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  • Research ties RSV prevention to lower infant hospitalization

    Infant hospitalizations related to respiratory syncytial virus decreased with widespread availability of a maternal RSV vaccine and the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab, according to studies presented at a meeting of the Infectious Disease Society of America. Data showed that the hospitalization rate for infants up to age 2 months decreased by 56%, and for infants ages 3 to 5 months, it dropped from 16.3% to 11.2%. Medscape (11/10) Learn More

  • Global health experts warn of severe new H3N2 strain

    A severe new H3N2 flu strain has emerged, causing significant outbreaks in Canada, the UK and Japan, and raising concerns among global health experts. The strain, which appeared after this year's flu vaccine composition was decided, has seven new mutations, making it different from the vaccine strain. In the US, the CDC has been unable to track and provide detailed flu activity reports because of a government shutdown and significant staffing cuts. NBC News (11/12) Learn More

  • Polypill may improve heart failure outcomes

    A polypill containing three heart failure therapies was associated with improved heart function and reduced hospitalizations for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, according to a study presented at an American Heart Association meeting. Heart function improvement was 3.4% more on follow-up for patients taking the polypill, compared with usual care, but challenges with the therapy include that it requires complex individualized medication dosing and a potential for adverse outcomes. Healio (free registration) (11/10) Learn More

  • Experts question routine use of PIVCs

    Physicians are questioning the routine use of peripheral intravenous catheters in stable hospital patients, due to associated Staphylococcus aureus infection risks and patient discomfort. "IVs are important for a lot of patients, but to maintain it in every single patient every single day is likely not needed," said Dr. Joseph Caleb McCall at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Medscape (11/11) Learn More

  • NYU Langone initiative aims to boost patient-clinician bond

    NYU Langone Health has introduced its About Me initiative, allowing patients to share personal information via Epic's MyChart to foster stronger bonds with clinicians. The program, which has expanded to 35 hospital units, enhances empathy and trust, making patients more compliant with care plans, says Dr. Katherine Hochman, director of the Division of Hospital Medicine. The initiative is set to expand to ambulatory settings next year. HealthLeaders Media (11/12) Learn More

  • Synthetic bacteriophages offer hope for resistant infections

    Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have engineered synthetic bacteriophages capable of targeting mycobacteria that are responsible for conditions such as tuberculosis and leprosy. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research shows that by manipulating the genetic code of these phages, they could be tailored to target specific bacterial hosts, offering a potential new treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections. Inside Precision Medicine (11/10) Learn More

  • Study supports safety of Kestra wearable defibrillator

    Kestra Medical's wearable defibrillator demonstrated a low inappropriate shock rate in the ASSURE WCD study, involving over 21,600 patients. The findings, presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting, showed an inappropriate shock rate of 0.0065 per patient per month. BioWorld (free content) (11/10) Learn More

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