Journal of Urgent Care Medicine

Online Beauty Trend Has Clinical Application Too

Hypochlorous acid has gained sudden attention on social media lately where influencers and consumer skincare companies are promoting its benefits for conditions like acne, eczema, and rosacea. Products offered online have clever brand names with words like “magic molecule” and “beauty rescue,” which may have clinicians doubting the claims and raising concerns over their patients using the skin treatments. However, dermatologists interviewed by MedPage Today say that hypochlorous acid can help reduce skin inflammation, and …

Trends Show More Teens Prescribed Weight Loss Drugs

Use of semaglutide for weight loss among American teens is rising with new prescriptions increasing significantly, according to an analysis of 1.3 million electronic health records by Truveta and Reuters. The rate climbed from 9.9 prescriptions per 100,000 teens in 2023 to 14.8 in 2024. The average rate climbed further during the first 3 months of this year, reaching 17.3 new prescriptions per 100,000, according to Reuters. This growth also follows the American Academy of …

MMR Vaccine Rates Decline In 78% of U.S. Counties

The United States is witnessing a significant decline in vaccination rates for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) as reported across more than 2,000 counties, according to a study published in JAMA . Data covering the years 2019 through 2024 show that the county-level mean vaccination rate fell from 93.92% in the pre-pandemic years to 91.26% after the pandemic with 78% of counties reporting declining rates. Only 4 states reported increased rates of MMR vaccination during …

RSV Vaccine Effective For Older Adults

The real-world effectiveness of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination among U.S. adults aged 60 years and older during the 2023–2024 RSV season was found to be 75.1% (95% confidence interval, 73.6–76.4%), according to research published in JAMA Network Open. Vaccine effectiveness was evaluated against acute respiratory infection, urgent care or emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Among those 60 years and younger, the vaccine was 75.8% effective (73.2-78.1%) against urgent care or emergency department visits …

Door Handles Won’t Give You The Flu: Simulation Study

During flu season, many people go out of their way to wash down high-touch surfaces at home, at work, and in schools, hoping to avoid the spread of germs. An experimental laboratory study published in Microbiology and Immunology that evaluated the risk of influenza transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces, however, found the risk of picking up the flu from touching door handles and other objects is actually quite low. Researchers in Japan simulated “artificial …

OTC Allergy Drugs Can Cause Severe Pruritus With Sudden Discontinuation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now warning clinicians and healthcare consumers about a rare but severe side effect associated with stopping long-term use of oral allergy medicines cetirizine or levocetirizine. FDA reports that some patients ultimately develop severe pruritus that requires medical attention if they stop taking the medications, and the agency aims to update the prescribing information to raise awareness about the post-discontinuation risk. According to the FDA, pruritus symptoms resolved for …

Cases of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Cluster in a Few States

The deadly Candida auris fungus was first identified in the United States about 10 years ago and has proven to have strong drug-resistance, at times demonstrating resistance to all 3 main classes of antifungal medicines, including echinocandins. And cases appear to be on the rise. Of the 1,052 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through April 26, 2025, a disproportionate number are occurring in Texas (241), Michigan (185), and Ohio (125). …

Meningococcal Vaccine Leveraged To Prevent Gonorrhea in England and Wales

A vaccine to prevent gonorrhea will soon be introduced in England and Wales as part of a targeted public health initiative—the first of its kind globally, according to health officials. Described as a “landmark moment for sexual health,” the program aims to address the rising rates of gonorrhea with preventive measures. The vaccine, originally developed to protect against meningococcal B disease, will be offered starting in early August at sexual health clinics commissioned by local …

Maternal Syphilis Screening Recommendations Stand Firm

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in a recommendation statement published this week in JAMA reaffirmed its highest recommendation for early and universal syphilis screening in pregnancy, which aligns with its 2018 guidance. The recommendation emphasizes screening for all pregnant adolescents and adults at the first prenatal opportunity, regardless of individual risk factors, using both treponemal and non-treponemal tests. The directive is based on high-certainty evidence that syphilis screening during pregnancy provides a substantial …

Bedtime Antihypertensive Regimens Offer No Special Benefit

A Canadian trial published in JAMA involving 3,200 primary care patients (56.4% female; median age, 67 years) evaluated the timing of antihypertensive medication administration and found no difference in morning vs bedtime dosing. Over a median follow-up of 4.6 years, bedtime dosing was found to be safe but offered no additional cardiovascular benefit. Rates of major cardiovascular events or death were similar between groups (2.3 vs 2.4 per 100 patient-years; adjusted hazard ratio 0.96, 95% …

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