Study: LTC residents with COVID-19 at risk for polypharmacy, new drug interactions
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 12, 2022
Across 41 Texas long-term care facilities, nearly 20% of residents with COVID-19 had drug-drug interactions related to treatment, and one-third continued new meds 30 days after diagnosis.
Diaries of infection preventionists offer peek into pandemic struggles
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 06, 2021
Real-time reports from the height of the pandemic offer a glimpse into the highs and lows infection preventionists faced as they tackled unprecedented challenges.
A first: FDA approves drug to treat agitation in Alzheimer’s dementia
By
Alicia Lasek
May 12, 2023
For the first time, the FDA has approved a drug to treat agitation related to Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Patient advocates are hailing the news, but prescribing the drug, an antipsychotic, may put...
Early screening curbs C. auris in ventilator-assisted facilities: study
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 02, 2023
Targeted screening for Candida auris at admission to ventilator-assisted units in nursing homes helps to identify colonized residents, physician researchers report.
Merck to seek emergency use for COVID-19 antiviral pill that cuts severe outcomes by 50 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 04, 2021
Molnupiravir has reduced COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations by half in a new clinical trial. An orally delivered drug could offer unprecedented treatment convenience, the drug’s developers say.
Hypoglycemia frequent in LTCF residents with diabetes, large study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 14, 2023
A 35% rate of level 1 hypoglycemia in long-term care facility residents with type 2 diabetes leaves room for better clinical management, researchers say.
CDC: RSV hospitalizations soar among seniors while vaccine remains on horizon
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 16, 2022
The hospitalization rate for seniors with respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, is 10 times higher than usual for the season, federal data show.
Medicare’s plan to cover Alzheimer’s drugs hinges on patient data registries
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 02, 2023
Medicare Part B will cover Alzheimer’s drugs with traditional FDA approval, CMS announced Thursday. Prescribing clinicians must participate in a patient data registry.
New cases of antifungal-resistant yeast infections in nursing homes alarm CDC
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 26, 2021
For the first time, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has identified U.S. nursing home residents and hospital patients with candida auris yeast infections that resist all first-line antifungal...
CDC: Two booster shots cut severe COVID risk in nursing home residents by 74 percent
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 03, 2022
Nursing home residents who received a second mRNA booster shot during omicron were much less likely to suffer severe COVID-19 outcomes than their peers who received only one dose, a new study shows.