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  • Antibiotics in infancy linked to poorer lung function

    A study in JAMA Network Open found that infants born prematurely who were exposed to multiple antibiotic courses tended to have weaker lung function and a greater risk of asthma by early school age. The study of 3,820 infants in Germany divided them into low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups based on antibiotic exposure, with higher exposure linked to poorer outcomes. Medscape (5/22) Learn More

  • Localized drug delivery could help curb SSIs

    Surgical site infections are of increasing concern as antimicrobial resistance rises and patient cases become more complex, notes Dikla Czaczkes Akselbrad of pharmaceutical firm PolyPid. Localized drug delivery may improve infection prevention by concentrating antimicrobial agents at the surgical site, offering prolonged protection with fewer systemic side effects and shorter recoveries and hospital stays, Akselbrad said in an interview. Infection Control Today (5/22) Learn More

  • Study supports early intervention for aortic stenosis

    An Edwards Lifesciences study of more than 24,000 patients found that early intervention for severe aortic stenosis before symptoms appeared led to 80% fewer heart failure hospitalizations. It also resulted in significant cost savings per patient one year after treatment, researchers found. Medical Device Network (UK) (5/23) Learn More

  • Nirsevimab may reduce hospital, ICU admissions for RSV

    Research published in the European Journal of Pediatrics associated universal administration of nirsevimab in newborns, infants under 6 months and high-risk children younger than 2 years with fewer hospitalizations and ICU admissions for respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract infections in children younger than age 5. The greatest benefit was observed in infants under age 6 months. The study compared data from the 2023-24 RSV season with pre-pandemic and post-pandemic seasons. Medscape (5/26) Learn More

  • Many rural hospitals at risk of closure

    Hundreds of rural hospitals in the US may be at risk of shutting down, mainly due to issues with Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, according to a Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform analysis. The report indicates that 742 rural facilities are at risk, with more than 300 in immediate danger of closing. CBS News (5/19) Learn More

  • AI system nudges hospital staff for better handwashing

    As post-pandemic handwashing routines decline, the Ottawa Hospital is countering the trend with an AI-powered monitoring system that tracks activity and provides visual cues to encourage proper handwashing. The system has boosted compliance and cut hospital-acquired infections, according to Scott Delaney, CEO of Lumenix, the company behind the system. CBC News (Canada) (5/28) Learn More

  • Rural health symposium unites experts to address disparities

    The Rural Health Symposium organized by Virginia Tech's Whole Health Consortium gathered over 250 professionals to tackle rural health disparities. The event emphasized the importance of community involvement and collaborative efforts in developing health solutions. The symposium aimed to inform a national blueprint for policy changes and industry investments that enhance health outcomes in rural areas. Virginia Tech (5/28) Learn More

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