Title: Most States Restrict Pregnant Women's Advance Directives: Study
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2019 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/29/2019 12:00:00 AM

Title: Coronavirus Antibody Tests Show Inaccuracies, as Some States Prepare to Reopen
Category: Health News
Created: 4/25/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: States Move Forward With Plans to Reopen as Coronavirus Case Count Passes 930,000
Category: Health News
Created: 4/26/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/27/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: In COVID Crisis, Nearly Half of People in Some U.S. States Are Going Hungry
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

Title: National Coronavirus Testing Strategy Announced as States Reopen
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

In a nod to the people who came before them — and those who still live among them — the Minnesota Public Health Association is acknowledging ancestral lands.

Mental health focus of Alabama program

A new pubic health campaign in Alabama is working to reduce stigma related to mental health illness, substance and opioid use disorders, HIV and hepatitis C.

Pedestrian fatalities from vehicle impacts in 2019 were the highest in the U.S. in over three decades, a February report finds.

Active matter, both synthetic and biological, demonstrates complex spatiotemporal self-organization and the emergence of collective behavior. A coherent rotational motion, the vortex phase, is of great interest because of its ability to orchestrate well-organized motion of self-propelled particles over large distances. However, its generation without geometrical confinement has been a...

Background:

Thyroid disorders are among the most commonly treated conditions by the United States health care system. The number of patients reporting thyroid hormone use has increased in recent years, but it is unknown if there have been differential increases in the number of treated individuals within different demographic groups. Previous research has also not evaluated how expenditures for different thyroid hormone medications have changed in recent years.

Purpose:

To identify specific actions and characteristics of health care providers (HCPs) in the United States and Canada that influenced patients with type 2 diabetes who were initially reluctant to begin insulin.

Omadacycline is a broad-spectrum aminomethylcycline approved in October 2018 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and community-acquired pneumonia as both an oral and intravenous once-daily formulation. In this report, the activities of omadacycline and comparators were tested against 49,000 nonduplicate bacterial isolates collected prospectively during 2016 to 2018 from medical centers in Europe (24,500 isolates, 40 medical centers [19 countries]) and the United States (24,500 isolates, 33 medical centers [23 states and all 9 U.S. census divisions]). Omadacycline was tested by broth microdilution following the methods in Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute document M07 (Methods for Dilution Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests for Bacteria That Grow Aerobically; Approved Standard, 11th ed., 2018). Omadacycline (MIC_50/90, 0.12/0.25 mg/liter) inhibited 98.6% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates at ≤0.5 mg/liter, including 96.3% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates and 99.8% of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates. Omadacycline potency was comparable for Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC_50/90, 0.06/0.12 mg/liter), viridans group streptococci (MIC_50/90, 0.06/0.12 mg/liter), and beta-hemolytic streptococci (MIC_50/90, 0.12/0.25 mg/liter), regardless of species and susceptibility to penicillin, macrolides, or tetracycline. Omadacycline was active against all Enterobacterales tested (MIC_50/90, 1/8 mg/liter; 87.5% of isolates were inhibited at ≤4 mg/liter) except Proteus mirabilis (MIC_50/90, 16/>32 mg/liter) and indole-positive Proteus spp. (MIC_50/90, 8/32 mg/liter) and was most active against Escherichia coli (MIC_50/90, 0.5/2 mg/liter), Klebsiella oxytoca (MIC_50/90, 1/2 mg/liter), and Citrobacter spp. (MIC_50/90, 1/4 mg/liter). Omadacycline inhibited 92.4% of Enterobacter cloacae species complex and 88.5% of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates at ≤4 mg/liter. Omadacycline was active against Haemophilus influenzae (MIC_50/90, 0.5/1 mg/liter), regardless of β-lactamase status, and against Moraxella catarrhalis (MIC_50/90, ≤0.12/0.25 mg/liter). The potent activity of omadacycline against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria indicates that omadacycline merits further study in serious infections in which multidrug resistance and mixed Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial infections may be a concern.

Imipenem-relebactam (I-R) is a recently developed carbapenem–beta-lactamase inhibitor combination agent that can overcome carbapenem resistance, which has now emerged in Escherichia coli, including sequence type 131 (ST131) and its fluoroquinolone-resistant H30R subclone, the leading cause of extraintestinal E. coli infections globally. To clarify the likely utility of I-R for carbapenem-resistant (CR) E. coli infections in the United States, we characterized 203 recent CR clinical E. coli isolates from across the United States (years 2002 to 2017) for phylogroup, clonal group (including ST131, H30R, and the CTX-M-15-associated H30Rx subset within H30R), relevant beta-lactamase genes, and broth microdilution MICs for I-R and 11 comparator agents. Overall, I-R was highly active (89% susceptible), more so than all comparators except tigecycline and colistin (both 99% susceptible). I-R’s activity varied significantly in relation to phylogroup, clonal background, resistance genotype, and region. It was greatest among phylogroup B2, ST131-H30R, H30Rx, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-positive, and northeast U.S. isolates and lowest among phylogroup C, New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-positive, and southeast U.S. isolates. Relebactam improved imipenem’s activity against CR isolates within each phylogroup—especially groups A, B1, and B2—and particularly against isolates containing KPC. I-R remained substantially active against isolates coresistant to comparator agents, albeit somewhat less so than against the corresponding susceptible isolates. These findings suggest that I-R should be useful for treating most CR E. coli infections in the United States, largely independent of coresistance, although this likely will vary in relation to the local prevalence of specific E. coli lineages and carbapenem resistance mechanisms.

Nine hundred Haemophilus influenzae clinical isolates from 83 U.S. and European medical centers were tested for susceptibility by reference broth microdilution methods against ceftolozane-tazobactam and comparators. Results were stratified by β-lactamase production and infection type. Overall, ceftolozane-tazobactam MIC_50/90 values were 0.12/0.25 mg/liter, and 99.0% of isolates were inhibited at the susceptible breakpoint of ≤0.5 mg/liter; the highest MIC value was only 2 mg/liter. Our results support using ceftolozane-tazobactam to treat H. influenzae infections.

Colorectal cancer is a growing burden in adults less than 50 years old. In 2018, the American Cancer Society published a guideline update recommending a reduction in the colorectal cancer screening start age for average-risk individuals from 50 to 45. Implementing these recommendations would have important implications for public health. However, the approximate number of people impacted by this change, the average-risk population ages 45–49, is not well-described in the literature. Here, we provide methodology to conservatively estimate the average-risk and screening-eligible population in the United States, including those who would be impacted by a lowered colorectal cancer screening start age. Using multiple data sources, we estimated the current average-risk population by subtracting individuals with symptomatic colorectal cancer, with a family history of colorectal cancer, and with inflammatory bowel disease and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer from the total population. Within this population, we estimated the number of screening-eligible individuals by subtracting those with previous colorectal cancer screening (45- to 49-year-old) or up to date with colorectal cancer screening (50- to 74-year-old). The total average-risk population is estimated between 102.1 and 106.5 million people, of whom 43.4–45.2 million people are eligible for colorectal cancer screening. Lowering the screening age would add roughly 19 million people to the average-risk population and increase the current number of screening-eligible individuals on immediate implementation by over 60% (from 27 to 44 million). Estimating the population size impacted by lowering the recommended colorectal cancer screening start age enables more accurate decision-making for policymakers and epidemiologists focused on cancer prevention.

New surveys out Thursday show President Donald Trump’s approval rating for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic is underwater in four critical states while governors receive high marks.

Apple Inc said Friday it will reopen a handful of stores in four U.S. states starting next week, in the first resumption of physical retail operations since the iPhone maker shuttered all U.S. stores in mid-March.

Follow our live updates here Coronavirus: The symptoms

Donald Trump has tweeted his support for coronavirus lockdown protests in parts of the US as he called for three states to be "liberated" from stay-at-home orders.

People flocked to beaches in Florida after the state lifted some of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The Government's new portal for arranging coronavirus tests has sparked confusion today, following a message suggesting home tests had run out by 9am.

A swathe of US states were set to reopen businesses this week following mandatory lockdowns that have thrown nearly one in six American workers out of jobs.

Scientists race to track down and contain invasive species in bid to save local bee populations from slaughter

The Census Bureau says it plans to continue its relaunch of limited 2020 census operations on May 13, when the next round of workers is set to resume hand-delivering paper forms in rural communities.

By Monday at least 31 states will be open or partially open. This as President Trump pushed for the country to get back to work despite public health experts warning that it's too soon.

The Census Bureau says it plans to continue its relaunch of limited 2020 census operations on May 13, when the next round of workers is set to resume hand-delivering paper forms in rural communities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is quietly projecting a stark rise in the number of new cases of the virus and deaths from it over the next month.

The New York metro area’s seven-day average has been declining for weeks. For the national daily case count to stay the same, other areas must be making up the difference. In other words, the virus isn’t receding. It’s relocating.

Apple will reopen stores in four states next week with precautions such as temperature checks, face masks and social distancing.

Apple will reopen some stores in Idaho, South Carolina, Alabama and Alaska next week. The company closed all stores outside Greater China in mid-March to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. At the start of April, it told employees Apple Stores in the US...

The NBA has told teams it's moving forward in its plan to allow for practice facilities to reopen Friday in states where stay-at-home measures have been removed or relaxed.

Donald Trump has in recent days turned the war against COVID-19 into a war against the states, in a desperate effort to shirk responsibility for his pandemic denialism.

Here's the latest news on how the pandemic is affecting the US and the world at large.

Children in SA will soon be able to return to playgrounds and in NSW, real estate watchers could be heading to open homes and auctions as soon as next weekend, as some state governments announce further easing of restrictions. These are the key coronavirus developments from today.

The US government on Friday is poised to report the worst set of jobs numbers since record-keeping began in 1948, a snapshot of the devastating damage the coronavirus outbreak has inflicted on the economy.The unemployment rate for...

The United States has suffered the largest coronavirus outbreak in the world by far, with five times as many reported cases as any other country and more than twice as many deaths.The numbers are astonishing. America has 1.3 million...

The idea of the AFL setting up quarantine hubs so it can restart its season is gathering support, with the league looking at every state as a contender to be a host.

Each state and territory is relaxing their coronavirus restrictions differently — and some Australians will be able to do plenty more this weekend than others. Here's what's on the cards.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak as the U.S. death toll passes 50,000, some governors push ahead with reopening their states' economies.

Colorado, Montana and Tennessee are among states to reopen amid coronavirus outbreak.

As more states reopen, an army of contact tracers will have to be enlisted to join the effort to stop the coronavirus.

Texas reopens restaurants, Utah reopens salons. As several states lift coronavirus restrictions, many warn of a second wave if social distancing ends too soon.

Governors across the U.S. are encouraging people to continue practicing social distancing amid summer weather

Toss-up contests from Arizona to Florida hold the key for President Trump and Joe Biden.

Clinicians and policymakers alike are raising the alarm about potential legal liability for following crisis standards of care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The post How States are Protecting Health Care Providers from Legal Liability in the COVID-19 Pandemic appeared first on Bill of Health.

Nearly half of US states will have their ‘stay-at-home’ orders expire this week, paving the way for much of the US to relax its lockdowns.

Phat Ngoc Tran, 35, pleaded guilty today in San Diego to conspiring to participate in a racketeering enterprise, the “Tran Organization,” in a scheme to cheat at least 12 casinos across the United States and Canada out of millions of dollars. Tran admitted that he and his co-conspirators unlawfully obtained up to $2.5 million during card cheats.