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Asymptomatic adults may be reservoirs of Streptococcus pneumoniae

A study by ITQB NOVA researchers found that asymptomatic adults in Portugal can carry pneumococci for several months, with a median duration of almost two months. This suggests that some adults may act as reservoirs of the bacterium, potentially impacting herd immunity.

Health care leaders call for national focus on preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia

A joint task force of healthcare stakeholders recommends educating patients and staff about prevention measures, including standardized oral care. The initiative aims to reduce harm from non-ventilator-associated hospital-acquired pneumonia (NVHAP), which causes high mortality rates and prolonged hospital stays.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology·DateJun 22, 2021

State laws promoting flu vaccination for hospital workers may help prevent deaths from flu and pneum

Research suggests that state laws requiring flu vaccination for hospital workers can reduce pneumonia and influenza mortality rates, particularly among the elderly. A quasi-experimental study found a 2.5% reduction in monthly pneumonia and influenza mortality rates after law implementation, averting approximately 1,822 deaths.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJan 4, 2021

TGen and HonorHealth study suggests alternative method of diagnosing lung infection

Researchers propose endotracheal aspirates as an attractive alternative to invasive bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosing ventilator-associated pneumonia. The study revealed that ETA is functionally diverse and highly enriched in proteins involved in immunity, suggesting its potential to detect lung infection earlier and more accurately.

SourceThe Translational Genomics Research Institute·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateOct 1, 2020

Study on the effect of rosemary and ginger essential oils against Klebsiella pneumoniae

This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of rosemary and ginger essential oil-based nano-sized formulations on colistin-resistant K. pneumonia clinical isolates. The results show that oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles exhibit high antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, inhibiting the expression of the biofilm gene mrkD.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Microbiology Journal·DateSep 21, 2020

Vaccine proves effective against the most severe type of pneumonia

A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific found that the pneumococcal vaccine PCV13 reduced hypoxic pneumonia and pneumonia requiring oxygen support by 37 per cent in children in Laos. This significant reduction in severe cases has great potential to alleviate the burden of disease on vulnerable populations.

SourceMurdoch Childrens Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific·DateSep 10, 2020

Dilated blood vessels in the lung may explain low oxygen levels in severe cases of COVID-19

A new study suggests that COVID-19 is causing significant dilation of the lung's blood vessels, contributing to low oxygen levels and unusual respiratory behavior. The dilation was detected using a non-invasive ultrasound technique, and its correlation with oxygen levels may help explain why some patients experience 'happy hypoxia.'

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 20, 2020

Using lung X-rays to diagnose COVID-19

Researchers from the University of Seville have developed a system that uses deep learning to identify COVID-19 patients using lung X-ray images. The system achieves around 100% accuracy in identifying COVID-19 and can help reduce health professionals' workload by filtering out negative cases.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalApplied Sciences·DateJul 21, 2020

COVID-19 hospitalizations could mean significant out-of-pocket medical costs for many Americans

Researchers analyzed insurance claims from 2016 to 2019 and found that out-of-pocket costs for respiratory illnesses were particularly high for consumer-directed plans. Tens of millions of Americans with self-insured health plans may face significant financial burden due to COVID-19 hospitalizations.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJun 15, 2020

Osteoporosis treatment may also protect against pneumonia

A recent study found that N-BPs like alendronate are associated with a 24% lower risk of pneumonia and 35% lower risk of pneumonia mortality compared to no treatment. The results suggest that N-BP treatment may also protect against pneumonia, warranting further investigation into its potential for treating COVID-19 symptoms.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Bone and Mineral Research·DateJun 3, 2020

Intel from an outpatient COVID-19 clinic

A new analysis of outpatient COVID-19 clinic data provides clues to distinguish between patients with COVID-19 and those with other conditions mimicking its symptoms. Key findings include fever not being a reliable indicator, COVID-19 often presenting with various permutations of cough without fever, and loss of the sense of smell as a...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateMay 6, 2020

Researchers trace coronavirus outbreak in China to snakes

A new study reveals that the 2019-nCoV coronavirus likely originated from a combination of a bat coronavirus and an unknown coronavirus, with recombination allowing cross-species transmission to humans via snakes. This finding highlights the importance of understanding viral origins for effective control of emerging outbreaks.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Medical Virology·DateJan 22, 2020