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Pneumonia is a leading cause of death and hospitalization, costing health care systems billions of dollars and an estimated 600,000 adult deaths worldwide each year. Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and the term describes a group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper respiratory tract infections. Although all age groups may be affected, the highest rate of pneumococcal disease occurs in young children and older adults. In addition, persons suffering from a wide range of chronic conditions (eg, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) and immune deficiencies are at increased risk.
Neuraxial anesthesia improves outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement

Neuraxial anesthesia improves outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement

A highly underutilized anesthesia technique called neuraxial anesthesia, also known as spinal or epidural anesthesia, improves outcomes in patients undergoing hip or knee replacement, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. [More]
Opinion pieces address Global Vaccine Summit

Opinion pieces address Global Vaccine Summit

Project Syndicate last week published two opinion pieces addressing the Global Vaccine Summit, held in Abu Dhabi from April 24-25, which was hosted by His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in partnership with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [More]

Specific inflammatory pattern found in patients with pneumonia and COPD

Patients with community-acquired pneumonia on a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a different early inflammatory pattern than patients with CAP only, a prospective study shows. [More]
Study examines link between serum vitamin D3, risk of contracting pneumonia

Study examines link between serum vitamin D3, risk of contracting pneumonia

A University of Eastern Finland study showed that low serum vitamin D levels are a risk factor for pneumonia. The risk of contracting pneumonia was more than 2.5 times greater in subjects with the lowest vitamin D levels than in subjects with high vitamin D levels. [More]
UCSF study focuses on vexing problems of handling skin cancers among elderly patients

UCSF study focuses on vexing problems of handling skin cancers among elderly patients

Surgery is often recommended for skin cancers, but older, sicker patients can endure complications as a result and may not live long enough to benefit from the treatment. [More]

Specific inflammatory pattern found in patients with pneumonia and COPD

Patients with community-acquired pneumonia on a background of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a different early inflammatory pattern than patients with CAP only, a prospective study shows. [More]
Opinion pieces address World Malaria Day

Opinion pieces address World Malaria Day

On Thursday, the international community recognized World Malaria Day, observed annually on April 25. This year's theme was "Invest in the future. Defeat malaria." [More]
UK’s health performance: an interview with Prof. Murray, University of Washington

UK’s health performance: an interview with Prof. Murray, University of Washington

Rates of premature mortality in the UK have been falling steadily, but the pace of decline is not as fast as in many other high-income countries, such as Australia. In that sense, the UK lags behind. [More]
Cempra demonstrates solithromycin's potential against urogenital infections at ECCMID

Cempra demonstrates solithromycin's potential against urogenital infections at ECCMID

Cempra, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing differentiated antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infections, today announced that it will present data at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Berlin, demonstrating solithromycin's potential to treat urogenital infections and combat challenging pathogens such as enterococci and Legionella pneumophila. [More]
New treatment options for influenza

New treatment options for influenza

The flu is caused by an infection with the influenza virus, which mainly attacks the upper respiratory tract - the nose, throat and bronchi and rarely also the lungs. According to the World Health Organization, around five to 15 percent of the population are affected by upper respiratory tract infections during seasonal flu outbreaks, and between 250 000-500 000 people die of the illness every year. [More]
Pfizer reports that Prevenar 13 Phase 3 study meets all primary, secondary objectives

Pfizer reports that Prevenar 13 Phase 3 study meets all primary, secondary objectives

Pfizer Inc. presented today the results from a Phase 3 study investigating immunogenicity, tolerability and safety of Prevenar 13 (Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine [13-valent, adsorbed]) in adults 18 to 49 years of age. [More]

Cempra reports net loss of $10.3 million in first quarter 2013

Cempra, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing antibiotics to meet critical medical needs in the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013. [More]

Study: Regional anesthesia associated with with fewer postoperative complications in orthopedic surgery patients

A study published in the May issue of Anesthesiology discovered that spinal or epidural anesthesia, types of regional anesthesia that numb patients from the abdomen to the toes, were associated with fewer postoperative complications and death than general anesthesia in patients undergoing primary hip or knee replacement. [More]
Phase IIb Aviator study demonstrates high SVR rates against genotype 1 HCV

Phase IIb Aviator study demonstrates high SVR rates against genotype 1 HCV

Results from "Aviator," AbbVie's phase IIb clinical trial of its investigational direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of hepatitis C virus infection, continue to demonstrate high sustained viral response rates against genotype 1 HCV, across patient types. [More]

Research roundup: Community benefits and hospitals' tax-exempt status; Medicaid expansion could benefit people of color; Looking at changes for Medicare

The federal health law requires tax-exempt hospitals to assess and address the needs of the community in which they serve by the end of 2013. [More]
Research shows respiratory syncytial virus can be transferred during pregnancy to unborn baby

Research shows respiratory syncytial virus can be transferred during pregnancy to unborn baby

The most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can be transferred during pregnancy to an unborn baby, according to Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital research published online this week in the journal PLOS ONE. [More]
Global experts highlight strategies to immunize more children

Global experts highlight strategies to immunize more children

In advance of World Immunization Week, global experts are highlighting strategies to further advance progress on the Global Vaccine Action Plan that was endorsed by the World Health Assembly, 2012. [More]
AACN Practice Alert outlines evidence-based protocols related to bathing adult patients

AACN Practice Alert outlines evidence-based protocols related to bathing adult patients

The long-held tradition of using a basin, soap and water to bathe bed-bound hospitalized patients is no longer the recommended standard of practice, according to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. [More]

Ribavirin, interferon-alpha 2b inhibit virus replication in cell culture, NIH study finds

National Institutes of Health scientists studying an emerging coronavirus have found that a combination of two licensed antiviral drugs, ribavirin and interferon-alpha 2b, can stop the virus from replicating in laboratory-grown cells. [More]

Patient enrollment underway in Phase III trial program to evaluate amikacin inhalation solution

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that patient enrollment is underway in its global Phase III trial program to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adjunctive aerosolized BAY41-6551 versus aerosolized placebo in the treatment of intubated and mechanically ventilated patients with Gram-negative pneumonia receiving standard of care intravenous antibiotics. [More]