Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for February 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.
Flu Vaccination During Pregnancy Does Not Cause Miscarriage
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An influenza vaccine cannot cause a pregnant woman to miscarry, researchers say.
Risk Factors ID’d for Site Infection After Orthopedic Surgery in Seniors
THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Five risk factors are independently associated with surgical site infection among geriatric patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the International Wound Journal.
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CDC: Progress in HIV Prevention Has Stalled in the United States
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The battle against new HIV infections has lost some steam in recent years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Decline Observed in HPV Type 16/18 Cervical Precancers in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The proportion of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18-positive cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2 to 3 or adenocarcinoma in situ (CIN2+) declined from 2008 to 2014, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Stewardship Programs Decrease Inpatient Fluoroquinolone Rx
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fluoroquinolone stewardship interventions at hospitals are associated with less fluoroquinolone prescribing during hospitalization but not at discharge, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Sufficient Investment Could Reduce HIV Epidemic by 2030
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — New HIV infections could be reduced and prevalence could begin to decline by 2030 with sufficient investment, including meeting 95 percent targets for diagnosis, care retention, and viral suppression by 2025, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in AIDS and Behavior.
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Poor Food Intake Common in Hospitalized Patients
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Approximately one-third of adult inpatients are at risk for malnutrition and poorer outcomes due to not eating their meals, despite being allowed to eat, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
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Prediction Rule IDs Febrile Infants 0 to 2 Months Old at Low Risk for SBIs
TUESDAY, Feb. 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new prediction rule can accurately identify febrile infants aged ≤60 days at low risk for serious bacterial infections (SBIs) using urinalysis, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), and procalcitonin levels, according to a study published online Feb. 18 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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2014 to 2017 Saw Improvement in Burnout for U.S. Physicians
MONDAY, Feb. 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2014 to 2017, there was an improvement in burnout and satisfaction with work-life integration among U.S. physicians, according to a study published online Feb. 22 in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
National Health Spending Set to Increase 5.5 Percent Annually
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — National health spending is projected to increase at an annual rate of 5.5. percent from 2018 to 2027, with fundamental economic and demographic factors the main drivers, according to a report published online Feb. 20 in Health Affairs.
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Most Patients Do Not Disclose Complementary Medicine Use
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Just one-third of users of biologically based complementary medicine (CM) disclose their use to traditional health care providers, according to a review published online Feb. 7 in Scientific Reports.
44.4 Million Estimated to Be Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer by 2069
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In the absence of further intervention, in the next 50 years, an estimated 44.4 million women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer globally, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in The Lancet Oncology.
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Intervention Can Reduce Orders for Inpatient Urine Cultures
FRIDAY, Feb. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An intervention that makes changes to urine testing orderables can reduce the urine culturing rate, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Vertical Integration Has Little Impact on Quality Measures
THURSDAY, Feb. 21, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Vertical integration between hospitals and physicians has little impact on quality measures, while increased hospital market concentration is strongly associated with reduced quality in measures of patient satisfaction, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Medical Care Research and Review.
New Kaiser Permanente Medical School Plans to Waive Tuition
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A new medical school to be opened by California-based health system Kaiser Permanente will waive tuition for all students in its first five graduating classes.
The New York Times Article
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FDA Head Says Feds May Intervene to Cut Vaccine Exemptions
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. government may have to take steps to reduce vaccine exemptions for children if states do not do it, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested. His comments come as measles outbreaks rage in a number of states. Those outbreaks could have been prevented if children had all been vaccinated. But nearly all states allow children to attend school even if their parents opt out of inoculation programs, CNN reported.
Plazomicin Noninferior to Meropenem for Complicated UTI
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Plazomicin is noninferior to meropenem for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to a study and a research letter published in the Feb. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Wagenlehner (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – McKinnell (subscription or payment may be required)
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Experimental Test May Quickly Diagnose Sepsis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A blood test that can quickly diagnose dangerous sepsis infections has been developed, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
CNN Article
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Altered Gut Microbiome Seen in Patients With Active Lupus
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The microbiome of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly those with increased disease activity, has reduced taxonomic complexity, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
Prenatal Fluconazole Exposure Increases Neonatal Risks
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Maternal exposure to fluconazole during pregnancy may increase the risk for spontaneous abortion, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Glottic Carcinoma Can Be HPV-Related Disease in Young Adults
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20, 2019 (HealthDay News) — An increased incidence of glottic carcinoma related to human papillomavirus (HPV) has been documented in recent years among young patients, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology.
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CDC: Salmonella Cases Tied to Raw Turkey Products Now at 279
TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Sixty-three more cases of illness in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products have been reported since Dec. 21, 2018, bringing the total number to 279, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in an update.
Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Deer in 24 States
TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Chronic wasting disease has been found in wild deer, elk, and moose in 24 states, and hunters should avoid handling or eating potentially infected meat, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned.
CNN Article
More Information: CDC
Recombinant Zoster Vaccine Cost-Effective in Simulation
TUESDAY, Feb. 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Vaccination with recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) seems cost-effective under a wide range of conditions, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Sepsis Common in Terminal Hospitalizations, Discharges
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of hospitalized patients who die or are terminally discharged have sepsis, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Network Open.
Hospital Prices Growing Faster Than Physician Prices
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Growth in hospital prices and payments outpaced growth in physician prices and payments from 2007 through 2014, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
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CDC: Heterosexual Syphilis Transmission Up for Drug Users
FRIDAY, Feb. 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A substantial proportion of heterosexual syphilis transmission seems to be occurring among those who use drugs, especially methamphetamine, according to research published in the Feb. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC: Severity of Influenza Season Low Through Feb. 2, 2019
THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 2018 to 2019 influenza season has been low in severity so far, and overall vaccine effectiveness is about 47 percent, according to two reports published in the Feb. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Abstract/Full Text – Blanton
Abstract/Full Text – Doyle
Child Enterovirus Infection May Up Risk for Developing Celiac Disease
THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A higher frequency of enterovirus infections in early childhood is associated with an increased risk for developing celiac disease, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the The BMJ.
High Rates of MenB Vaccination Advised in University Outbreaks
THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Achieving high serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccination coverage is recommended following university-based outbreaks of meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Risk for MRSA Reduced With Postdischarge Decolonization
THURSDAY, Feb. 14, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients colonized with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), postdischarge MRSA decolonization is associated with a reduced risk for infection, according to a study published in the Feb. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Progress Made in Developing New Antibacterial Agents
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Although there has been progress in the development of new antibacterial drugs, most of the recently approved agents have been modifications of existing chemical classes of antibiotics, according to research published online Feb. 1 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
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Sinks by Toilets in ICU Patient Rooms Harbor Harmful Bacteria
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Sinks next to toilets in hospital patient rooms may be reservoirs for Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemase (KPC), according to a brief report published in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
Health Care Spending Per Person Increased to $5,641 in 2017
TUESDAY, Feb. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In 2017, health care spending per person reached $5,641, according to the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) annual Health Care Cost and Utilization Report.
Health Care Cost and Utilization Report
Many Systematic Reviews Do Not Fully Report Adverse Events
TUESDAY, Feb. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many systematic review protocols in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) do not include adverse event reporting, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
Direct-Acting Antivirals Cut Mortality in Chronic Hepatitis C
TUESDAY, Feb. 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For adults with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, direct-acting antivirals are associated with a reduced risk for mortality and hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in The Lancet.
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Congo Ebola Outbreak Claims Nearly 100 Children’s Lives
MONDAY, Feb. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has claimed the lives of nearly 100 children, and the number of cases are on the rise, according to the charity Save the Children.
CNN Article
More Information: CDC
Smaller Germinal Centers Identified in Recurrent Tonsillitis
MONDAY, Feb. 11, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Children with recurrent tonsillitis (RT) have smaller germinal centers, according to a study published in the Feb. 6 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Measles Outbreak Triggers Sharp Rise in Demand for Vaccine
FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Health clinics in Clark County, Washington, are scrambling to meet the sharply increased demand for measles vaccination as people seek protection during an outbreak of the highly contagious virus.
Johnson & Johnson to Provide Drug Prices in TV Ads
FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In a drug industry first, Johnson & Johnson will start giving the list prices of its prescription drugs in television ads.
Vaccine-Preventable Infections Common After Peds Transplant
FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalization for vaccine-preventable infections occurs in more than 15 percent of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients in the first five years after surgery, according to a study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.
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High-Risk HPV Infection Linked to Increased Risk for CVD in Women
FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Feb. 7 in Circulation Research.
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Recommendations Updated for Tonsillectomy in Children
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Recommendations have been updated for tonsillectomy in children; the revised clinical practice guideline was published in a supplement to the February issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Patient Tested for Ebola at Philadelphia Hospital
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Preliminary results from a patient being tested for Ebola suggest that the patient has another condition, say officials at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Omadacycline Noninferior to Moxifloxacin for Pneumonia
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Omadacycline is noninferior to moxifloxacin for community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and noninferior to linezolid for acute bacterial skin infections, according to two studies published in the Feb. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Stets (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – O’Riordan (subscription or payment may be required)
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Value-Based Incentive Program Does Not Cut Catheter-Linked UTIs
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Federal value-based incentive programs (VBIPs) are not associated with reductions in device-associated catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) rates, according to a research letter published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Hepatitis C Infection Rates Up After OxyContin Reformulation
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 6, 2019 (HealthDay News) — States with above-median OxyContin misuse before reformulation of the drug experienced a 222 percent increase in hepatitis C infection rates after reformulation, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
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AAP Releases 2019 Childhood Immunization Schedules
TUESDAY, Feb. 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The 2019 recommended childhood and adolescent immunization schedules have been issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and published online Feb. 5 in Pediatrics.
Washington State Measles Cases Now at 48 Since Jan. 1
MONDAY, Feb. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There have been 48 confirmed cases of measles in Washington state since the start of the year as health officials struggle to stop the spread of the infectious disease.
Updated ACIP Immunization Schedule Released for Adults
MONDAY, Feb. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has released its updated adult immunization schedule for 2019; the schedule was published online Feb. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
CDC Examines Safety of Recombinant Zoster Vaccine
MONDAY, Feb. 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — During the first eight months of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) use, there were reports of 4,381 adverse events, 3 percent of which were serious, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC: Most Black HIV Patients Interviewed for Partner Services
FRIDAY, Feb. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More black index patients diagnosed with HIV are interviewed for partner services than all index patients combined, according to research published in the Feb. 1 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
HPV Educational Video May Increase Vaccination Rates
FRIDAY, Feb. 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Educational videos in pediatric clinics can increase rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among adolescents, according to a study published in the January issue of Pediatrics.
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