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ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

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  • Number of COVID-19 patients in US hospitals drops to record low

    The CDC reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US dropped to a record low of 8,256 in the past week, marking the first time that hospitalizations fell below 9,000 since tracking started in summer of 2020. The agency estimates that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 accounted for 15% of total COVID-19 cases nationwide over the last two weeks, while XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain at 54%. U.S. News & World Report (5/26) Learn More

  • COVID-19 patients see pulmonary improvements at 1 year

    A cohort of COVID-19 patients experienced improved endurance and decreased respiratory system burden a year after being hospitalized for the infection, researchers said in an American Thoracic Society International Conference presentation. The patients were evaluated at one year using chest CT scans, pulmonary function testing and respiratory symptom and function assessments, and residual ground glass opacities and fibrotic abnormalities were often seen on the CT scans. Healio (free registration) (5/31) Learn More

  • US HIV infections are down, but disparities persist

    Data from the CDC show that new HIV infections in the US decreased by 12% from 2017 to 2021, and there was a 34% drop in new infections among people ages 13 to 24 years, but racial disparities remain in the use of medications to prevent the infection. Among other statistics, the CDC reported that only 11% of at-risk Black individuals and 21% of at-risk Hispanic people received pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs to prevent infection in 2021, compared with 78% of at-risk white individuals. CNBC (5/23) Learn More

  • Opinion: Risks of some disinfectants outweigh benefits

    Overusing some antimicrobial disinfectants such as quaternary ammonium compounds may actually promote antimicrobial resistance and advance the spread of superbugs in hospital environments, and there is evidence of health harm from exposure to them, researchers have found. A group of Emory University and Emory Healthcare professionals writes that more research is needed on the topic, but in the meantime, safer alternative disinfectants can be substituted, and some systems including Emory already are using hydrogen peroxide-based products instead. MedPage Today (free registration) (5/30) Learn More

  • Study: DO and MD clinical outcomes are equal

    A study of Medicare data in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that mortality rates, hospital readmissions, length of hospital stay and cost of care were similar between physicians with a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree and physicians with a doctor of medicine degree. Roughly 9 in 10 physicians in the US have an MD, while roughly 1 in 4 medical students is enrolled in a college of osteopathic medicine. HCPLive Network (5/30) Learn More

  • Monitoring system boosts hand hygiene at Mercy hospitals

    The implementation of an electronic hand hygiene monitoring system at 12 Mercy acute care hospitals brought numerous benefits, including enhanced data availability, process improvement and better hand hygiene performance. Despite drawbacks such as increased workload for infection preventionists and maintenance staff, as well as limitations in accurately capturing adherence, the system proved valuable in identifying areas for improvement and prioritizing patient safety. Infection Control Today (5/25) Learn More

  • How 5G technology will change patient care

    5G technology could transform patient care, allowing for faster diagnoses, improved data sharing and bolstered telehealth services, in addition to supporting a growing number of internet-connected medical devices. An estimated 20% of hospitals already have some form of 5G connectivity, with the Cleveland Clinic building a 5G-capable facility and the Department of Veterans Affairs opening such a hospital in 2020. The technology, which offers speeds up to 100 times faster than current wireless service, will become vital soon, experts say. Axios (5/30) Learn More

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