online Jan. 14 in Health Affairs.

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Injury Severity Impacts Time to Repair in Maxillofacial Trauma

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with maxillofacial trauma, factors such as injury severity score and concurrent injuries are associated with increased time to repair, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.

Stethoscope Still Valuable Despite Technological Advances

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Despite advances in medical technology, the stethoscope still has important diagnostic value, according to an editorial published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Pertussis Outbreak Described in Preschool in Tallahassee

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A report published online Jan. 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases highlights a 2013 pertussis outbreak among mainly vaccinated preschool-aged children.

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Compassion Fatigue May Be Underestimated by Trauma Teams

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The challenges facing trauma care providers can put them at risk for compassion fatigue and burnout, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the Journal of Trauma Nursing.

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Incidence of Nephrolithiasis Rising in Teens, Blacks

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A growing number of teens, women, and blacks are being diagnosed with nephrolithiasis, according to findings published online Jan. 14 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Diagnostic Imaging Down With High Deductible Health Plans

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — U.S. patients whose health insurance plans have high deductibles undergo fewer diagnostic imaging tests, according to a study published in the February issue of Medical Care.

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ER-Initiated Palliative Care Consult Ups QoL in Advanced CA

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with advanced cancer, emergency department-initiated palliative care consultation is associated with improved quality of life, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Oncology.

WHO: West Africa Ebola Outbreak Is Over

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The two-year Ebola outbreak in West Africa that claimed more than 11,300 lives is over, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

Health Coverage Improved As Result of Affordable Care Act

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act is working as intended, extending health care coverage and ensuring that hospital care is financially compensated, according to two research letters published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Tickborne Bacteria Identified in Ticks from Texas

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — About 23 percent of ticks from Texas carry bacterial DNA from at least one of the following: Rickettsia, Borrelia, and Ehrlichia spp., according to a report published online Jan. 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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Pathway to Heroin Described in NEJM Commentary

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — U.S. researchers are challenging a leading theory about the nation’s heroin epidemic, saying it’s not a direct result of the crackdown on opioids. The commentary has been published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Infants, Not Just Older Children, at Risk of Accidental Poisonings

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Infants are just as susceptible to accidental poisonings as older children are, especially when it comes to medication errors, according to research published online Jan. 13 in Pediatrics.

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Mislabeled Dose Cups Prompt Children’s Cough Syrup Recall

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Two flavors of over-the-counter children’s liquid cough medicine are being recalled across the United States because the dose cups that come with the medicine have incorrect markings and could lead to overdose.

Recommendations Developed for Antithrombotic Tx in VTE

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — New recommendations have been developed for antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: CHEST Guideline was published online Jan. 7 in CHEST.

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Azithromycin Prescribed Despite Risk for QTc Prolongation

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Azithromycin is frequently prescribed to hospitalized patients despite the presence of risk factors for QTc prolongation, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Breast Implants Linked to Chronic Pulmonary Silicone Embolism

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Chronic pulmonary silicone embolism related to saline breast implants has been detailed in a letter to the editor published in the January issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

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CDC: TB Potentially Passed From Zoo Elephants to People

FRIDAY, Jan. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Transmission of tuberculosis from infected captive elephants to humans may be possible with long-term, close contact with the animals, according to research published in the Jan. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Review: Interventions Can Cut Inappropriate Cardiac Imaging

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Quality improvement interventions that employ physician audit and feedback can reduce inappropriate cardiac imaging, according to a review published online Jan. 5 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Oral Fluconazole Exposure Linked to Spontaneous Abortion Risk

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of oral fluconazole in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion, according to a study published in the Jan. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

High Dose of Vitamin D Tied to Higher Risk of Falls in Elderly

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Higher monthly doses of vitamin D have no benefit on lower extremity function and correlate with increased risk of falls compared with lower doses in elderly adults, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Tx Delay Impacts Microvascular Reperfusion in STEMI

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), delayed reperfusion therapy is associated with greater microcirculation injury, according to a study published in the Dec. 28 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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