Editor's Note Patients taking SGLT2 inhibitors face a higher risk of postoperative euglycemic ketoacidosis (eKA) but experience fewer acute kidney injuries and deaths after surgery, according to an April 30 article in Medical Xpress. The article focuses on new research published in JAMA Surgery. Led by researchers at the University…

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Editor's Note Surgical staff support for OR temperature management is not always paired with the knowledge required to properly prevent perioperative hypothermia, according to an April 30 study in Nature: Scientific Reports. This multicenter, cross-sectional study surveyed 213 operating room professionals—surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses—across eight hospitals in northern China. The…

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Editor's Note The NIH’s $500 million investment in developing whole killed virus vaccines has drawn criticism from vaccine experts who argue the platform is outdated and lacks transparency, according to a May 3 report in STAT. As detailed in the article, scientists expressed concern that the project—led by NIH insiders…

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Editor's Note Short-staffed hospital wards face higher patient mortality, readmissions, and lengthier stays—especially when they rely on temporary staff instead of permanent registered nurses, according to research published in BMJ Quality & Safety.  As detailed in a summary from Medscape News UK, the large-scale, longitudinal observational study was led by…

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Editor's Note The Trump administration has dismantled the federal committee responsible for shaping national infection prevention standards in hospitals, sparking concern among healthcare experts over future preparedness, NBC News reported May 6. According to the article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed members of the Healthcare Infection…

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Takeaways • US surgeons have no mandated retirement age. According to the Aging Surgeon Program, “a patient death or serious negative event are currently the only things that prompt action to prevent a surgeon from practicing.” • Research on aging-related decline is clear, but nuanced, showing rates and scope vary…

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Editor's Note State attorneys general from 20 states filed suit to block major restructuring and layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), alleging the actions bypass Congress, violate federal law, and endanger public health. As detailed in a May 5 report from Fierce Healthcare, the lawsuit seeks…

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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%…

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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…

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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…

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