The HCPLive Infectious Disease condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on respiratory health. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease, COVID-19, and more.
May 10th 2024
A Veterans Affairs study finds low alpha-1 antitrypsin phenotyping rates, indicating the need for improved healthcare provider education on AATD.
Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for the Diagnosis and Management of Bronchogenic Cysts
Researchers have confirmed that bronchoscopy is a good tool for the diagnosis of bronchogenic cysts, and that therapeutic aspiration is an alternative to surgery for adults who are unfit or are reluctant to have surgery; however, transbronchial needle aspiration as a primary method of managing mediastinal bronchogenic cysts may not be the best modality for all patients.
Pollution from Automobiles Contributes to Respiratory Disease in Children
Hospital admissions increase for children with respiratory illnesses due to particles emitted by vehicles, according to findings published in the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association.
TB: Not All Regimens Are Equal in Treated Exposed Health-Care Workers
In ethnically diverse groups of hospital workers latent tuberculosis infection may need to be addressed. Exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is higher in health care workers who were not born in the US. Reporting at ID Week 2015 in San Diego, Cal, researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center said the hospital had more success with some treatment regimens for such workers than with others.
Why Family Caregivers Are Desperate for a Doctor's Advice
Patients discharged from the hospital often rely on a family member to perform complex nursing tasks at home. These caregivers are critical, but too often physicians do not acknowledge these family members' role or help them with care instructions, says Carol Levine of the United Hospital Fund.
Flu Season and Flu Vaccine: NFID Conference Reveals What You Need to Know
September 17th 2015The benefits and risks of vaccinations have been in the forefront of the news lately, especially with children going back to school and presidential debates heating up. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continuously advise that all eligible candidates receive a vaccine, some remain skeptical. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) hosted their annual news conference to discuss the 2014-2015 flu vaccine outcomes and what you need to know as we approach the next season.
Many States Now Require Schools to Stock Epinephrine Autoinjectors
Over the past year, school officials in several of the nation's largest states have implemented new policies to address the growing prevalence and severity of pediatric allergies by increasing access to epinephrine auto-injectors.
Panel Sets New Criteria for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters
The use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has been rising steadily. But they can cause complications. In an article in Annals of Internal Medicine a multispecialty panel reports on the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC). The panel came up with new PICC criteria.
Pulmonology Crisis: Wildfires Have the West Wheezing
Firefighters aren't the only heroes coping with wildfires in the Western US. The record-setting blazes are sending droves of patients with breathing problems to hospitals and clinics seeking help from pulmonologists.
Institute Finds Heart Device Far Too Costly
The cost critics at the non-profit Institute for Clincial and Economic Review today charged that a heart monitoring device is too expensive by 60% and a new cardiac drug costs 17% more than it should. It's the same group that attacked the cost of PCSK9 inhibitors and predicted hepatitis C antivirals would be pricey.
Omalizumab Highly Effective for Treatment of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
A study in Drug Design, Development, and Therapy provides further evidence that omalizumab is safe and effective for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Omalizumab is currently used to treat adult and pediatric patients with asthma and is FDA-approved for use in patients with CSU refractory to antihistamines. These results further outline the effectiveness of the drug in treating CSU and suggest a bump for omalizumab in the typical treatment protocol for CSU.
Asthma Ally App Can Help Patients Achieve Better Asthma Control
The Asthma Ally app can track patients' symptoms and alert their physicians when those symptoms are not under control, according to findings of a study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.