Clinical

When the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic first became evident, the term “twindemic” (simultaneous high rates of both SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza) was everywhere. Not only did it never emerge, but new data published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report show that incidence of flu, respiratory syncytial virus, common human coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, human metapneumovirus, respiratory adenovirus, and rhinovirus and enterovirus were all actually lower than previous years. The authors speculate that the lower-than-average activity …

Most women who are pregnant are rightly cautious about what they put into their bodies. Given the newness of the COVID-19 vaccines, not to mention the misinformation abounding on social and mainstream media, it’s natural that they might be hesitant to get vaccinated. After numerous studies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has finally issued an unequivocal statement recommending that pregnant women should, indeed, get vaccinated while assuring the public that none of the …

It wasn’t that long ago that many Americans rejoiced at the news that several vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been developed and approved for use on an emergency basis. And while there are data showing that the vaccines do, in fact, do a good (if imperfect) job at protecting the inoculated, it now appears that at least one of them wanes 6 months after administration. A preprint report of a study published online by …

The headlines have been populated with multiple stories of COVID-19 spikes in various corners of the U.S. Prominent among them was news of an outbreak among unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals in Provincetown, MA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three-quarters of the 470 cases there occurred in those who were fully immunized against the virus, and the Delta variant was found in most of the samples assessed. In close proximity to that …

Anecdotally, it seems clear that there are too many healthcare professionals among the population resisting COVID-19 vaccination. A study just published by JAMA Network may be more persuasive than any workplace edict in getting them to opt for the best protection available. Researchers at the University of California Irvine evaluated rates of COVID-19 infection, both symptomatic and asymptomatic, before and after vaccination with the Pfizer or Moderna versions of the vaccine. Subjects were screened daily …

When Illinois issued stay-at-home orders back in March 2020, the obvious intent was to lower risk for transmission of COVID-19 and, ultimately, to save lives. By the time the order was lifted 11 weeks later, the state was wrestling with an unintended consequence of a higher rate of deaths attributed to opioid overdose. A Cook County-based study of such deaths, recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed there were 23 fatalities …

With only 49% of the United States vaccinated against COVID-19 as of July 21, it can feel like your efforts to educate patients enough to protect themselves are in vain. New data published by the Journal of the American Medical Association says otherwise, however. In fact, it appears that messages delivered by physicians can actually help increase COVID-19 knowledge and even bridge the gap in health inequities among different racers in the U.S. Drawn from …

Last summer, and certainly the seasons that followed, had most Americans struggling with disruptions in the routines and isolated from their social norms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Young singles may have been especially frustrated with reduced opportunities to meet and mingle. Now, however, with mask mandates and social distancing restrictions largely a thing of the past, the dating seen is back in full force—with public health experts now seeming as worried about a surge …

So many patients have lingering symptoms after the SARS-CoV-2 virus has actually resolved that distinctive names have emerged: long-haul COVID-19, or post-COVID condition. Complaints can include those associated directly with the virus—eg, shortness of breath, body aches, fatigue—or an entirely new set that could include twitching muscles, racing heart, and various gastrointestinal problems. Be prepared to administer COVID-19 tests or antibody tests to rule out true infection. In addition, according to the Centers for Disease …

Despite great strides in urgent care, overprescribing of antibiotics and related resistance to potentially lifesaving medications continues to be a concern across multiple practice settings. Sometimes it’s easier to write that prescription than it is to resist the urge to please patients and rack up high satisfaction scores. What if we found out that prescribers are equally swayed by the opinion of a respected colleague? That could be the case, it turns out, according to …