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ACC CV Quality SmartBrief

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  • De-escalation of antibiotics may be safe in some sepsis cases

    De-escalating broad-spectrum antibiotics for patients with community-onset sepsis appears to be safe when there are no signs of a multidrug-resistant infection, researchers reported in JAMA Internal Medicine. The study, which involved nearly 37,000 patients at 67 hospitals, found similar 90-day mortality rates between those who continued broad-spectrum antibiotics and those whose prescription was de-escalated to a narrower-spectrum antibiotic. Hospital stays were also shorter and antibiotic use days fewer among the de-escalation group. Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (12/23) Learn More

  • New approaches needed for infection-associated neuropsychiatric issues

    Dr. Robert Bransfield explores the need for interdisciplinary research, policy and education to address links among infection, immune dysfunction, psychiatric illness and violent behavior. Bransfield highlights the evolution of psychiatric knowledge and the importance of recognizing infection as a component of mental illness and violence, and he advocates for earlier recognition, preventive strategies and system-level interventions to reduce incidence of infection-associated neuropsychiatric impairment and patient violence. Contagion Live (12/26) Learn More

  • Awake prone positioning may improve severe COVID-19 outcomes

    Awake prone positioning for six hours daily reduced the likelihood that hospitalized, nonintubated patients with COVID-19-related hypoxemic respiratory failure would need intubation or die, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open. Researchers found a 93.8% probability that prone positioning was associated with a reduction in intubation and/or death risk. Medscape (12/24) Learn More

  • Hospital network in S.C., Tenn. restricts visitors

    Prisma Health is restricting visitors age 15 and younger at its 18 hospitals in South Carolina and Tennessee due to increasing flu rates. Hospitals are also asking all visitors to wear masks to prevent spreading respiratory viruses. More than 700 people in South Carolina have been hospitalized for flu this season, and at least seven have died. The State (Columbia, S.C.) (tiered subscription model) (12/28) Learn More

  • Experts: Tech, policy changes will impact health equity

    Health IT leaders predict significant shifts in health equity for 2026, driven by artificial intelligence, interoperability and policy changes. Adiel Am-Shalom of AISAP highlights AI's potential to deliver specialist care to remote areas, while Jordan Bazinsky of Intelerad emphasizes the importance of cloud-first strategies to overcome geographic barriers. Jeff Brandes of Azara Healthcare warns that potential expired ACA tax credits and Medicaid cuts could strain safety-net providers. Other experts stress the need for integrated data, predictive technologies and language barrier solutions to enhance care delivery and outcomes. Healthcare IT Today (12/24) Learn More

  • Recognizing social determinants crucial for diabetes care

    Clinicians can efficiently detect social challenges impacting diabetes care by using brief, validated screening tools. Simple questions about food access, housing stability, and transportation can be incorporated into intake forms or electronic health records. Addressing these social needs during routine care is essential, as research shows that patients may experience better health outcomes and fewer hospitalizations when these factors are identified and managed appropriately. Diabetes in Control (12/23) Learn More

  • Women's heart attacks may have non-atherothrombotic causes

    A Mayo Clinic study published in JACC showed that more than half of heart attacks in female patients under 65 are caused by factors other than occluded arteries. While men experience heart attacks primarily due to atherothrombosis, only 47% of women's heart attacks are caused by this, with the rest attributed to issues such as supply/demand mismatch secondary myocardial infarction, spontaneous coronary artery dissection and embolism. ScienceAlert (Australia) (12/28) Learn More

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