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  • RSV linked to higher readmission risk in young children

    Children under age 5 with respiratory syncytial virus infections face a higher risk of hospital readmission for respiratory complications than those with influenza or human metapneumovirus, according to a study in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Researchers found that 16.8% of children with RSV were readmitted to the hospital for respiratory conditions, compared with 7% of those with influenza and 5.9% of those with hMPV. Vaccine Advisor (7/22) Learn More

  • Infection prevention drives sustainability in health care

    Infection prevention can play a crucial role in making health care more sustainable, writes Graham Pike, associate director of nursing at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in England. Pike highlights the environmental impact of excessive glove use and single-use devices, suggesting that infection prevention teams can lead initiatives to reduce these practices without compromising patient safety. Nursing Times (U.K.) (free registration) (7/23) Learn More

  • Substance use disorder raises hospital readmission risk

    Research led by UCLA investigators indicates that individuals with substance use disorders face a 24% greater risk of unplanned hospital readmission within a 30-day period, compared to patients without SUDs. The study, published in the journal Addiction, highlights that opioid use disorder patients have the highest readmission rate at 40%. The risk is notably higher for those discharged home without post-acute care, emphasizing the need for better support systems. News Medical (7/23) Learn More

  • Officials warn of possible measles exposure at N.Y. hospitals

    State health officials have warned of potential measles exposures at Albany Medical Center and Saratoga Hospital after an infected Vermonter sought treatment, amid the largest US measles outbreak since 2000. The New York State Department of Health has reported 14 measles cases this year, primarily among unvaccinated children, and has urged vaccination. WSYR-TV (Syracuse, N.Y.) (7/21) Learn More

  • System expands use of wearable ultrasound device

    Sutter Health is expanding the use of a wireless, wearable Doppler ultrasound device to multiple hospitals for improved IV fluid management. The deployment supports real-time hemodynamic monitoring, particularly benefiting patients with sepsis and septic shock. HIT Consultant (7/22) Learn More

  • Mayo Clinic performs catheter-based heart tumor removals

    Cardiologists at the Mayo Clinic have developed a catheter-based technique to remove papillary fibroelastomas in patients considered too high-risk for surgery. The minimally invasive method, detailed earlier in JACC: Case Reports, uses aspiration and a snare to extract tumors and has been successfully performed on five patients aged 64 to 85 years. Mayo Clinic plans to create a patient registry and support the development of devices for transcatheter tumor removal. Becker's ASC Review (7/22) Learn More

  • Study links SDOH to higher heart failure mortality

    A study published in Scientific Reports reveals that social determinants of health may significantly increase mortality risks in patients with congestive heart failure. The research analyzed data from nearly 39,000 NHANES participants and found that those with both CHF and high SDOH burdens, such as poverty and limited health care access, faced a 3.47-fold increase in all-cause mortality risk and a 5.27-fold increase in cardiovascular mortality risk. The study emphasizes the need for integrated care and policy changes to address these disparities. "Clinicians should recognize socially disadvantaged CHF patients as high-risk and prioritize integrated care that includes both medical and social support," the study authors wrote. The American Journal of Managed Care (7/21) Learn More

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