Editor's Note This study led by researchers at State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, finds that patients having major surgical procedures within 8 weeks of a COVID-19 infection have a substantially higher postoperative 90-day mortality, regardless of symptoms. Analyzing data on 938 COVID-19 positive patient cases…

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Editor's Note This retrospective cohort study led by researchers at Ascension Health, St Louis, finds that COVID-19 infection is a risk factor for adverse peripartum maternal outcomes. Researchers evaluated the association of COVID-19 with severe maternal morbidities in patients delivering during four pandemic periods characterized by predominant variants—March-December 2020 (wild…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 11 classified the recall by Becton Dickinson (BD) of its Intraosseous Infusion System, which includes Intraosseous Needle Set Kits, Intraosseous Manual Driver Kits, and Intraosseous Powered Drivers, as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated for three separate…

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Editor's Note This meta-analysis led by researchers at the National University of Singapore finds that recovery of the ability to taste and smell after COVID-19 infection may take up to 6 months, and women are more likely to experience loss of these senses and have a longer time to recovery.…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 9 identified the recall by Haimen Shengbang Laboratory Equipment Co Ltd of its Viral Transport Media Containers as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because the products were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…

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Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, finds that healthcare facilities in counties with higher Black composition and rural areas with large Hispanic populations were less likely to serve as COVID-19 vaccine administration locations during the initial rollout in May 2021. At that…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 1 identified the recall by North American Diagnostics of its Oral Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Test Kits as Class I, the most serious. These tests are being recalled because they were distributed in the US without authorization, clearance, or approval…

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Editor's Note This study led by researchers in the UK finds that face shields do not give high levels of protection against external droplet contamination. The researchers compared 13 styles of face shields in controlled laboratory settings, using a “coughing machine” that ejected fluorescent drops onto manikin heads. Among the…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on July 13, posted a nationwide recall by Hospira Inc (a Pfizer Company) of one lot (DX9067) of Propofol Injectable Emulsion, USP (containing Benzyl alcohol), 100 mL single patient use glass fliptop vial. The recall was initiated because of visible particulate observed…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 28 identified the recall by Covidien, LLC (Medtronic) of its Palindrome and Mahurkar hemodialysis catheters as Class I, the most serious. The recall was initiated because of a catheter hub defect that connects both extension catheters. There is a potential…

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