Performance of disposable vs reusable cover gowns
Editor's Note In this study, led by researchers at Florida State University, Tallahassee, reusable cover gowns were found to provide increased protection, compared to disposable cover gowns. During personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that washable cloth…
Hospira recalls one lot each of 0.5% Bupivacaine and 1% Lidocaine because of mislabeling
Editor's Note Hospira Inc, a Pfizer company, announced May 4 that it is recalling lot EG6023 of 0.5% Bupivacaine Hydrochloride Injection, USP 30 mL and lot EG8933 of 1% Lidocaine HCL Injection, USP 30 mL because of mislabeling. A portion of each lot was incorrectly labeled as the other product.…
US deficit in cancer screening associated with COVID-19
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, finds a sharp decline in breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening rates in 2020. This analysis of data on 60 million people in Medicare Advantage and commercial health plans across the US shows that…
NIOSH revokes emergency approval of Plastikon's N95 masks
Editor's Note The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), on May 4, revoked its public health emergency approval for Plastikon Industries’ (Hayward, California) PLASMA N95-01 masks. The revocation was issued because a product audit by NIOSH failed to meet filter efficiency requirements. The mask is no longer approved…
Effect of COVID-19 stay-at-home order on opioid overdose fatalities
Editor's Note In this report, researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, estimate the number of opioid-involved overdose deaths in Cook County over a 3-year period to highlight changes, before, during, and after the Illinois COVID-19 stay-at-home order. From January 2018 to December 2020, 4,283 overdose fatalities occurred…
Happy National Nurses Week
Editor's Note National Nurses Week begins on May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. The theme for this year’s Nurses Week is “Nurses: A Voice to Lead—A vision for future healthcare.” The American Nurses Association (ANA) has a resource tool kit, free webinar, merchandise, and more for…
COVID-19 has detrimental effect on surgical residents’ operative experience
Editor's Note This review study, led by researchers at the Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, finds a significant negative effect of COVID-19 on general surgery residents’ operative experience. This retrospective review of 1,358 resident case logs from 16 general surgery programs in the US finds a 33.5%…
FDA: Class I recall of Alaris Infusion Pump Module 8100
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration, on April 30, identified the recall of the Alaris Infusion Pump Module 8100 as Class I, the most serious. The Pacific Medical Group (DBA Avante Health Solutions) is recalling the infusion pump because the front bezel components may crack or separate, leading to…
Emotional outcomes of intraoperative deaths on surgical teams
Editor's Note This study from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, finds that intraoperative deaths negatively affect surgical team members, with a considerable number experiencing feelings of anger and depression. Of 120 OR team members completing a survey, 82 (68.3%) said they had prior experience with intraoperative deaths, referencing more than…
CDC: More than 98M Americans fully vaccinated against COVID-19
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on April 28, reported that more than 98 million people in the US are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which is 29.5% of the population. The count included two-dose vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, as well as the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson’s…