Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for December 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.
Psychosocial Risk in Teens Tied to Lasting HIV Vulnerability
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — High-frequency psychosocial risk factors during adolescence have a lasting effect on the likelihood of engaging in HIV risk behaviors in adulthood, according to a study published online Dec. 12 in AIDS.
Exposure to PM2.5, Ozone at Low Levels Linked to Mortality
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and warm-season ozone at levels below current national air quality standards is associated with increased risk of mortality in the U.S. Medicare population, according to a study published in the Dec. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Reducing Tx May Harm Safety in Early HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)+ stage I or II oropharyngeal cancer, deintensification of treatment from chemoradiotherapy to one modality may compromise safety, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in Cancer.
Hepatitis B Vaccination Often Missed Among HIV Patients
TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More than one-third of adult U.S. HIV patients miss opportunities to initiate hepatitis B vaccination, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Swelling, Infection Most Common Side Effects of Injectable Fillers
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The most common adverse events associated with injectable fillers are swelling and infection, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
CDC: 2015 to 2016 Saw Drop in Life Expectancy in United States
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2015 to 2016, life expectancy decreased by one-tenth of a year, and there was an increase in the rate of age-adjusted drug overdose deaths, according to two December data briefs published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Abstract/Full Text – Kochanek
Abstract/Full Text – Hedegaard
Herpes Zoster Risk Not Up in Systemically Treated Psoriasis
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with psoriasis, the risk of herpes zoster (HZ) is not significantly increased for systemically treated patients or for those receiving biologics versus nonbiologics, according to a research letter published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Dermatology.
Oral Care Guidelines Can Improve Quality of Oral Health Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Development and implementation of standardized oral care treatment and referral guidelines can improve the overall quality of oral health practice for older sub-acute patients, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research.
Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics Best for Children With Acute RTIs
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For children with acute respiratory tract infections, broad-spectrum antibiotics are not associated with better clinical or patient-centered outcomes compared with narrow-spectrum antibiotics, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Two Cases of Progressive Cutaneous Anthrax Described
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Two cases of cutaneous anthrax which started on the right forearm and progressed are described in a case report published online Dec. 12 in the International Journal of Dermatology.
Special Precautions Not Advised for Flu Vaccine in Egg Allergic
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are safe for individuals with egg allergy of any severity, according to a practice parameter update published online Dec. 19 in the Annals of Asthma, Allergy & and Immunology.
Primary Care Crucial for Preventing New HIV Infections
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Primary care providers will play an important role in preventing the next wave of HIV infections, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Male U.S. Doctors Receive Higher Values of Industry Payments
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Male physicians in the United States received higher values of general payments from industry than females in 2015, according to a research letter published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Counseling Linked to Reduction in Vaccine Exemption Rates
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of Washington state’s Senate Bill 5005 (SB5005), which requires counseling and a signed form from a licensed health care provider to obtain a vaccine exemption, was associated with a decrease in exemption rates and an increase in vaccine coverage for vaccines required for school entrance, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Pediatrics.
Payment for Laboratory Tests Set to Reduce Starting Jan. 1, 2018
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, which is set to reduce payments for testing services conducted in physician office-based laboratories, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Probiotics, Chewing Gum Found Ineffective for Pharyngitis
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Neither probiotics nor xylitol-based chewing gum cuts the severity of symptoms associated with pharyngitis, according to a study published in the Dec. 18 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Long-Term Macrolide Use Linked to Resistant P. Acnes
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Long-term oral macrolide administration may increase macrolide-resistant Propionibacterium acnes, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in the Journal of Dermatology.
Year One Results Out for Value-Based Payment Modifier Program
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Almost 30 percent of eligible practices failed to register and report data in the first year of the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier program, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Anaphylaxis Is Rare Complication of Pregnancy
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Anaphylaxis is a rare complication of pregnancy, with an estimated incidence of 1.6 per 100,000 maternities, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Doctors Must Report on at Least 1 Patient, 1 Measure for MACRA
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In order to meet the 2017 Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) participation reporting deadline and avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019, physicians must report on at least one patient and one measure by Dec. 31, and submit to Medicare no later than Feb. 28, 2018, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
H. Pylori Infection Found to Be Related to Gallbladder Diseases
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Gallstones are less common with Helicobacter pylori infection among a Chinese population, according to a study published Nov. 27 in the Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
Flu Vaccine Expected to Protect Against Most U.S. H3N2 Viruses
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A novel bioinformatics approach can predict vaccine effectiveness for the influenza season, and indicates that the current vaccines are likely to be effective against H3N2 flu viruses in the U.S. 2017/2018 flu season, according to research published online Nov. 29 in F1000 Research.
Functional Limitations Ongoing With Congenital Zika
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Severe functional limitations are reported among children with microcephaly and laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection in infancy, according to research published in the Dec. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Making Insurers Participate in Marketplace Could Cut Volatility
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Requiring insurers that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to also participate in Marketplaces in the same geographic area could improve access to insurance, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Recent Change in Spectrum of HIV-Linked Kidney Disease
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The spectrum of HIV-associated kidney disease has changed with the improvement of therapy for HIV infection, according to a review article published in the Dec. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bivalent Meningococcal B Vaccine Safe, Immunogenic
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A bivalent meningococcal B vaccine targeting factor H-binding protein (MenB-FHbp) elicits bactericidal responses against diverse meningococcal B strains after two and three doses in adolescents and young adults, according to a study published in the Dec. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Telemedicine Facilitates Diabetes Foot Ulcer Care
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Telemedicine follow-up enables more comprehensive diabetes foot ulcer care, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
C. Difficile + Kidney Injury Admissions Are Up
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 13, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Hospital admissions of patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and accompanying acute kidney injury (AKI) are increasing, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Atopic Dermatitis Severity Tied to IgG Response to S. Aureus
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Atopic dermatitis (AD) disease severity is associated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses against Staphylococcus aureus antigens, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
Deceleration in Health Care Spending Growth in 2016
MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care spending growth slowed in 2016 following faster growth in 2014 and 2015, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
Obesity May Be Tied to Higher Rosacea Risk in Women
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Obesity may be associated with an increased risk for rosacea, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Influenza Picking Up in U.S., Predominantly A(H3N2)
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Influenza activity was low during October 2017 but started increasing in November, with influenza A, predominantly A(H3N2), most commonly identified, according to research published in the Dec. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Letermovir Prophylaxis Cuts Risk of CMV Infection
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For cytomegalovirus (CMV)-seronegative patients undergoing hematopoietic-cell transplantation, letermovir prophylaxis is associated with a lower risk of CMV infection than placebo, according to a study published online Dec. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CVS-Aetna Merger Has Implications for Doctors’ Offices
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — CVS Health’s planned purchase of insurance giant Aetna, a $69 billion deal, was announced Sunday.
More Information – NYT
More Information – HealthDay
Link Between Diabetes, Antibiotic Use Called Into Question
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Previous findings that systemic use of antibiotics increases the risk of diabetes may actually be explained by clinical and lifestyle factors, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Nivolumab May Induce Successful Depletion of HIV Reservoir
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Nivolumab treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer may induce successful depletion of HIV reservoir, according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 1 in the Annals of Oncology.
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