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  • Rapid molecular diagnostics aid in fighting C. auris

    Multidrug-resistant Candida auris is posing a significant challenge to health care infection prevention efforts worldwide, with cases rising and treatment options limited. Rapid molecular diagnostics are becoming instrumental for the identification of colonized patients and prevention of outbreaks. Traditional methods like culture-based testing tend to be much slower. Infection Control Today (5/18) Learn More

  • CMS updates hospital quality ratings

    The CMS has updated its Overall Hospital Quality Star Rating, with 12% of hospitals earning five stars and 6.4% receiving one. The majority of hospitals fall in the middle, with 29.8% receiving four stars, 30.9% three stars and 20.9% two stars. The ratings, based on measures such as mortality, safety and patient experience, have faced criticism for methodological limitations. MedPage Today (5/14) Learn More

  • US nears last year's record as measles outbreaks persist

    The CDC has reported 1,893 cases of measles so far in 2026 -- just shy of last year's total. The majority of infections are locally acquired, and 92% of patients are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. South Carolina and Utah are the most affected states, with 669 and 456 cases, respectively. Hospitalizations have decreased compared with last year. Children and young adults under 19 years of age make up 76% of cases. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (5/16) Learn More

  • AI device brings hands-free disinfection to hospital rooms

    Shyld AI recently secured funding for an AI-powered device that autonomously disinfects hospital rooms using UV light. The system, which monitors activity and triggers disinfection after people leave or touch high-contact surfaces, was shown in a Stanford study to reduce contamination by 93%. Researchers found it to be effective against pathogens such as E. coli, MRSA, Staphylococcus, C. auris and C. difficile. MedCity News (5/14) Learn More

  • Agentic AI discharge summaries safe with proper guardrails

    A Stanford Health Care study published in JAMA Network Open found that agentic AI-generated hospital discharge note summaries have a low potential for harm and may help reduce clinician burnout. The study used MedAgentBrief to create the hospital course summaries. Physicians incorporated them into 57% of discharge documentation, with 88% of unedited summaries rated as having no potential for harm. The primary benefit of the AI tool was cognitive offloading rather than significant time savings. TechTarget (5/14) Learn More

  • First-in-human study shows success with ART during TAVR

    Cardiologists successfully used the ART leaflet-splitting technique during TAVR in a first-in-human study. The procedure, guided by CT imaging, involved an electrified guidewire to split fused aortic leaflets, allowing for the immediate implantation of a TAVR valve. The median procedural time for ART was 46 minutes, with a total procedure time of 125 minutes. No major vascular complications or deaths were reported after 30 days, although two patients required pacemakers. Findings were published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Cardiovascular Business (5/14) Learn More

  • AI can help hospitals manage seasonal surges in admissions

    Seasonal pressures on hospitals often lead to postponed elective surgeries, and the pressures are exacerbated by higher inpatient admissions, emergency cases and staffing shortages, creating a negative feedback loop. AI and operational intelligence can improve efficiency, optimize operating room use and enhance patient outcomes without the need for extensive infrastructure expansion, writes Prem Batchu-Green of Proximie. "Healthcare leaders must stop treating seasonal surges as unforeseen disruptions and instead recognize them as recurring stress tests that reveal where and how systems can improve," Batchu-Green says. MedCity News (5/17) Learn More

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