FDA: Class I recall of Medtronic’s HVAD batteries
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on June 23, identified the recall by Medtronic of its HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device (HVAD) batteries as Class I, the most serious. The recall for a single lot (Model Number:1650DE) of HVAD batteries was initiated because of welding defects that allow separation…
Newer COVID-19 subvariants show substantial escape from vaccination, previous infection immunity
Editor's Note In a letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, report that the three Omicron subvariants (BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5) currently dominant in the US substantially escape neutralizing antibodies induced by both vaccination and previous COVID-19 infection. The researchers…
The Joint Commission: New R3 Report on reducing healthcare disparities
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on June 22 announced a new “R3 Report—Issue 36: New Requirements to Reduce Health Care Disparities,” which examines the rationale and references behind new and revised requirements to reduce healthcare disparities in accredited organizations, effective January 1, 2023. Among the new and revised requirements: A…
Machine learning model uses data from wearable devices to detect COVID-19 in HCWs
Editor's Note Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York City, have developed a machine learning model that uses physiological metrics collected from wearable devices that can detect and predict COVID-19 in healthcare workers (HCWs). A total of 407 HCWs from 7 hospitals were enrolled in the…
The Joint Commission: New R3 Report on requirements for antibiotic stewardship
Editor's Note The Joint Commission on June 22 announced a new “R3 Report—Issue 35: New and Revised Requirements for Antibiotic Stewardship,” which details the rationale and references behind new and revised requirements to optimize the use of antibiotics, effective January 1, 2023. The requirements include 12 new and revised elements…
HHS publishes guidance for health systems to strengthen cybersecurity
Editor's Note On June 16, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center published a guidance, titled “Strengthening Cyber Posture in the Health Sector, to help health systems and other healthcare organizations “improve their overall strength, protocols, and prevention abilities for cyberattacks,” Becker’s Health…
FDA monitoring pulse oximeter accuracy and limitations
Editor's Note The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a safety communication update on June 21 alerting providers that the agency “continues to evaluate all available information pertaining to factors that may affect pulse oximeter accuracy and performance.” A May 2022 study published by JAMA Internal Medicine showed that…
Study: Robotic surgery safer than open surgery, less recovery time
Editor's Note In this clinical trial, scientists at University College London and the University of Sheffield found that robot-assisted surgery to remove and rebuild bladder cancer allowed patients to “recover much faster and spend considerably (20%) less time” in the hospital, SciTechDaily June 13 reports. Other findings included 52% less…
Borescope examination and microbial culture findings in endoscopes
Editor's Note In this study, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Mercy Hospital, find that routinely doing borescope examinations and microbial culturing during endoscope reprocessing is a highly effective way to identify endoscopes with damage, abnormalities, and microorganisms of concern. A total of…
FDA: Class I recall of one lot of Draeger SafeStar 55 Breathing System Filters
Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 21 identified the recall by Draeger, Inc, of one lot (LT2103) of its SafeStar 55 Breathing System Filters as Class I, the most serious. The Breathing System Filter is used as part of a ventilator when a patient is under…
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