Antibiotics use spiked in nursing homes early in pandemic, studies find
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
Nursing homes saw a big jump in certain antibiotic prescriptions early in the pandemic, and more than half of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received antibiotics in the first six months, researchers say.
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, March 16
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 16, 2021
Providers want weekly ongoing pledge of 50,000 COVID vaccines for LTC … Psychotropic drug prescriptions rose for nursing home residents during pandemic … Small improvements seen in chronic disease...
‘Silent’ heart attack proves to be new stroke risk factor for older adults, experts find
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2021
Symptomless heart attacks may pose the same risk of stroke as a chest-crushing event, and are more common in people 65 and older, according to a new study to be presented at the upcoming American Stroke...
NYC facility halves UTI rate, care costs with ‘practical’ intervention
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2021
Gouverneur Health, a 295-bed skilled nursing facility, brought its average UTI rate to 2.13%, — lower than state and national benchmarks — and reduced its related care costs by 52% from the pre-intervention...
Mask prioritization ‘upside-down’; eldercare workers should be No. 1 recipient: report
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2021
Frontline staff may be exposed to as much or more cough and COVID-19 droplets than ICU workers performing intubations, according to some researchers and anesthesiologists.
Clinical briefs for Monday, March 15
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 15, 2021
Bill McGinley retiring as ACHCA president and CEO … Antibiotic use spikes in nursing homes during pandemic … Pharmacists put squeeze on FDA to allow more usage from vaccine vials … AMDA’s foundation...
Properly protected, healthcare workers at no greater risk of infectious disease, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 12, 2021
Healthcare workers have the greatest likelihood of contracting a SARS-CoV-2 infection outside the workplace, not in it, suggesting that current jobsite protective measures are effective, according to a...
Depression hits harder in stroke than heart attack, especially in women
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 12, 2021
Stroke patients have 50% greater odds of becoming depressed than people who have had a heart attack — especially if they are women, two new studies find.
Silver lining? Surgical and N95 masks ease spring allergies in nurse study
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 12, 2021
Nurses who recorded allergic rhinitis symptoms during a two-week period in the pandemic reported significantly decreased symptoms while wearing an N95 or surgical face mask vs. wearing no mask.
Clinical briefs for Friday, March 12
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 12, 2021
It’s time to appoint medical directors in assisted living, panel says … UK COVID variant 64% more deadly … Thousands of bottles of Lipitor generic pulled over impurity fears … Scientists detect...