Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

Researchers study bacterial co-infections and antibiotic use in COVID-19 patients

Researchers estimated the frequency of bacterial co-infections among hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and of antibiotic prescriptions in the initial COVID-19 period for appraising the usage of antibiotic stewardship criteria.

13 Jan 2023

What is pharmaceutical forecasting?

In this interview News Medical is talking to David James about pharmaceutical forecasting, J+D Forecasting solutions and their plans for the future.

From J+D Forecasting 13 Jan 2023

Study on the ecology of viruses in urban rodents with special emphasis on SARS-CoV-2

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigated whether commensal rodent pests such as rats and mice, sourced from sewers and urban settings, are exposed to and are infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). They also investigated viruses present in commensal rodents.

12 Jan 2023

The 2022 U.S. RSV surge consisted of a variety of pre-existing viruses

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers investigated whether the upsurge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections during the autumn season of 2022 occurred due to the emergence of a novel, highly transmissible RSV strain or whether multiple pre-existing RSV strains were responsible for the increase in RSV case counts during the period.

12 Jan 2023

Social isolation is a risk factor for dementia in community-dwelling older adults, studies show

In two studies using nationally representative data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study gathered on thousands of Americans, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health have significantly added to evidence that social isolation is a substantial risk factor for dementia in community-dwelling (noninstitutionalized) older adults, and identified technology as an effective way to intervene.

12 Jan 2023

Young people don't need to be convinced to have more children, study suggests

While some people are concerned about America's falling birth rate, a new study suggests young people don't need to be convinced to have more children.

12 Jan 2023

Bivalent boosters tested against all SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages

In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers in the United States assessed the impact of the bivalent messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine on the antibody-mediated neutralization of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineages.

11 Jan 2023

COVID-19 outcomes in Rituximab treated patients

A new report throws light on SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in patients with certain joint diseases or musculoskeletal conditions who are on rituximab and compares the severity of COVID-19 outcomes in these patients whilst identifying potential risk factors for severe outcomes.

11 Jan 2023

Most clergy embrace a medical understanding of depression’s etiology and treatment

A new Duke University study appears to ease concerns that clergy would steer congregants suffering from depression away from mental health providers and instead rely only on their faith.

11 Jan 2023

Tooth loss more frequent among Black women in Brazil

In Brazil, tooth loss is 19% more frequent among Black women than White men. Among women, it is 26% more frequent for Blacks than Whites. Among Blacks, self-defined on the basis of skin color, it is 14% more frequent for women than men. Black women are affected most, whatever the parameter.

11 Jan 2023

Did people use mental health services more during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Researchers explored the utilization rates of mental health services among adults during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

11 Jan 2023

Lifestyle and genetic factors influence risk of cardiovascular complications after COVID-19

Researchers examined the contribution of lifestyle and genetic factors to cardiovascular and thromboembolic event (CVE) risk following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

11 Jan 2023

Researchers review bacteriophage treatment

Researchers presented an overview of bacteriophage treatment, including mechanisms, types, design and applications of bacteriophage therapy.

10 Jan 2023

Developing new tools to accelerate spatial genomics and drug discovery

We speak to Dr. George Emanuel from Vizgen about their new MERSCOPE Platform and how it is accelerating the field of drug discovery by combining both single-cell and spatial genomics.

From Vizgen 10 Jan 2023

Eating fast food associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

The new year has begun, and with it, resolutions for change. A study from Keck Medicine of USC published today in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology gives people extra motivation to reduce fast-food consumption.

10 Jan 2023

Hospitals’ use of volunteer staff runs risk of skirting labor laws, experts say

Most of the 30 volunteers who work at the 130-bed, for-profit East Cooper Medical Center spend their days assisting surgical patients — the scope of their duties extending far beyond those of candy stripers, baby cuddlers, and gift shop clerks.

10 Jan 2023

Behavioral telehealth loses momentum without a regulatory boost

Controlled substances became a little less controlled during the pandemic. That benefited both patients (for their health) and telehealth startups (to make money).

10 Jan 2023

What were the risks and patterns of childhood deaths before and during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A new study describes the pattern of childhood deaths over 2019-21, the first two years of the pandemic, hoping to help identify the risks associated with these events.

10 Jan 2023

Wellcome Sanger Institute launches new initiative to better understand respiratory viruses

A new initiative to better understand respiratory viruses has been launched today (10 January 2023) by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

10 Jan 2023

Group A streptococcal infections increased in England in 2022

In a recent study published in the journal Eurosurveillance, researchers investigated the latest increase in cases of invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) infection among children in England below the age of 15 to understand the clinical presentations of iGAS as well as the incidence of co-infections with respiratory viruses.

9 Jan 2023