Urinary test cuts antibiotics use in pneumonia, pharmacists say
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 28, 2021
Urinary antigen tests led to earlier discontinuation of certain antibiotics and shorter acute care stays in patients with pneumonia, a new study finds.
Robotic pets boost mood scores in dementia, day center study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 28, 2021
Not only did measures of mood, behaviors and cognition improve in attendees with dementia, but the robot pets provided participants with an alternative way to express themselves, researchers say.
Statins have no effect on COVID-19 mortality, Johns Hopkins study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 27, 2021
Statins made no difference in COVID-19 mortality — positive or negative — among 4,500 hospitalized patients, countering previous findings.
Brief training for LTC nurses leads to 6 months of reduced psychotropics use
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
Wards with trained nurses showed a significant reduction in psychotropic drug use and drug costs. Maintenance strategies may be needed, however, as the improvements had waned by 12 months, researchers...
At-home COVID-19 tests get a $70M boost as feds push to increase access
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 27, 2021
The Biden Administration is streamlining the process to bring new tests to market among other moves designed to increase testing supplies and access.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, Oct 27
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
Tech Awards Gold goes to Erickson Senior Living for infectious disease management system … Delta variant did not increase COVID-19 severity in hospitalized patients: study … CDC report underscores...
Roche’s eye implant may reduce vision loss treatment time for seniors
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
The FDA has approved an ocular implant that could reduce the treatment schedule from monthly to twice yearly for older adults with “wet” macular degeneration.
Stimulants raise elders’ cardiovascular risk by 40 percent: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
In the first 30 days after starting a new prescription for stimulants, older adults are at high risk for heart attack, stroke and arrhythmia, investigators say.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, Oct. 26
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 26, 2021
States bet that direct care will benefit from strict limits on nursing home spending … FDA approves new application for drug that eases intubation … Alzheimer’s diagnostic software receives FDA ‘breakthrough’...
Mix-and-match booster shots a plus for long-term care, AHCA/NCAL’s chief doc says
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 25, 2021
Adding the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to the mix will “catapult” efforts to increase COVID-19 booster access for residents and staff, David Gifford, M.D., says.