Infection Control
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Vaccine Second Shot, Boosters Kick in Protective Effect
A study of healthcare and other frontline workers with COVID-19 showed a history of two or three mRNA vaccine doses significantly reduced the severity of illness. Workers who received two or three doses of vaccine reported less fever and chills, less need for medical care, and lower viral load than in the non-vaccinated cohort.
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Better Diagnostics Equals Fewer Unnecessary Antibiotic Prescriptions
Researchers credit diagnostic stewardship as the top reason for an impressive reduction in needless antibiotic prescriptions.
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The Dental Procedure-Infective Endocarditis Link Controversy Continues
Infective endocarditis was more common with dental surgery or tooth extractions in the preceding four weeks in high-risk patients. Researchers abrogated this risk with antibiotic prophylaxis before the procedure.
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Antibiotic Resistance: We Were Doing Great and then COVID Happened
After improvement, antimicrobial resistance in the United States significantly increased.
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Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine (Booster Dose)
The FDA has amended the emergency use authorizations of two leading COVID-19 vaccines. Now, these new bivalent formulations can be used as a single booster dose (after primary or booster vaccination).
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Frontline Providers Must Consider Dual Threats of AFM Resurgence, Polio Return
The CDC is advising frontline providers of a potential surge in cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a rare, polio-like complication of certain enteroviruses. Concurrently, there are concerns about the re-emergence of poliomyelitis.
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Remaining Questions in Syphilis Treatment
Eight leading experts on sexually transmitted diseases convened to discuss key questions in the management of syphilis in adults with and without HIV infection based on a systematic review of the literature. More than 3,000 articles were screened, and the discussion focused on 95 relevant publications and three main topics.
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COVID-19 and Headache
Headache is a common feature of acute COVID-19 infection, as well as a long-standing feature of “long COVID” after recovery from the acute infection. Treatment is symptomatic, based on the characteristics of the headache syndrome.
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Special Report: Humbled CDC Seeks Reinvention, Culture Change
The CDC has taken responsibility for its haphazard response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, admitting to mistakes and miscalculations that often directly affected healthcare workers.
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CDC to Translate Data into ‘Easy-to-Understand’ New Policy
The CDC has begun an ambitious revamping after admitting it was not ready for the plethora of issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency is pursuing a culture change to break down silos and communicate better in house and to the public.