Lippincott ^® NursingCenter ^®

Early launch due to 'beta testing'; website currently working at 'limited capacity' ahead of official Wednesday debut

COVID-19 Cases Surge Again in U.S. Nursing Homes

During the week ending Jan. 9, U.S. nursing homes reported more than 32,000 cases and 645 deaths among their residents

COVAX Program Has Now Sent 1 Billion Vaccines to Poorer Nations

Thirty-six of the organization's 194 member countries have still only vaccinated 10 percent of their populations

Factors ID'd for Eventual Surgery in Patients With Appendicitis

Presence of an appendicolith increases risk for undergoing appendectomy after starting antibiotic therapy for acute appendicitis

Long-Term Medication Usage After Bariatric Surgeries Compared

Patterns of medication use for obesity-related comorbidities slightly more favorable following gastric bypass versus sleeve gastrectomy

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Friday, January 14, 2022

Senate Committee Backs Califf Nomination to Head FDA

Among those who voted against Califf's nomination were Democrats who expressed concerns about his links to pharmaceutical companies

Supreme Court Blocks Biden's Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers

Mandate was a crucial component of the White House plan to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic

WHO Living Guideline Updated for Drug Treatment of COVID-19

JAK inhibitor baricitinib strongly recommended for the treatment of severe or critical COVID-19

NCCN Endorses Full COVID-19 Vaccination for Cancer Patients

The NCCN Advisory Committee supports the strong preference for mRNA vaccines and offers guidance on the timing of vaccination

Comprehensive Approach Advised for Managing CV Risk in T2DM

In addition to managing all cardiovascular risk factors, providers must consider social determinants of health

Fosfomycin Not Noninferior to Comparators for Bacteremic UTI

Fosfomycin not noninferior to ceftriaxone or meropenem for bacteremic urinary tract infection due to multidrug-resistant E. coli in adults

Statin Use May Be Safely Continued During Pregnancy

Higher risk seen for low birth weight and preterm birth with statins, but no tie to congenital anomalies

White House May Soon Offer 'High-Quality' Masks to Americans

One option being discussed is to distribute the masks at community sites

Donepezil Tied to Risk for Overactive Bladder

Risk for overactive bladder varies across individual cholinesterase inhibitor drugs

Hip Fracture Risk Up With Drug Holiday From Risedronate Versus Alendronate

After three or more years of therapy, drug holidays from risedronate versus alendronate linked to 18 percent increase in hip fracture risk

Pediatric Antibiotic Prescribing Dropped During Pandemic

Decrease in antibiotic prescriptions in pediatric primary care driven by reduced volume of visits for respiratory tract infections

U.S. May Soon See Sharp Drop in Omicron Cases, Experts Say

One model suggests number of daily reported cases in the U.S. will top out at 1.2 million by Jan. 19 and then fall sharply

BinaxNOW Test Catches COVID-19 Infection in Many People, Study Shows

Earlier preliminary studies had raised questions about whether rapid antigen tests might be less sensitive to omicron than other variants

U.S. Insurers Must Cover Eight COVID-19 At-Home Tests a Month: White House

Under the plan, people who provide insurance information at certain pharmacies will be able to get the tests with no out-of-pocket costs

Two Doses of BNT162b2 Vaccine Protect Against MIS-C

Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have estimated effectiveness of 91 percent against MIS-C in children aged 12 to 18 years

Intrathecal Morphine + Oral Gabapentin Aids Pain Management

Combination improved pain management for teens undergoing spinal fusion for scoliosis

ADA Updates Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes for 2022

Updates include recommendation to screen for prediabetes and diabetes in all people starting at age 35 years

FDA Warns Against Using At-Home COVID-19 Test Swabs in the Throat

Throat swabs are common in some countries, but most self-tests in the United States require nasal samples

Amid COVID-19 Test Shortages, Price Gouging Is on the Rise

Attorney General offices around the country have reported receiving complaints or hearing stories of price gouging

Vitamin D Supplementation Could Reduce Migraine Headache Attacks

Vitamin D supplementation had no obvious effect on attack duration or headache severity

COVID-19 Vaccination Linked to Small Change in Menstrual Cycle Length

Difference in change in cycle length between vaccinated and unvaccinated cohorts less than one day in adjusted models

Severe COVID-19 Outcomes Rare After Primary Vaccination

Risk higher for people who were aged 65 years or older, immunosuppressed, or had at least one of six underlying conditions

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Friday, January 7, 2022

White House Finalizes Plan to Send Americans Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests

Administration plans to launch a website where people can request the rapid tests

FDA Shortens Time to Booster After Moderna Vaccine to Five Months

Similar time window for boosters is already in place for people who received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine

Moderna CEO Says Fourth COVID-19 Dose May Be Needed Next Fall

Governments, including the United Kingdom and South Korea, are already ordering the doses in preparation, Bancel said

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Biden's Vaccine Mandate for Big Business

Court also hearing arguments on separate vaccine mandate for most heath care workers

Hospitals Are Rationing COVID-19 Pills, Infusions as Cases Rise

Doctors, health systems are in the difficult position of rationing supplies to meet the needs of those in the most dire situations

Vaccination Seems Less Protective Against Transmission of Delta Variant

Reduction in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with COVID-19 vaccination smaller for delta variant versus alpha variant

Members of Biden Transition Team Call for New COVID-19 Plan

Six former advisers published opinion articles Thursday in JAMA detailing what needs to be done now to put a plan in place

Some At-Home Tests May Miss Omicron in Early Stages of Infection

Study focused on 30 people infected with COVID-19 at five workplaces that experienced likely outbreaks of the omicron variant last month

Duloxetine Does Not Alleviate Pain in Chronic Osteoarthritis

No differences seen in WOMAC pain at three or 12 months with duloxetine added to usual care, or in subgroup with symptoms of centralized pain

CDC Backs FDA Approval of Boosters for Those Aged 12 to 17 Years

In arriving at its decision, the CDC advisory panel pointed to rising COVID-19 hospitalizations among the young

COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy Not Linked to Preterm Birth, SGA

Risk not increased when results stratified by vaccination in second or third trimester, mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose

Combustion-Related Nitrogen Dioxide Contributes to Pediatric Asthma

An estimated 1.85 million new pediatric asthma cases attributable to nitrogen dioxide globally in 2019

Relatlimab-Nivolumab Ups PFS in Untreated Advanced Melanoma

Combination provides greater benefit than nivolumab alone for progression-free survival in untreated metastatic or unresectable melanoma

Eltrombopag Augments Immunosuppression in Severe Aplastic Anemia

Improvement seen in the rate, rapidity, strength of hematologic response in previously untreated patients with severe aplastic anemia

Kroger, Walmart Hike Prices on At-Home COVID-19 Tests

Both stores were selling the kits at cost or at a discount but now have raised the prices

Biden Urges Calm During Omicron Surge

Biden also announced that his administration is doubling its order of new Pfizer antiviral pill

Serious Adverse Effects From COVID-19 Vaccines Reported Rarely

Full vaccination dose, younger age, female sex, and previously having had COVID-19 linked to greater odds of adverse effects

CDC Backs Boosters for High-Risk Children Ages 5 to 11 Years

Agency also endorses shorter time between shots

Maternal Hormonal Contraception, CNS Tumors Not Linked in Children

No significant association seen for recent or previous maternal hormonal contraception use with CNS tumors in children younger than 20 years

Israel Will Give Fourth COVID-19 Shot to People Older Than 60, Health Workers

About 60 percent of Israel's 9.4 million people are fully vaccinated with either a recent second dose or booster dose

Negative COVID-19 Test May Be Required After Isolation Among Asymptomatic

CDC is considering adding extra safeguard after getting some 'pushback' on its Dec. 27 guidance that shortened isolation times

FDA Approves Pfizer Booster Shots for Children Ages 12 to 15

Agency also reduced the period people must wait between their second dose and booster shot from six to five months

COVID-19 Omicron Wave in South Africa Characterized

Fewer hospitalizations, reduced severity of illness, lower mortality seen in fourth wave compared with previous waves of COVID-19

BNT162b2 Still Effective, but Less So, Against Omicron

Vaccine effectiveness 70 percent compared with 93 percent against hospitalization for COVID-19 during delta predominance

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Thursday, December 30, 2021

Adverse Events Rare After BNT162b2 Vaccine in 5- to 11-Year-Olds

Data show 4,249 reports of adverse events after about 8.7 million doses of vaccine were administered; 97.6 percent not serious

BNT162b2 Vaccine Effectiveness 92 Percent for Teens Ages 12 to 17

Estimated vaccine effectiveness of full Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination 92 percent for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection

FDA May Allow Pfizer Boosters for 12- to 15-Year-Olds by Monday

Agency also expected to reduce the amount of time adolescents and adults must wait between their second dose of vaccine and booster

Dolutegravir-Based ART Superior for Children, Teens With HIV

Rate of serious adverse events similar for participants receiving dolutegravir, standard care as first-, second-line treatment for HIV-1 infection

AAN Updates Guideline for Treatment of Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

When patients do not experience meaningful improvement with initial therapeutic class, medication from different class should be offered

Most COVID-19-Related EUAs Not Supported by High-Quality Evidence

Most EUAs were for diagnostic products; most supported by comparisons with previously authorized assays, analytical in vitro studies

Rivaroxaban Improves Clinical Outcomes After COVID-19 Hospitalization

Risk for thrombotic events reduced after 35 days of rivaroxaban compared with no extended thromboprophylaxis

FDA Says Rapid At-Home COVID-19 Tests Not as Sensitive to Omicron

Agency says that antigen tests 'do detect the omicron variant, but may have reduced sensitivity'

Guidance Offered for Managing Pain in Patients With Cancer and OUD

For patients with opioid use disorder taking buprenorphine-naloxone, it is deemed appropriate to continue three times-daily dosing

Vaccinated Kidney Transplant Recipients Vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 Variants

After two-dose vaccination, only 64 and 67 percent of kidney transplant recipients showed neutralization against B.1.351 (β) and B.1.617.2 (δ)

U.S. Adults Support Net-Risk Pediatric Research

Most support pediatric research posing minimal risk and research posing greater risk if it has high social value

Breakthrough COVID-19 Infection Risk Higher With Immune Dysfunction

Risk for breakthrough infection higher for those with immunocompromising conditions, such as HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, solid organ transplant

Decline Seen in Total Opioid MME Per Capita in Last Decade

Greatest decline in MME volume per capita seen among persons aged 46 to 55 years and in metropolitan counties

NVX-CoV2373 Vaccine Protects Against COVID-19

Study conducted in the U.S. and Mexico shows vaccine 90 percent effective overall, 100 percent effective against moderate-to-severe disease

Heart Surgery Patients May Not Need Opioids at Home

Incidence of postdischarge opioid prescriptions low for opioid-naive patients undergoing CABG and/or valve surgery through sternotomy

Physician's Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Thursday, December 23, 2021

FDA Gives OK to Merck Antiviral At-Home COVID-19 Pill

Molnupiravir cut the risk for hospitalization and death in high-risk patients by 30 percent

FDA Approves New Drug to Help Control Severe Asthma

Tezspire is unique in that it only targets thymic stromal lymphopoietin, the molecule involved in airway inflammation

Three Days of Remdesivir Cuts Risk for Severe COVID-19 in Outpatients

Three-day course of treatment results in reduced risk for hospitalization or death compared with placebo

Hyaluronic Acid Injection Use Increased for Knee Osteoarthritis in Seniors

Significant increase in utilization and associated costs seen among physicians' assistants and nurse practitioners

FDA Approves Pfizer Pill as First At-Home COVID-19 Treatment

Recent trial showed Paxlovid cut the odds for hospitalization and death by nearly 90 percent in high-risk people

13 Million Adults Delaying or Skipping Meds Due to Costs

Drug unaffordability is an issue regardless of insurance status and across private, public payers

Omicron Now Accounts for 73 Percent of New COVID-19 Cases

Rate suggests there were more than 650,000 omicron infections in the United States last week

First Long-Acting Injectable Approved for HIV PrEP

Apretude, administered every two months, is approved in adults and adolescents at risk for HIV infection

ASH: Axicabtagene Ciloleucel Slows Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Event-free survival prolonged with axi-cel versus standard care as second-line therapy for refractory, relapsed disease

Moderna Says Its Booster Protects Well Against Omicron

Experts agree that booster shots are the best defense against the omicron variant

'Freedom From Disease' in Psoriasis Is Multicomponent Concept

Definition includes five domains of management of clinical symptoms, psychosocial elements, QoL, treatment, health care team support

Biden to Address Nation Tuesday on Omicron Response, Outlook

President expected to detail how the government will respond to rising case levels, and to urge Americans to get vaccinated

Proctor & Gamble Recalls Pantene, Herbal Essences Products Due to Benzene

Company began a review of its products after recent reports showed traces of benzene in some aerosol spray offerings

48 COVID-19 Cases Reported on World's Largest Cruise Ship

Royal Caribbean said that those who tested positive were immediately isolated to prevent the spread of infection

Molnupiravir Cuts Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness in Adults

Risk for hospitalization or death lower in at-risk adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 receiving oral therapy with molnupiravir versus placebo

Pediatricians Can Play Key Role in HIV Testing, Prophylaxis

All youth ages 15 years or older should be offered routine screening at least once; those at increased risk should be rescreened

Many Believe Dietary Supplements Cut Risk for Cancer Recurrence

Among adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer, 40 percent report using dietary supplements

Opioid Rx Up, Non-Rx Therapy Down During the Pandemic

Nonpharmacologic therapy decreased, opioid prescribing increased for patients seeking treatment for pain management in 2020 versus 2019