NEW HAVEN, CT—A year ago the VA announced it had eliminated chronic infections with hepatitis C virus in all veterans willing and able to be treated. More than 100,000 veterans achieved sustained virological response or a cure with the help of direct-acting antivirals...
One VAMC’s Story: You’re at Risk All of the Time
DC Staff Battles to Save Lives of Veterans With COVID-19 WASHINGTON—The first time Michael Heimall heard about the novel coronavirus COVID-19 was in late January 2020 during a presentation at the auditorium of the DC VAMC. The members of the hospital’s infectious...
Healthcare-Associated C. Difficile Infections Show Substantial Decline
ATLANTA—While the war against COVID-19 continues, partial victory in another medical battle might have been overlooked. A report in the New England Journal of Medicine described substantial progress in the fight to prevent Clostridioides difficile infection in...
Hydroxychloroquine Didn’t Reduce Death, Ventilation in Veterans With COVID-19
COLUMBIA, SC—A VA study has put to rest, at least temporarily, claims that hydroxychloroquine, alone or in combination with azithromycin, is highly effective in treating COVID-19 infection. In fact, a study appearing on the medRxiv preprint server identified increased...
VA Primary Care Not Following SSTI Guidelines Enough
SALT LAKE CITY — Guidelines aren’t followed enough when skin and soft tissue infections are managed in the outpatient setting outside of emergency departments, a new study pointed out. The article in Clinical Infectious Diseases noted the lack of data on treatment...
VA, DoD Report Sharp Increases in Novel Coronavirus Cases, Scramble to Respond
WASHINGTON - VA and DoD reported increasing numbers of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus behind a global pandemic, and rushed to implement plans to limit its spread. In mid-March, the VA also announced its first death from the infectious disease at a facility in...
Many Veterans on Biologics Can Skip Repeat Tuberculosis Testing
MEMPHIS, TN—Because biologic therapies prescribed for inflammatory diseases increase the risk of activation of latent tuberculosis infections, some VAMCs recommend baseline testing of veterans starting these agents and annual testing thereafter. Several recent studies...
New Study Examines Role of Military Deployment in Global Disease Transmission
CHAPEL HILL, NC — The explosive emergence in December 2019 of a novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China, prompted governments around the globe to restrict travel from the affected region in an attempt to limit international spread of the disease. While these efforts focused...
VAMCs Continue to Lag in HCP Flu Vaccine Mandates
ANN ARBOR, MI—The VA continues to lag behind community hospitals in mandating annual influenza vaccine for all healthcare personal, a new study suggested. The report in JAMA Network Open said requiring HCP vaccination against the flu helps limit disease spread to...
Executive Order Enlists DoD Help in Modernizing Flu Vaccine
WASHINGTON—A new executive order is aimed at increasing the manufacturing efficiency and effectiveness of flu vaccines. The DoD and Department of Health and Human Services are co-chairing a task force in the process of implementing the order signed in September by...
Respirators No More Effective Than Masks in Flu Prevention
PITTSBURGH—How effective are N95 respirators and medical masks in preventing healthcare personnel from acquiring workplace viral respiratory infections? A study in JAMA sought to answer that question. Researchers from the National Personal Protective Technology...
New Antibiotic Provides Powerful Option for Resistant Pneumonia, Skin Infections
A next-generation tetracycline, omadacycline could improve care for veterans with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and acute skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI).
Prescribed Opioids Increase Risk of Pneumonia in Veterans
A study looking at whether taking prescribed opioids increased pneumonia risk in veterans with HIV vs. those without came to a disturbing conclusion: The likelihood is increased in both.
DHA Releases Interim Guidance for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has released interim guidance designed to optimize clinical use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pre-exposure prophylaxis and reduce variability in access to prophylactic medication.
With Advancing Age, Veterans with HIV Face Novel Challenges
Thirty years ago, veterans with human immunodeficiency virus and their physicians focused on survival.
Could Bilirubin Measurements Predict, Prevent CV Events in HIV Patients?
For most people, mention of bilirubin, which is formed after the breakdown of red blood cells and is eliminated by the liver, elicits thoughts of jaundice—which occurs when the compound is too high.
VA Pilots Automated Nationwide MDRO Alert System
The VA has successfully piloted a nationwide system to alert VA facilities when patients are admitted with a history of infection with two challenging multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs).
Protocols to Prevent Pathogen Transmission Often Violated in Hospitals
Precautionary practices to prevent infectious agent transmission in hospitals often fail, according to a study looking at 325 patient rooms, including some at a VAMC.