Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Emergency Medicine for September 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: Too Many Health Care Workers Not Getting Flu Vaccine
FRIDAY, Sept. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Roughly one in every five American health care workers do not receive the annual influenza vaccination, and in some facilities that number exceeds half, according to research published in the Sept. 30 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Meditation Recommended for Helping Attendings 'Attend'
FRIDAY, Sept. 30, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Meditation can allow attending physicians to be "in attendance" in order to heal and maintain personal well-being, according to an article published by the American Medical Association.
Constitutional Symptoms Often Trigger Antibiotic Rx in Elderly
THURSDAY, Sept. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Constitutional symptoms, including mentation, often lead to diagnostic testing and potentially inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in older patients suspected of having a urinary tract infection (UTI) or pneumonia, according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Dose-Dependent Link Between Cannabis Use, Psychosis Relapse
THURSDAY, Sept. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Cannabis use may raise the risk of psychosis relapse, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Psychiatry.
Many Doctors Reluctant to Reveal Mental Health Issues
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Wary of the stigma of a mental health diagnosis and its toll on their careers, physicians often avoid getting help for depression and other mental illnesses, according to a report published online Sept. 15 in General Hospital Psychiatry.
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Review Links C-Section With Increased Risk of Postpartum VTE
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Cesarean section (CS) is associated with increased risk of postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE), and the risk is greater following emergency CS versus elective, according to a meta-analysis published in the September issue of CHEST.
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AMA: Practicing Empathy May Lead to More Joy in Medicine
MONDAY, Sept. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Empathetic listening can help physicians navigate difficult situations and forge deeper connections with patients, leading to greater professional satisfaction and joy, according to the American Medical Association.
CDC: Falls Leading Cause of Injury, Death in U.S. Seniors
THURSDAY, Sept. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among older people in the United States, according to research published in the Sept. 23 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Economic Burden of U.S. Opioid Epidemic $78.5 Billion Annually
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Abuse of opioids costs the U.S. economy $78.5 billion a year, according to a study published in the October issue of Medical Care.
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NIH: More Must Be Done to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a major public health threat, and only a multipronged attack can address the problem, according to a report published in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hospitals Increasingly Employing Doctors, Effects on Care Uncertain
TUESDAY, Sept. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitals are increasingly switching to an employment relationship with physicians, but switching has had no impact on primary composite quality metrics, according to a study published online Sept. 20 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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CDC: Prescribing of Antibiotics in U.S. Hospitals Still Too High
TUESDAY, Sept. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Despite growing concerns about creating drug-resistant bacteria, overprescribing of antibiotics in U.S. hospitals didn't drop between 2006 and 2012, according to a new federal report published online Sept. 19 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Art Therapy, Clown Visits Cut Children's Preoperative Anxiety
TUESDAY, Sept. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- An intervention based on art therapy and clown visits can reduce children's anxiety at preoperative separation from parents, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.
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AAP Says Codeine Not Safe for Children, Urges Restrictions
MONDAY, Sept. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Codeine is unsafe for children and should no longer be given to them, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published online Sept. 19 in Pediatrics.
Parents Lack Info on Current Practices for Concussion Recovery
MONDAY, Sept. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- When caring for a child with a concussion, many parents follow outdated advice that could make symptoms worse, according to the results of a new national survey commissioned by UCLA Health.
Playing Pokémon GO Leading to Increase in Distracted Driving
MONDAY, Sept. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Pokémon GO is becoming a dangerous distraction for drivers, according to a research letter published online Sept. 16 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Average Premiums for Health Care Coverage Stable in 2016
MONDAY, Sept. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- The average annual premiums for single and family coverage remained stable in 2016, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Health Affairs.
Readmit Predictors for Congenital Heart Disease Are Lesion Specific
MONDAY, Sept. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with congenital heart disease, readmission is more likely among those with a primary diagnosis of congestive heart failure, and predictors of readmission are lesion specific, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Medical Marijuana Laws Linked to Reduced Opioid Use, Abuse
FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A new study of drivers who died in auto accidents suggests people in states with medical marijuana laws may be using fewer opioids, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Zika Virus Present in Conjunctival Fluid
FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- The Zika virus can be detected in conjunctival fluid, according to a research letter published online Sept. 15 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Nifedipine Not Superior to Placebo for Chronic Chilblains
FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with chronic chilblains, nifedipine is not superior to placebo, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Recommendations Developed for Cost-Effectiveness Analyses
THURSDAY, Sept. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A new set of recommendations has been developed for conduct and reporting of cost-effectiveness analyses, according to a report published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Importance of Drug As Assessed by Doctor Not Tied to Adherence
THURSDAY, Sept. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Physician-assessed drug importance is not associated with patient-reported drug adherence, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Many Spirometers Used in Primary Care Deemed Inaccurate
THURSDAY, Sept. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Spirometers used in primary care offices are frequently inaccurate, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
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Learning Collaborative Model Cuts Door-to-Needle Times
THURSDAY, Sept. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A learning collaborative model can reduce door-to-needle (DTN) times in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with tissue-type plasminogen activator, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Value-Driven Outcomes Tool Can Cut Health Care Costs
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A multifaceted value-driven outcomes tool that identifies variability in costs and outcomes can reduce health care costs, according to a study published in the Sept. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Meta-Analysis: Colchicine Cuts Risk of Pericarditis Recurrence
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Colchicine is effective and reduces the risk of pericarditis recurrence/post-pericardiotomy syndrome, according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 31 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
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Most Patients Taking Opioids Open to Receiving Naloxone Rx
TUESDAY, Sept. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A new, small survey of patients taking opioids found that most were willing to also fill prescriptions for naloxone. The report was published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Collaborative Care Helps Ease Persistent Concussion Symptoms
TUESDAY, Sept. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For teenagers with lingering symptoms after a concussion, collaborative care may speed their recovery, according to a study published online Sept. 13 in Pediatrics.
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Objective Criteria ID Those With No Chance of Survival in OHCA
TUESDAY, Sept. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), objective criteria enable early identification of those with no chance of survival, according to research published online Sept. 13 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Pregnancy Screens Lacking for Teens With Leukemia
MONDAY, Sept. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Many female adolescent patients with acute leukemia and emergency room (ER) visits have low rates of pregnancy screening before teratogenic exposures, according to research published online Sept. 12 in Cancer.
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Number of Youth Soccer Injuries Up Over Last 25 Years
MONDAY, Sept. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- As the popularity of soccer has grown in the United States, so has the annual rate of soccer-related injuries in youths, according to a report published online Sept. 12 in Pediatrics.
Parents Often Make Dosing Errors With Liquid Medications
MONDAY, Sept. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- During laboratory experiments, four out of five parents made at least one dosing error when using either a dosing cup or an oral syringe, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Pediatrics.
Corticosteroids Linked to Worse Outcome in Facial Palsy
MONDAY, Sept. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with Lyme disease-associated facial palsy (LDFP), corticosteroid use is associated with worse long-term facial function outcome, according to a study published online Sept. 6 in The Laryngoscope.
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Reports of Fatal Anaphylaxis With IV Iron Products
MONDAY, Sept. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Fatal anaphylaxis cases have been reported with administration of intravenous (IV) iron products, according to a letter to the editor published online Aug. 29 in the American Journal of Hematology.
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Lean Processes Can Cut Wait Times at VA Hospitals
FRIDAY, Sept. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For patients at Veterans Affairs hospitals, implementation of lean practices can reduce wait times and increase operative volume, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in JAMA Surgery.
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Incidence of Hair Removal-Linked Injuries Up From 1991 to 2013
FRIDAY, Sept. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- From 1991 to 2013 there was an increase in the incidence of hair removal-related injuries, with incidence varying with age, according to a study published online Sept. 5 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
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Free Thyroxine Hormone Levels Linked to Sudden Cardiac Death
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Higher levels of free thyroxine (FT4) may indicate a greater risk of sudden cardiac death, even if those levels aren't abnormally high, according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of Circulation.
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Fan Use in Extreme Heat May Be Detrimental to Health in Elderly
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- When the temperature rises to 108 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, older adults should not use an electric fan, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Saline-Based Nasal Spray Found to Be Effective for Epistaxis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A simple saline-based nasal spray is as effective as medicated sprays in controlling epistaxis in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), according to a study published in the Sept. 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Volume of Ascites Positively Associated With Umbilical Hernia
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with cirrhosis, volume of ascites is positively associated with umbilical hernia, according to a study published online Aug. 29 in the Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine.
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New Decision-Making Tool Can Cut Unnecessary Antibiotic Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A new decision-making tool for doctors may help reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics in children with respiratory tract infection and cough, according to research published online Sept. 1 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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Infective Endocarditis From Injection Drug Use Increasing
FRIDAY, Sept. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans hospitalized with infective endocarditis (IE) related to injecting opioids and heroin is on the rise, according to a study published in the Summer issue of Open Forum Infectious Diseases.
Risk of Injuries Up Around Period of Cancer Diagnosis
FRIDAY, Sept. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with cancer have increased risks of iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic injuries shortly before and after cancer diagnosis, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in The BMJ.
Rise in Endogenous Klebsiella pneumoniae Endophthalmitis
FRIDAY, Sept. 2, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing trends of endogenous Klebsiella pneumoniae endophthalmitis (EKPE) have been reported in Australia, according to research published online Aug. 26 in Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.
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Laser Pointers Can Cause Retinal Injury in Children
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Inappropriate use of laser pointers by children as toys can lead to potentially permanent vision loss, according to a case report published online Sept. 1 in Pediatrics.
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Number of U.S. Adults Using Marijuana Up Significantly
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- As perceptions of marijuana change, more American adults are using marijuana than ever before, and they're using it more often, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
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Comorbidity Factors Identified for Exacerbation-Prone Asthma
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Factors that are associated with exacerbation-prone asthma (EPA) have been identified, with blood eosinophils, body mass index, and bronchodilator responsiveness associated with exacerbation frequency, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.