In the United States, about 500,000 people die each year from tobacco-related illness. Although tobacco use has decreased in recent years, its devastation continues to plague many, especially those marginalized by social or health disparities.
In July 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved imipenem, cilastatin, relebactam for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis and complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAI).
If dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak and peak flu season are not enough, frontline providers in the ED also need to remain on the lookout for cases of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). One big problem is that the symptoms of these illnesses can overlap, making it difficult to distinguish between flu-associated pneumonia and EVALI.
Frontline providers confronted an unusual influenza season, with flu activity spiking as early as December. B virus strains, which usually lead to worse outcomes in children, was predominant in the early part of the season. By mid-February, flu activity remained widespread throughout the United States.
The recommended care of a patient with COVID-19 is similar to what is required for other viral pneumonias, such as those associated with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus. Further, mild disease does not necessarily require hospitalization.
Experts from the National Ebola Training and Education Center urge healthcare systems to adopt processes in line with “Identify, Isolate, and Inform,” a process for quickly identifying and managing cases of infectious disease in a way that minimizes the risk for subsequent transmissions.
