Study: Prolonged COVID symptoms more likely for healthcare workers
Editor's Note Long COVID strikes healthcare and dental workers at far higher rates than the general population, according to an April 23 article from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota. As detailed in the article, two recent international studies reveal that 40%…
Study: Patients of female surgeons experience fewer complications, lower long-term readmission
Editor's Note Female surgeons achieve better long-term outcomes for surgical patients—especially for female patients—according to a large national study published April 23 in JAMA Surgery. Using US Medicare data from over 2.2 million older adults, researchers found that patients of female surgeons had lower mortality rates and, for women, fewer…
OR traffic, workflow disruptions drive infection risk
Editor's Note Unnecessary traffic, workflow interruptions, and lapses in protocol in the OR increase the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs), according to an April 23 article in Infection Control Today. While sterile technique, antibiotic use, and instrument cleanliness remain front-line defenses against infection, authors Katharine J. Hoffman, MPH, CIC, and…
Study: Longer shifts, understaffing increase nurse sickness absence
Editor's Note Hospital units with more RNs and fewer long shifts experience significantly lower rates of staff sickness absence, while understaffing and long shifts drive nurse illness, according research published April 22 in JAMA Network. The retrospective longitudinal case-control study involved 18,674 RNs and nursing support (NS) staff across 116…
Study: Colibactin-producing gut bacteria fuel colorectal cancer surge
Editor's Note Research published in Nature reveals that DNA damage caused by colibactin-producing gut bacteria is far more prevalent in younger patients with colorectal cancer, NBC News reports, suggesting a key factor behind the disturbing rise in cases among people under 40. According to the April 23 article, researchers from…
Study: Bariatric surgery offers cost, survival benefits for cirrhosis patients
Editor's Note Bariatric surgery improves survival and appears cost-effective over a decade for patients with obesity and compensated cirrhosis, according to an April 18 report in Healio. The findings, based on an analysis published in JAMA Surgery, suggest that bariatric surgery could fill a crucial gap in care for this…
Borescope inspections reveal widespread contamination in lumened surgical instruments
Editor's Note Conventional cleaning protocols fail to remove visible soil and debris from lumened surgical instruments, raising urgent concerns about patient safety and sterilization efficacy. That’s the central finding of a study published February 11 in The American Journal of Infection Control, which used borescopes to inspect the lumens of…
Study: CT scan radiation could drive 5% of future cancer cases
Editor's Note Current US CT scan practices could lead to approximately 103,000 future cancers—nearly 5% of all new annual diagnoses—if utilization and radiation dosing patterns persist, according to a risk modeling study published April 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Authors emphasized that although CT is often lifesaving, its risks are…
New studies, surgical feats advance organ transplant medicine
Editor's Note Advances in organ transplant research and technology have been in the spotlight for medical media outlets for much of April, which also happens to be National Donate Life Month (a time dedicated to raising awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation). For example, CBS News published an investigation…
Study: Systemic gender bias embedded in surgical practice
Editor's Note Gender bias in surgery goes far beyond barriers for individuals, according to a study published April 8 in The American Journal of Surgery. Ethnographic data reveals women surgeons face entrenched structural inequities that influence their daily work lives, limit their professional standing, and shape perceptions of surgical competence,…
Free Daily News
- Telemedicine transforms postoperative care through safer, faster, patient-centered recovery
- Study: Prolonged COVID symptoms more likely for healthcare workers
- Study: Patients of female surgeons experience fewer complications, lower long-term readmission
- OR traffic, workflow disruptions drive infection risk
- Proactive strategies help healthcare supply chains withstand tariff pressures
- Study: EEG-guided anesthesia halves anesthetic use, accelerates recovery in pediatric surgery
- Study: Longer shifts, understaffing increase nurse sickness absence
- Power loss risks prompt FDA Class 1 recall designation for heart pump accessories
- Therapy dogs ease nurse burnout, boost morale
- Personalized perioperative pain management reduces opioid use