Editorial Material
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Claudia Truppa, Beatriz Alonso, Kate Clezy, Carole Deglise, Carole Dromer, Silvia Garelli, Carolina Jimenez, Rupa Kanapathipillai, Mohamad Khalife, Ernestina Repetto
Summary: Fragile and conflict-affected settings face a disproportionate burden of antimicrobial resistance due to weak health policies, disrupted medical supply chains, and lack of knowledge and awareness about antibiotic stewardship. This paper presents the experiences of Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Committee of the Red Cross in responding to antimicrobial resistance and provides practical recommendations for including antimicrobial stewardship in primary healthcare in conflict settings.
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND INFECTION CONTROL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Tara N. Palmore, David K. Henderson
Summary: As the COVID-19 public health emergency subsides, hospitals face the challenge of transitioning from mitigation strategies. This article recommends the continued use of universal masking in healthcare settings.
ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Adam L. Hersh, Laura M. King, Daniel J. Shapiro, Lauri A. Hicks, Katherine E. Fleming-Dutra
Summary: The percentage of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in US physician offices and emergency departments decreased slightly from 30% in 2010-2011 to 28% in 2014-2015. However, there was a greater decrease in children from 32% to 19%, while unnecessary prescribing in adults remained unchanged.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Federico Baronio, Alice Marzatico, Rosaria De Iasio, Rita Ortolano, Antonio Fanolla, Giorgio Radetti, Antonio Balsamo, Andrea Pession, Alessandra Cassio
Summary: Premature pubarche (PP) can be an early manifestation of non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 21 hydroxylase deficiency (NC21OHD). This study evaluated the predictive value of baseline androgens, 17-OHP levels, and auxological features in suggesting the presence of NC21OHD and the need for an ACTH test to confirm the diagnosis. Key predictive features for NC21OHD were identified, including baseline 17 OHP >200 ng/mL, bone age advance >2 years, and DHEA-S levels >228 ng/mL. These findings can help guide diagnostic decisions for patients with PP.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Steven A. Abrams, Erynn M. Bergner
Summary: Due to concerns over nutrient-deficient infant formulas (IFs), the United States Congress passed the Infant Formula Act (IFA) in 1980, followed by more detailed FDA regulations. Recent events have shown a need to re-evaluate the nutrient composition regulations for IF, including the addition of requirements for bioactive nutrients not mentioned in the IFA. It is proposed that iron content, DHA, AA, energy density, and specific nutrient intakes for premature infants should be re-evaluated and regulated.
ADVANCES IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Elaine Liu, Kristin E. Linder, Joseph L. Kuti
Summary: Inappropriate antibiotic use in the community setting is a growing concern in the United States, leading to pathogen resistance and Clostridioides difficile infection. While antimicrobial stewardship in acute care settings has received attention, optimizing antibiotic utilization in outpatient settings has been overlooked. This article highlights areas for improvement and presents an intervention approach to stewardship tactics, focusing on disease, drug, dose, and duration. Current evidence regarding stewardship strategies at transitional settings, including diagnostic guidance and behavioral and educational approaches for providers and patients, is reviewed.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Noleen Bennett, Katherine Walker, Kirsty Buising, Ron Cheah, Xin Fang, Robyn Ingram, Rodney James, Michael J. Malloy, Karin Thursky, Leon J. Worth
Summary: The study analyzed the patterns of topical antimicrobial prescribing in Australian residential aged care facilities and found that a significant proportion of elderly patients were prescribed topical antimicrobials, with antifungals and antibiotics being the most commonly prescribed. Recommendations for antimicrobial stewardship programs in aged care facilities include appropriate use of mupirocin, prescribing first-line antimicrobial therapy for fungal infections, limiting chloramphenicol use for conjunctivitis, discouraging pro re nata orders, and ensuring review or stop dates are documented to avoid prolonged prescriptions.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
George Howe, Patty Leijten
Summary: This paper introduces a special issue that explores the effect heterogeneity of prevention interventions and guides their adaptation through baseline target moderated mediation (BTMM) designs. By analyzing data from randomized trials using BTM and BTMM models, researchers found variations in intervention impact across different health outcomes, developmental periods, and social units. The most common pattern observed was compensatory effects, but other patterns such as rich-get-richer and partially iatrogenic effects were also identified.
PREVENTION SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alexandre Castro-Lopes, Sofia Correia, Catia Leal, Ines Resende, Pedro Soares, Ana Azevedo, Jose-Artur Paiva
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in antimicrobial consumption in 2020, with different impacts on the usage of various types of antibiotics. A correlation was found between antibacterial consumption and patient or admission type.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qais Z. Jaber, Micha Fridman
Summary: The development of antimicrobial drugs typically starts with target identification and mode of action studies, followed by improvements to existing drugs to reduce cost and time. Through methods like chemical probes and drug modifications, actions, resistance mechanisms, and side effects can be altered to enhance drug performance. These examples showcase how new mechanistic insights can lead to innovative concepts for next-generation antimicrobial agents.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luca Zombori, Stephane Paulus, Mohsin A. Shah, Orlagh McGarrity, James Hatcher
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate antibiotic use in different patient groups in a pediatric intensive care unit using the antibiotic spectrum index (ASI). The results showed that ASI/antibiotic days increased with age and immunocompromised patients used broader-spectrum antibiotics. The study revealed complex changes in antibiotic consumption and prescribing in the pediatric hospital, and ASI can be used to identify patient groups and time periods where broader-spectrum antibiotics are used.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rasha Abdelsalam Elshenawy, Nkiruka Umaru, Amal Bandar Alharbi, Zoe Aslanpour
Summary: This systematic literature review investigates the AMS interventions and measures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proper selection of AMS strategies and measures appeared to be effective in maintaining the appropriate use of antibiotics and decreasing the threat of AMR. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies and measures before and during the pandemic.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Audrey Chigome, Nishana Ramdas, Phumzile Skosana, Aislinn Cook, Natalie Schellack, Stephen Campbell, Giulia Lorenzetti, Zikria Saleem, Brian Godman, Johanna C. Meyer
Summary: There are concerns regarding the prescribing of antibiotics in primary care settings in South Africa, both public and private. These concerns need to be addressed to combat rising antimicrobial resistance rates. Published studies indicate a high prescription rate of antibiotics for patients with acute respiratory infections, with varying levels of adherence to prescribing guidelines. The majority of prescribed antibiotics belong to the "Access" group rather than the "Watch" group, which is intended to limit antimicrobial resistance. Inappropriate prescribing in primary care is influenced by limited knowledge about antibiotics, antimicrobial resistance, and antimicrobial stewardship programs among prescribers and patients. Future recommendations include improving education, regularly monitoring prescribing practices, and using patient-friendly language during discussions about appropriate antibiotic use.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Steven Sorscher
Summary: Currently, most patients are denied genetic tests for cancer risk or recurrence prediction due to the lack of proven clinical utility, although germline testing has been proven accurate and measures to prevent and diagnose early cancers associated with gene variations have been recommended. Similarly, despite the accuracy of ctDNA assays in predicting cancer recurrence, major organizations recommend against their use for monitoring solid tumor malignancies. This article discusses the reasons behind the lack of proven clinical utility and the need for a broader definition of clinical utility to benefit more patients.
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Reeta Kankaanpaa, Pertti Totto, Raija-Leena Punamaki, Kirsi Peltonen
Summary: This study examined the structural validity and reliability of the SDQ scores, as well as the resemblance between the sum scores and factor scores. The results showed that the revised SDQ had a good fit among early adolescents, but not among mid-adolescents. Measurement invariance was achieved between genders and over time among early adolescents. However, the subscales had low reliability and the resemblance between the subscale sum scores and factor scores was alarmingly low. This study highlights the need for caution when using the SDQ as a screening tool and supports its revision.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Evelyn N. Alvarez, Megan C. Pike, Hilary Godwin
CLINICAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2020)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Evelyn N. Alvarez, Alexys Garcia, Pauline Le
Summary: In recent years, there has been increased attention on the relationship between the built environment and health impacts, along with the lack of access to green spaces in Latinx communities. Research has found a lack of focus on the health implications of NDD in Latinx communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Evelyn Alvarez, Daniel Uslan, Timothy Malloy, Peter Sinsheimer, Hilary Godwin
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION CONTROL
(2017)
