A new Penn Medicine study found that mental health patients are up to four times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population. Researchers tested over 1,000 patients in care and detected several new HIV cases, highlighting the need for routine testing in mental health settings.
A West Virginia outpatient oncology clinic experienced a rare outbreak of Tsukamurella bloodstream infections in 2011-2012, attributed to improper handling of intravenous saline. The outbreak led to changes in infection control practices, including the use of pre-packaged manufactured saline flushes.
The study estimates cumulative healthcare expenditures and lost productivity due to WNV disease have been substantially underestimated. Hospitalized cases of WNV disease have cost a cumulative $778 million in health care expenditures and lost productivity.
A panel of 35 genetically characterized DNA samples is now publicly available to help standardize Rett syndrome testing and improve diagnostic accuracy. The collection contains a wide variety of MECP2 mutations associated with most cases of the disorder.
A new study by University of Illinois professor Ruopeng An found that the prevalence of adult obesity has been slowing, but only slightly, with increases seen in those classified as morbidly obese. The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to analyze BMI trends between 2000 and 2012.
A new study reveals that hepatitis C infection rates vary significantly among Hispanic groups in the US, with Puerto Rican individuals facing the highest risk. The study, which analyzed data from over 11,000 individuals, found that infection rates range from less than 1% to 11.6% among different ethnic groups.
A study found that simultaneous administration of these vaccines increases the risk of fever in young children, with about a third experiencing a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher on the day of or day after vaccination.
Research found that reducing glucose metabolism weakens the ability of influenza viruses to infect mammalian cells in lab cultures. The study suggests that altering glucose metabolism may be a potential new approach to inhibit influenza viral infection.
A Utah prison outbreak of severe botulism poisoning from homemade pruno highlights the importance of prompt medical attention. The CDC's anti-toxin is rarely administered due to lengthy supply chains, emphasizing the need for emergency physicians to act quickly on clinical suspicion.
A new study published by the CDC found that nearly half of US children diagnosed with ADHD received a diagnosis by age 6. The study also reported significant increases in medication use for ADHD among US children, with over 3.5 million taking medication by 2011-12.
A new study suggests that rotavirus vaccination can also protect children against seizures, with a reduced risk of 20% compared to unvaccinated children. The researchers found that fully vaccinated children had fewer seizure-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits.
A social media program by San Diego State University professor Ming-Hsiang Tsou analyzed tweets for keywords 'flu' and 'influenza' to identify outbreaks. The algorithm detected daily correlations between tweet patterns and regional reports, with five cities showing the strongest correlations.
Researchers found that in 25 US TV markets, nearly 1/4 of popular youth programs exceeded the industry's voluntary standards for alcohol ad exposure. This could lead to a one-third drop in total youth exposure if ads were eliminated. Exposure to alcohol marketing increases underage drinking and health risks.
A Penn State researcher is conducting a study on the effectiveness of a web-based intervention aimed at helping women plan for pregnancy in the future. The tool, recommended by the CDC, helps women determine suitable birth control methods based on their life goals and preferences.
A Rhode Island Hospital study observed staff on 161,526 occasions and found that hand hygiene compliance improved from 60% to 89% between July 2008 and December 2012. The investigators noted increased compliance when healthcare workers were leaving patient rooms or caring for patients during the evening shift.
Research suggests that many high-risk organs are safe and should not be labeled as such. After a median of 2.4 years, 86.5% of transplants from these donors were functioning without evidence of infections. The study challenges the CDC's current classification system.
A special issue of Preventive Medicine explores common misconceptions about the HPV vaccine, including concerns about sexual disinhibition and vaccine safety. Studies show that these fears are largely unfounded, and that the vaccine can help prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-associated cancers.
Researchers at UT Southwestern have developed a new type of antibiotic called PPMO that successfully killed a multidrug-resistant germ common to health care settings. The technology targets specific genes essential for bacterial reproduction and offers promise against the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
A new study by the University of South Carolina reveals significant limitations in NHANES data, with most nutrition data being physiologically implausible and invalid for population-level analysis. This has serious implications for the role of energy intake in obesity and public health policy.
A CDC study links short and long sleep durations to increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Adults 45+ who sleep six hours or less or more than 10 hours per night are at higher risk for these chronic diseases, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises.
A CDC and Massachusetts General Hospital study finds that pretravel consultations and preventive medications can save money for both payers and most travelers. The study analyzed data from over 1,000 travelers to West Africa and found that the costs associated with contracting malaria outweighed the costs of preventive care.
A US-funded national smoking cessation campaign, 'Tips from former smokers,' helped at least 100,000 smokers quit smoking. The campaign, which ran from March to June 2012, saw a 12% relative increase in smokers trying to quit during the campaign period.
Obese teenagers who lose weight are at risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Early intervention is crucial for a good prognosis, but these adolescents often go undiagnosed due to positive provider perceptions of weight loss.
A national ad campaign by the CDC's Tips From Former Smokers program more than doubled its original quit goal of 500,000 attempts, with over 1.6 million smokers attempting to quit after seeing the ads. The campaign resulted in over 100,000 Americans quitting smoking permanently, saving millions of years of life for the US population.
A new study found that adults who engage in moderate physical activity up to two and a half hours a week do not increase their risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. The study also found no association between race, sex, or body weight and the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
A novel study in Arthritis Care & Research examines the medical response and imaging technologies used to treat Boston Marathon bombing victims. The study found that radiology resources should be used liberally to save lives and limbs in urgent situations like the Boston Marathon bombing.
Researchers found that community-based pharmacies can be effective locations for offering rapid HIV testing and connecting those who test positive with medical care quickly. The study used five community-based pharmacies in the Bronx and Manhattan to test hard-to-reach individuals, resulting in six positive cases and improved access to...
Research found a modest increase in publications on firearms among children and adolescents, but not as significant as expected. The study suggests that the Congressional action in 1996 may have led to increased funding for research on other causes of death.
The article reveals that antibiotic resistance among hospital-acquired infections is much greater than prior CDC estimates, with resistance rates ranging from 11% to over 50%. The FDA's promise to reboot antibiotic development rules has fallen short, and the authors conclude that more than an FDA 'reboot' is needed to combat this crisis.
The University of South Florida is adapting a proven program to reduce sexual risk behavior among African-American college women. The study aims to test if this tailored approach helps reduce HIV/AIDS risk, which disproportionately affects young black women.
Researchers isolated Heartland virus in tick populations in northwestern Missouri, confirming its role as a human pathogen. The virus causes severe illness with fever, headaches, and low white blood cell counts, with no treatment available.
A massive fungal meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid injections has been reported in the US, with over 13,000 people affected. Researchers found that a dark-colored environmental mold, Exserohilum rostratum, infects humans mainly through cerebrospinal fluid migration.
Research by CDC panel reveals bullying among youth is linked to poor mental and physical health, long-lasting effects, and increased suicide risk. Public health strategies can prevent bullying and improve health outcomes for young people.
A collaborative study using Vaccine Safety Datalink data analyzed four years of data and found that background mortality rates are lower in vaccinated populations than the general US population. These rates can be used to identify unusual increases in deaths following vaccination.
A four-year analysis found that mandatory influenza vaccination in a university medical center led to a near-universal vaccination rate, with fewer than 15 employees out of 8,000 choosing termination over vaccination. The policy also enhanced patient and staff safety, resulting in improved outcomes.
A new study found that school-located vaccination clinics increased flu vaccination rates among children by 13.2 percentage points, despite higher initial costs. The program may be a cost-effective way to broaden access to flu vaccines for children, particularly in primary-care settings.
Researchers found that using germ-killing soap and ointment on all ICU patients was more effective than other strategies, reducing bloodstream infections and MRSA presence by up to 44%. The study also showed the approach could prevent infections caused by germs other than MRSA.
A Johns Hopkins fellow argues that the US public health agency's message on influenza vaccines may be overstated, with limited evidence supporting the claim that vaccines save lives. He also questions the effectiveness of vaccines in reducing elderly deaths and highlights potential side effects.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) presents promising strategies to curb the use of indoor tanning devices. These methods aim to tackle not only the risk factors linked with indoor tanning but also the broader social determinants that may drive such behavior.
A virtual patient advocate named Gabby delivers preconception care to African-American women through interactive conversations online. The pilot study found that 83% of identified risks were addressed or resolved by the users, resulting in improved pregnancy outcomes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved only one new antibiotic since the Infectious Diseases Society of America launched its 10 x '20 Initiative in 2010. Despite this, only seven new drugs are in development to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli bacteria.
Researchers found no association between vaccine exposure and autism in a study of over 300 children with ASD and 750 without, contradicting long-standing parental concerns about vaccine safety.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have discovered a new approach for stopping herpes infections by identifying the molecular key that herpes viruses use to infect cells. The finding could lead to new drugs for treating or suppressing herpes virus infections.
Injuries from bicycling, roller sports, and trampolines decreased by 38.1%, 20.8%, and 17.5% respectively between 2000 and 2010. Football and soccer injuries increased by 22.8% and 10.8%, with overall musculoskeletal-specific injuries declining 12.4%.
A new study suggests that current CDC guidelines for HIV screening are too restrictive, recommending less frequent testing for both high- and low-risk groups. More frequent screenings, up to every three months for high-risk individuals and every three years for low-risk groups, would be cost-effective in the long run.
A rapid laboratory test for pregnant women to detect Group B strep has been developed and is highly valid, identifying GBS colonization in six and a half hours. This new test could help reduce the overuse of resources and minimize bacterial resistance by targeting patients with threatened preterm labor.
Two important studies published in the March issue of AIDS found that current CDC HIV screening guidelines may be too conservative, especially for low-risk groups, and that heavy drinking leads to increased HIV risk for men who have sex with men. The studies suggest that frequent testing and addressing risky behaviors can help prevent ...
A pair of commentaries highlight a public health debate surrounding CDC treatment guidelines for exposed individuals during the 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak. The American Society for Microbiology has published two commentaries questioning and defending the CDC's recommendations.
A global research team has completed high-quality sequencing of 90 chickpea genomes, revealing clues on how to improve crop resilience. The study provides a map of the genes that define the chickpea plant, potentially leading to improved varieties with enhanced drought tolerance and disease resistance.
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that HPV-associated cancer incidence rates have increased, highlighting the need for increased HPV vaccination coverage. Nationally, 32% of females aged 13-17 years had received three doses of the HPV vaccine in 2010.
Researchers developed a microneedle technique to dry and stabilize the measles vaccine, showing it remained effective for at least 30 days. The method could provide a new tool for international immunization programs against measles, which killed nearly 140,000 children in 2010.
The study provides the first report of state-level COPD prevalence, revealing significant regional variations. Nationwide, 6% of non-institutionalized adults reported having COPD, with higher prevalence in select states.
The NIH awards a five-year contract of up to $19.4 million to the Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center (MaHPIC) at Emory University to study malaria parasite interactions with human and animal hosts. The project will integrate data from various research areas, including metabolomics, lipidomics, and mathematical modeling.
Researchers report progress in Pakistan's efforts to eradicate polio, with the potential elimination of one type of wild poliovirus. However, vaccine refusals remain a major challenge, driven by false rumors and misinformation. In Nigeria, a surge in cases threatens to re-infect countries that have already been cleared of polio.
A study found that survivors of cervical, blood, and colorectal cancers experience poorer physical and mental health-related quality of life compared to those with other types of cancer. The analysis estimated that 3.3 million and 1.4 million US cancer survivors face below-average physical and mental health, respectively.
A recent study found that over one-third of cancer survivors in the US experience physical and mental health problems after treatment. The study identified groups at higher risk for long-term quality-of-life issues, with those with certain types of cancer facing significant challenges.
Research by CDC reveals disparities in COPD mortality by state, poverty level, and urban vs. rural location, with poorest outcomes seen in rural and poor communities. Smoking prevalence, air quality, and access to healthcare are key contributing factors to these disparities.
A recent study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology found a lower-than-expected incidence of needlestick injuries (NSIs) at a nationwide retail pharmacy chain. The study revealed that the annual NSI rate was between 0 to 3.62 per 100,000 vaccinations, with most incidents occurring after use and disposal of needles.
Leading hypertension specialists recommend the inclusion of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in national health surveys to accurately detect hypertension. This advanced diagnostic method can identify mitigating factors affecting diagnosis, such as white coat hypertension and nocturnal hypertension.
The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and CDC released new tools to track deadly healthcare-associated infections in nursing homes. Updated infection definitions provide uniform criteria for tracking HAIs, including norovirus gastroenteritis and Clostridium difficile infections.