Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Emergency Medicine for July 2016. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
CDC Calls for Tighter Restrictions on Teen Nighttime Driving
FRIDAY, July 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Getting U.S. teens out of the driver’s seat before midnight would reduce their risk of fatal crashes, according to research published in the July 29 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Clinicians Should Consider Valley Fever in Some Flu Patients
THURSDAY, July 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians should suspect coccidioidomycosis, also known as San Joaquin Valley fever, in patients with pneumonia or ongoing flu-like symptoms who live in or have visited the west or southwest United States, especially Arizona and central California, according to updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) published online July 27 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Two More Possible Cases of Non-Travel-Related Zika in Florida
THURSDAY, July 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Florida health officials are investigating two more unexplained cases of Zika infection, bringing to four the number of cases that don’t seem to be related to travel to countries where the virus is circulating.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy Costs High at Safety-Net Hospitals
THURSDAY, July 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is associated with high costs at safety-net hospitals, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Surgery.
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New Rule Tied to Fewer Head Impacts in High School Football
WEDNESDAY, July 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Limiting tackling during high school football practices lowers the risk of head impacts, according to a study published online June 22 in the Journal of Athletic Training.
Flu Vaccine Protective Against Hospitalization, Death in T2DM
WEDNESDAY, July 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The seasonal influenza vaccine may significantly reduce mortality for patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as hospitalizations for stroke and cardiovascular and pulmonary issues, according to a study published online July 25 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
FDA Strengthens Safety Warnings for Fluoroquinolones
WEDNESDAY, July 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it’s strengthening label warnings on fluoroquinolones because the drugs can lead to disabling side effects, including long-term nerve damage and ruptured tendons.
Primary Stroke Centers Have Slight Survival Edge
TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The odds of surviving a stroke are slightly better for patients treated at hospitals with primary stroke centers (PSCs), but only if stroke patients get to the center in less than 90 minutes, according to research published online July 25 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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American Red Cross Says Blood Donations Needed Urgently
TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American Red Cross says it has an urgent need for blood donations, with less than a five-day supply of blood on hand to help those who need it.
Medical Students Often Track Progress of Former Patients
TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many U.S. medical students use electronic health records to track the progress of their former patients and confirm the accuracy of their diagnoses, according to research letter published online July 25 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Marijuana Poisonings in Toddlers on the Rise in Colorado
TUESDAY, July 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In 2014, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana. Shortly after, a sharp increase occurred in the number of Colorado children younger than 10 who became ill after being exposed to marijuana, according to a study published online July 25 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Delirium Often Seen in Cancer Patients in the ER
MONDAY, July 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Delirium is fairly common, yet often missed, in advanced cancer patients who visit emergency departments, according to a study published online July 25 in Cancer.
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‘Walking Meetings’ Feasible Strategy for Employee Wellness
MONDAY, July 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Converting a single weekly meeting to a walking meeting can help raise work-related physical activity levels of white-collar workers, according to a report published online June 23 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Preventing Chronic Disease.
Meds Up Hospitalization for Dehydration, Heat-Linked Illness
MONDAY, July 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Among veterans, initiation of many commonly-used medications is associated with increased risk of hospitalization for dehydration or heat-related illness, according to research published online July 4 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
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Another Non-Travel Related Case of Zika in Florida
FRIDAY, July 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Florida health officials say they’re investigating a second possible case of locally transmitted Zika infection.
Airbags, Seat Belts Cut Likelihood of Facial Fractures
FRIDAY, July 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The use of airbags, seat belts, and both devices is associated with a reduced likelihood of facial fractures after motor vehicle collisions, according to a study published online July 21 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
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Rapid HIV Transmission Seen in Injection Drug Users in Rural U.S.
THURSDAY, July 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. prescription drug abuse epidemic has increased the risk of HIV outbreaks in rural and suburban communities, where up to now the virus has posed little threat, according to a report published in the July 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Health Expenditures Rising for Middle Class, Wealthy
THURSDAY, July 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — While overall U.S. medical spending growth slowed between 2004 and 2013, expenditures rose for middle- and high-income Americans, according to research published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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Buprenorphine-Naloxone Use in Medicare Patients Low
THURSDAY, July 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Doctors aren’t using one of the most effective weapons at their disposal in battling opioid addiction — buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone), according to a research letter published online July 20 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Possible Local Transmission of Zika Virus in Florida
WEDNESDAY, July 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Florida health officials are investigating what could be the first case of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in the continental United States.
Medicare Spending Up for Decedents Versus Survivors
WEDNESDAY, July 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Medicare per capita spending was much higher for beneficiaries who died during 2014 than for those who survived the entire year, according to a report published by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Diabetes Confers Worse Prognosis for Patients With ACS
WEDNESDAY, July 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), diabetes confers a worse prognosis, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Can Signal Hematologic Cancer
TUESDAY, July 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Among women presenting with a chief complaint of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), there is an estimated incidence of hematologic cancer of 3.6 cases per 1,000 women, according to research published in the August issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Labor Compensation, Purchased Goods, Service Biggest Spends
TUESDAY, July 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Labor compensation remains the single largest contributor to costs among physicians’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers, according to a report published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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U.S. Zika Patient in Utah Apparently Infected Caregiver
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — On Monday, U.S. health officials said they were trying to determine how a now-deceased elderly Utah man who had Zika managed to infect a family caregiver.
Fracking Site Proximity May Affect Asthma Exacerbation Risk
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Living near fracking sites may lead to asthma exacerbations, according to a study published online July 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Player-to-Player Hits in Football Up Magnitude of Head Impacts
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — As officials at all levels of American football continue to debate how to prevent concussions, a new study, published online July 18 in Pediatrics, using data from devices inside the helmets of high school players confirms that hits with other players are especially damaging.
Burnout Can Have Acute Personal, Professional Consequences
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Stress and burnout are increasingly prevalent among physicians, with serious personal and professional consequences, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Stellate Ganglion Block Beneficial in Postherpetic Neuralgia
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The therapeutic benefit of stellate ganglion block for debilitating photophobia secondary to trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia has been described in a case report published online July 5 in Pain Practice.
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Facial Fracture Risk Up for Older Women With Facial Injury
MONDAY, July 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The risk of facial fracture varies with age, sex, and race, with increased risk among white and Asian older women, according to research published online July 14 in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
CDC Reports First Female-to-Male Sexual Transmission of Zika
FRIDAY, July 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A New York City woman who became infected with the Zika virus on a trip outside the United States passed the infection to her boyfriend during sex, according to research published in the July 15 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Growth in U.S. Health Spending Set to Average 5.8 Percent
FRIDAY, July 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Growth in U.S. health spending is expected to average 5.8 percent for 2015 to 2025, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
Increase in Acute Synthetic Cannabinoid Poisonings
FRIDAY, July 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Synthetic cannabinoids are sending increasing numbers of U.S. users to hospitals, according to research published in the July 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea on the Rise in the United States
FRIDAY, July 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotic-resistant cases of gonorrhea have more than quadrupled in the United States, according to research published in the July 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Supreme Court Ruling Could Impact Med School Admissions
THURSDAY, July 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the University of Texas at Austin’s consideration of race and ethnicity in college admissions has implications for medical schools, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
Differences in Salary for Male, Female Faculty Physicians
WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For physicians with faculty appointments at 24 U.S. public medical schools there are significant salary differences between men and women, even after adjustment for confounding variables, according to a study published online July 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Appendicitis Should Be Considered Among Elderly
WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Appendicitis should be considered for older adults presenting with abdominal pain or nonspecific symptoms, according to a letter to the editor published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Physicians Need to Be Prepared to Talk Zika
TUESDAY, July 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians need to be prepared to speak to patients about Zika virus, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
Many Adults ‘Hoarding,’ Self-Prescribing Antibiotics
TUESDAY, July 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — One in every 20 adults have used antibiotics without a doctor’s guidance, according to a study published online July 11 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Medication Organization Devices Tied to Adverse Effects
MONDAY, July 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Medication organization devices (MODs) may cause medication-related adverse events in unintentionally nonadherent older people, according to a study published online July 5 in Health Technology Assessment.
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VA Appealing to Physicians to Join Agency
FRIDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is appealing to physicians to join the agency as part of its recovery from a 2014 scandal linked to excessive wait times, according to a report published by the American Medical Association.
Blood Test Might Help Diagnose Viral Versus Bacterial Infection
FRIDAY, July 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A blood test based on gene responses may help differentiate between bacterial and viral infections, according to a study published July 6 in Science Translational Medicine.
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Medical Marijuana Laws Affect Medicare Part D Spending
FRIDAY, July 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Legalization of medical marijuana and its associated availability have affected prescribing patterns and spending in Medicare Part D, according to a study published online July 6 in Health Affairs.
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Postpartum Readmission Within Six Weeks of Delivery on the Rise
FRIDAY, July 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Postpartum readmission rates rose from 2004 to 2011, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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1997 to 2011 Saw Almost 50 Percent Drop in ED Death Rates
THURSDAY, July 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — From 1997 to 2011 there was a 48 percent reduction in emergency department (ED) mortality rates, according to a study published online July 6 in Health Affairs.
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Lab-Established Diagnosis Key for Persistent Diarrhea
THURSDAY, July 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Persistent diarrhea is typically caused by parasites or bacteria and requires accurate diagnosis in order to determine appropriate treatment, according to a review published online June 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Candida auris Causing Healthcare-Associated Infections
WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The emerging multidrug-resistant yeast Candida auris is causing invasive healthcare-associated infections with high mortality internationally, according to a clinical alert to U.S. healthcare facilities published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
U.S. Medical Schools to Expand Training on Opioid Abuse
WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — U.S. medical schools are expanding training to address the increasing number of overdose deaths, according to a report published by The Associated Press.
Step-by-Step Approach Valid for Febrile Infants
WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The Step-by-Step approach is valid for identifying febrile infants at risk for invasive bacterial infection (IBI), according to a study published online July 5 in Pediatrics.
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Familial Clustering of Staphylococcus aureus Found
WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — History of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in a first-degree relative, especially a sibling, is associated with an increased rate of the disease, according to a study published online July 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Many Clinical Trials Are Not Listed in Data-Sharing Repository
WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Only about half of trials registered at ClinicalTrials.gov are listed in the largest data-sharing repository, according to a research letter published online June 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Mortality Odds Lower at Pediatric Trauma Centers for Injured Teens
TUESDAY, July 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For injured adolescents, treatment at pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) is associated with lower mortality compared with treatment at adult trauma centers (ATCs) or mixed trauma centers (MTCs) that treat both pediatric and adult trauma patients, according to a study published online June 27 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Knowledge of CT Risks Varies Among Health Care Providers
FRIDAY, July 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Radiologists and technologists have better knowledge about the risks associated with medical imaging examinations than referring physicians, according to a study published online June 22 in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences.
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Extended-Spectrum Antibiotics No Benefit for Pediatric Appendicitis
FRIDAY, July 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For children diagnosed with appendicitis undergoing appendectomy, extended-spectrum antibiotics seem to offer no advantage over narrower-spectrum agents, according to a study published online June 28 in Pediatrics.
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