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Virus surge prompts 2 US pharmacy chains to limit kids' fever med sales

… announced limits on the number of children's pain medications that customers can buy in a single transaction, … problems are squeezing supplies of pediatric fever medications. The companies said the limits apply to online … providers are also grappling with other pediatric medications for treating respiratory diseases, including …
Lisa Schnirring

Nirsevimab 89% effective against RSV hospitalization for babies, CDC estimates

The drug was 88% effective against the need for medical attention among those in their second respiratory virus season.

Mary Van Beusekom

Hospital patient safety suffered under COVID pandemic pressures, study shows

While rates of patient injuries and infections are on a downward trend, they had not returned to prepandemic levels by 2022.

Mary Van Beusekom
Patient with fall risk bracelet

7 in 10 US adults favor school vaccination mandates, but support for opt-outs rising

Yet 84% said they would back their state using public funds to provide free or discounted measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines, up from 81% in 2019.

Mary Van Beusekom
Woman holding syringe

BARDA announces first next-generation countermeasure accelerator hubs

One hub focuses on diagnostics and medical devices, and the other targets therapeutics and vaccines.

Lisa Schnirring

Study links acid suppressants to colonization with multidrug-resistant bacteria

… Byline Chris Dall, MA Body A new study suggests that medications used to control heartburn and other … the link was that the suppression of gastric acid by these medications—which are frequently prescribed for heartburn and … reflux disease but include over-the-counter medications like Prilosec, Nexium, and Zantac—may enable …
Chris Dall
Woman eating sandwich

FDA report shows small decline in sales of antibiotics for food-producing animals

The latest report from the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine shows that sales of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals fell by 2% in 2023.

Chris Dall
Cattle in feedlot

Pandemic procedures slowing heart attack responses

The study is based on heart attack patients seen at Ocean University Medical Center in New Jersey.

Stephanie Soucheray

Tyson to drop 'No Antibiotics Ever' label from some chicken products

The use of a non-medically important antibiotic in some of its chickens means the company cannot use the label.

Chris Dall
Tyson Chicken plant

Bivalent COVID booster protects against poor outcomes better than 1-strain 4th dose

No waning of bivalent vaccine effectiveness against medical treatment was seen at 2 months in both previously infected and never-infected participants.

Mary Van Beusekom
Bivalent COVID vaccine in cooler

Report: Improving oxygen access, pandemic preparedness could save millions of lives

The authors estimate the cost of narrowing the oxygen gap at $34 billion over the next 5 years but called it a highly cost-effective investment with far-reaching effects. 

Mary Van Beusekom
Blue oxygen tanks

Demand for blood thinners rapidly fluctuated amid COVID

… text The total volume of anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications at US hospitals fell 43% at the onset of the … in the demand for anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications at US hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The … the total volume of anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications at US hospitals fell 43.4% at the onset of the …
Mary Van Beusekom
Heparin vial

CARB-X funds development of rapid test for gonorrhea

The portable test from Visby Medical will be able to detect gonorrhea and assess susceptibility to ciprofloxacin.

Chris Dall

Estimates: Nirsevimab 89% effective against RSV in kids, 93% against hospitalization

Disease burden, hospitalization rates have stayed the same from 2017 to 2024.

Mary Van Beusekom

FDA report shows small decline in antibiotic sales for livestock in 2021

Sales of medically important antibiotics for use in food animals fell by less than 1% from 2020 to 2021.

Chris Dall
Young chickens in barn
Peggy Hamburg

Peggy Hamburg, MD

Study: US children at times received ineffective COVID-19 treatments

… of America (IDSA).   "Despite guidelines, use of these medications for acute COVID-19 continued and led to … prescribed   This study examined prescriptions for medications not recommended for COVID-19 listed in the IDSA … for a rate of 0.14% per COVID-19 diagnosis. The other medications were not prescribed frequently enough for further …
Stephanie Soucheray
hcq pills

When medical visits are shorter, patients more likely to get unneeded antibiotics

… and benzodiazepines for pain-related diagnoses, and medications that are potentially inappropriate for older … by patients aged 65 and older involved the prescription of medications contraindicated by the Beers criteria (a list of medications to avoid in older patients). Our findings suggest …
Chris Dall
Doctor with patient
Harvey V. Fineberg

Harvey V. Fineberg, MD, PhD

COVID drugs more often given to Medicare patients who least need them, study suggests

A simulation estimated that reallocating COVID-19 treatment based on risk for severe infection would have prevented 16,500 COVID-related deaths.

Mary Van Beusekom
Older woman taking pill

Bipartisan support grows for laws aimed at reducing US drug shortages

… on foreign foes, prevent shortages, and ensure a flow of medications for public health emergencies. On March 27, … Health Service Act to enable the stockpiling of generic medications and require the Department of Health and Human …
Mary Van Beusekom
Container ship aerial view

Chick-Fil-A to modify its policy on antibiotic use

The company says it will allow use of animal antibiotics in its chicken supply, but not antibiotics that are also used in human medicine. 

Chris Dall

Sustainable Antibiotic Development with Dr. Brad Spellberg

Listen to our conversation with Brad Spellberg, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center. We discuss his recent New England Journal of Medicine paper, and important issues around sustainable antibiotic discovery and development.

February 12, 2020

Pertussis in adults aged 50 and older costs UK about $290 million yearly, study estimates

… million]), and patient costs such as transportation and medications (5%; £13 million [$16 million]). Costs were …
Mary Van Beusekom

C difficile vaccine candidate fails to meet primary end point in phase 3 trial

The vaccine didn't reduce C difficile infections in at-risk adults, but it did show the potential to reduce infection severity and limit need for medical attention.

Chris Dall

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