Is the ‘great resignation’ coming to a close?
Editor's Note March 2023 marked the lowest number of quits among US workers since May 2021, according to a recent survey from the Labor Department, as reported by CNBC. More than 50 million workers left their jobs in 2022, the highest number of quits since the government began tracking this…
Effect of healthy sleep on risk of long COVID
Editor's Note This study by Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, Boston, finds that healthy sleep before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to a substantially decreased risk of long COVID. A total of 1,979 women from the Nurses’ Health Study II were included in the…
ChatGPT fails American College of Gastroenterology self-assessment tests
Editor's Note In this study led by researchers at Northwell Health, New Hyde Park, New York, ChatGPT-3 and ChatGPT-4 did not pass the 2022 and 2021 American College of Gastroenterology self-assessment tests. The tests help students gauge how they would perform on the actual American Board of Internal Medicine Gastroenterology…
US population growing older
Editor's Note The median age of the US population rose to nearly 39 years old in 2020, and the number of those aged 65 and older jumped nearly 33% between 2010 and 2020, according to US Census Bureau data. America’s two largest age groups spurred the changes—more baby boomers turning…
Binge drinking, night shift work doubled risk of COVID-19 infection in nurses during pandemic
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, finds that working the night shift or binge drinking doubled the risk of COVID-19 infection in nurses during the pandemic. The analysis included survey answers of 750 nurses who were members of the American Nurses Association. The…
CDC: Update on COVID-19 transmission at 2023 EIS Conference
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on May 26, released an update on the spread of COVID-19 at its 2023 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Conference in Atlanta in April. The conference was attended by some 1,800 in-person attendees. A rapid assessment team was gathered to survey…
FDA: Class I recall of certain SD BioSensor Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on May 25, identified the recall by SD BioSensor, Inc, of certain Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the liquid solution in the test kit may be contaminated with bacteria such as Enterococcus,…
Value assessment of a trauma hybrid OR
Editor's Note This study from the University of Florida Health, Gainesville, examines the complications, cost-utility, and value of a dedicated trauma-endovascular hybrid OR. A total of 292 trauma patients, who underwent immediate operative intervention at a Level I trauma center (106 before construction of a hybrid OR and 186 after…
SHEA: Strategies to prevent SSIs updated
Editor's Note The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has updated the Strategies to Prevent Surgical Site Infection in Acute Care Hospitals, which was published in 2014. The update highlights practical recommendations designed to assist acute-care hospitals in implementing and prioritizing their surgical site infection (SSI) prevention efforts. Among…
FDA: Class I recall of Draeger Medical’s Seattle PAP Plus, breathing circuit/anesthesia kits
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on May 24, identified the recall by Draeger Medical of the Seattle PAP Plus as well as VentStar and other breathing circuit/anesthesia kits as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated after finding that glued connections may loosen before or…