Safety means ‘seeing the virus’: Atria recounts rollout of 18,000 tests early in pandemic
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 09, 2021
Finding a way to conduct COVID-19 testing among 31,000 residents and staff members across multiple states helped the senior living giant to “seal out” outbreaks and show that its communities were safe...
Engaging CNAs in COVID vaccination: 4 points to consider
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 09, 2021
“Providing CNAs with information, resources, support, and opportunity will not only serve to improve vaccine receptivity, but may also have downstream benefits,” say geriatric nursing experts from...
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, June 9
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 09, 2021
Twist in the FDA’s Alzheimer’s decision: no limits on which patients can get the drug … Biden administration advises changes to policies linked to N95 shortages … Frailty tied to increased mortality...
FDA allows injections, reduced dose of COVID monoclonal antibody therapy
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2021
An effective but arguably underused COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy now may be more accessible for long-term care facilities that aren’t equipped to deliver intravenous infusions.
Bamlanivimab cuts risk of COVID in nursing homes and assisted living, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2021
The investigation was conducted before the FDA revoked emergency use of the drug — a monoclonal antibody — due to the impact of genetic variants on efficacy. But it still can be used in combination...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, June 8
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 08, 2021
People who never wear masks are twice as likely to get COVID, poll shows … CDC: mRNA vaccines found to reduce COVID severity in breakthrough infections among vaccinated people … Knowledge of palliative...
FDA approves first drug to slow Alzheimer’s in controversial decision
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
The evidence convincingly shows that aducanumab (Aduhelm) removes beta amyloid — a hallmark of Alzheimer’s — from the brain, slowing the disease’s progression and giving patients and families much-needed...
Large VA study reveals ease of COVID-19 transmission among unvaccinated healthcare staff
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Investigators found nearly 20 times the rate of COVID-19 infection in unvaccinated healthcare staff, plus signs that transmission clusters were linked to those workers.
Antibiotic treatment sky-high in COVID-19 cases; formal guidelines reduce rates, studies show
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
The findings highlight the challenge faced by clinicians who wish to avoid overusing these drugs, but at the same time require access to potentially lifesaving treatment for a new respiratory disease.
Two new drugs show promise for hard-to-treat breast, prostate cancers
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 07, 2021
Cancer drug Lynparza (olaparib) reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death in certain aggressive breast cancers by 42% after surgery, while a new prostate cancer treatment improved survival by tracking...