Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Emergency Medicine for March 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.
FDA Allows Use of Investigational Zika Test for Blood Donations
THURSDAY, March 31, 2016 (HealthDay News) — An experimental test to check blood donations for the Zika virus has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Many Don’t Know Key Facts About Zika Virus Transmission
WEDNESDAY, March 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many individuals are unaware of the exact nature of Zika virus transmission, according to a report published online March 29 by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
How Can We Fix the Wage Gap Among Female Physicians?
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women doctors can address the gender wage disparity by understanding the reasons why they earn less, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Few ER Doctors Ask Suicidal Patients About Firearm Access
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Only half of suicidal patients in U.S. emergency departments are asked if they have access to guns, according to a study published online March 17 in Depression and Anxiety.
Standard Precautions Advised in Labor & Delivery to Prevent Zika
MONDAY, March 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Standard Precautions should be used in all health care settings, including labor and delivery, in order to minimize the potential risk of transmission of Zika virus to health care personnel or other patients, according to research published in the March 25 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Many Doctors Prescribe Opioids for Longer Than CDC Advises
FRIDAY, March 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — When doctors in the United States prescribe opioids for their patients, 99 percent of them hand out prescriptions that exceed the federally recommended three-day dosage limit, new research suggests.
Low-Normal Sodium Deemed Major Risk for Mortality in Elderly
FRIDAY, March 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) – A slightly lower serum sodium concentration within the normal range is a major risk factor for mortality in elderly adults, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
FDA Wants Generic Opioids to Be Abuse-Deterrent
FRIDAY, March 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Continuing their push to combat the nation’s epidemic of opioid abuse, U.S. officials on Thursday urged generic drug makers to take steps to redesign drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone to make them harder to abuse.
Esophageal Rupture Described After Drinking PEG Solution
THURSDAY, March 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Esophageal rupture can occur in association with colonoscopy preparation, according to a letter to the editor published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Report of Bone Marrow/Liver Pathology Caused by Syphilis
WEDNESDAY, March 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A case of acquired syphilis leading to involvement of the bone marrow and liver is described in a report published online March 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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FDA Orders Enhanced Warning Labels on Opioid Pain Medications
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that immediate-release opioid pain medications will get new boxed warnings about the dangers of misuse.
AMA Encouraging Physicians to ID, Assist Victims of Trafficking
TUESDAY, March 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians can help to identify and assist trafficking victims, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
FDA Approves Anthim for Treating Inhalation Anthrax
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Anthim (obiltoxaximab) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat inhalational anthrax.
FDA: Most Powdered Medical Gloves Should Be Banned in U.S.
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants to ban most powdered medical gloves, saying they pose serious health risks to patients and health care providers alike.
Physicians Respond to New CDC Opioid Guidelines
MONDAY, March 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians have responded to the new U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s clinical guidelines for prescribing opioids, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
CDC: 116 Travel-Associated Zika Cases in U.S. So Far This Year
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — During the first two months of this year, 116 U.S. residents have tested positive for infection with the Zika virus, and all but one were linked to travel to regions endemic for the virus. The findings were reported in the March 18 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Case Report: Immobility-Induced Hypercalcemia in Infant
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A rare case of immobility-induced hypercalcemia in an infant has been documented in a case report published online March 18 in Pediatrics.
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Case Before Supreme Court May Expose Doctors to Large Fines
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A case before a state supreme court could potentially expose physicians to large fines based on a legal technicality relating to what they should have known, rather than what they knew, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Case Report: Ceftriaxone-Linked Renal Toxicity in Adult Male
FRIDAY, March 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A case of ceftriaxone-associated renal toxicity in an adult has been documented in a case report published online Feb. 23 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
SCD Accounts for >30 Percent of CV Deaths After NSTE ACS
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for more than 30 percent of cardiovascular deaths after non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS), according to research published online March 16 in JAMA Cardiology.
Spending on Prescription Meds Up About 5 Percent in 2015
THURSDAY, March 17, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Spending on prescription medications for insured Americans increased about 5 percent in 2015, with the increase half of that seen in 2014, the Associated Press reported.
Disruptive Patients Distract Docs, May Receive Compromised Care
WEDNESDAY, March 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Disruptive patients may get worse care from physicians, according to a study published online March 7 in BMJ Quality & Safety. The findings aren’t definitive because the researchers tested how physicians responded in fictional vignettes, instead of real-life encounters. Still, the results suggest that such patients distract physicians from doing their jobs.
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CDC Issues New Prescription Guidelines for Opioids
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A new advisory, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stresses that doctors — especially primary care physicians — should try to avoid prescription of opioids whenever possible. Two research letters published online March 15 in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlight the scope of the opioid issue.
Mayo Clinic Has Established Model to Help Battle Burnout
TUESDAY, March 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to reduce burnout among physicians, the Mayo Clinic is initiating a model to raise camaraderie and increase collaboration, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Diabetes Patients More Susceptible to Staph Bacteremia
FRIDAY, March 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients with diabetes may be significantly more likely to develop community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (CA-SAB) than those without diabetes, according to a study published online March 10 in the European Journal of Endocrinology.
Ironman Competitors Susceptible to Hyponatremia
THURSDAY, March 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Long-distance triathletes who drink too much water during competition may end up with hyponatremia, according to a letter to the editor published in the March 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Zika Now Tied to Meningoencephalitis
THURSDAY, March 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The list of neurological disorders potentially associated with the Zika virus continues to grow, according to a letter to the editor and a perspective piece published online March 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Warfarin’s Intracranial Bleed Risk Higher Than Previously Reported
THURSDAY, March 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Warfarin treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation may raise the risk of traumatic intracranial bleeding by more than previously reported, according to a study published online March 9 in JAMA Cardiology.
Physicians’ Contracts Can Affect Patients, Professionalism
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Problematic clauses in physicians’ contracts can impact patient care and professionalism, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online March 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Adventitial Cystic Disease Mimics Deep Venous Thrombosis
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Adventitial cystic disease of the common femoral vein can be mistaken for deep venous thrombosis, according to a case report published online March 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Retail Clinics Do Not Decrease Health Care Spending
WEDNESDAY, March 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Retail clinic visits often represent new health care utilization and increased health care spending for low-acuity conditions, according to a study published in the March issue of Health Affairs.
Case Report Describes Loss of Vision After Popper Inhalation
TUESDAY, March 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Inhalation of “poppers,” a group of alkyl nitrite chemicals, which cause euphoria, sexual arousal, and relaxation of smooth muscles, can cause disruption in vision, according to a case report published online March 7 in BMJ: Case Reports.
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Bloodstream Infection Outbreak in Wisconsin Linked to 18 Deaths
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The source of a bacterial bloodstream infection linked with the deaths of 18 people in Wisconsin is being sought by federal, state, and local health officials.
More Chest Pain for Women Undergoing PCI With DES
FRIDAY, March 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Women undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with new generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have a higher prevalence of clinically relevant chest pain, according to a study published online March 2 in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Superior for Abscess
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole results in a higher clinical cure rate of uncomplicated abscesses than placebo, according to a study published in the March 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Recurrence Risk Estimator Valid for Acute Ischemic Stroke
THURSDAY, March 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Recurrence Risk Estimator (RRE) score is valid for identifying the risk of recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke, according to a study published online Feb. 29 in JAMA Neurology.
SCOTUS: States Can’t Force Health Care Data Release
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Supreme Court has ruled against state efforts to collect health care data from insurance plans.
Spouse Education Level May Impact Choice for Rural Practice
WEDNESDAY, March 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians who are married to a highly-educated spouse are less likely to work in rural underserved areas, according to a study published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Zika Infection Linked to Guillain-Barré Syndrome
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Zika virus infection may be associated with incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome, according to a study published online Feb. 29 in The Lancet.
AAN: Stroke Risk Up With Daylight Saving Transitions
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The transition to daylight saving time (DST) is associated with a transient increase in the risk of ischemic stroke, according to a study scheduled for presentation at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, to be held from April 15 to 21 in Vancouver, Canada.
IVCF Use Up in Older Patients With Pulmonary Embolism
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The use of inferior vena caval filters (IVCFs) for pulmonary embolism (PE) increased from 1999 through 2010, according to research published in the March 8 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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High Levels of Exercise May Be Cardiotoxic
TUESDAY, March 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Emerging evidence suggests that there may be some cardiotoxicity associated with exercise, according to a review published online Feb. 24 in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
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