CHIN FU KUO’s Post

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/18 CST Access to pre-exposure prophylaxis remains insufficient, especially among Black, Hispanic and Medicare-insured populations, results of an analysis presented at IDWeek suggested. Long-acting PrEP options may help to address some social determinant structural factors in HIV acquisition, such as the partners’ behaviors and the lack of providers willing to provide PrEP in underserved populations. https://lnkd.in/guRCnc5F

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/17 CST The proportion of children dying from sepsis is lower than it was 20 years ago, but Black children are still at a significantly higher risk than white children. The prevalence of bacterial sepsis is highest when you look at all forms of infections, especially in vulnerable populations like children and people in underserved communities. https://lnkd.in/grxeszHP

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/16 CST A nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus polymerase chain reaction (MRSA PCR) assay shows promising signs of being an effective, rapid diagnostic tool for antibiotic stewardship in hospitalized pediatric patients. For most noncritical conditions, nasal MRSA PCRs may be incorporated as a reliable and safe de-escalation clinical pathway given low rates of adverse events following early discontinuation anti-MRSA therapy. https://lnkd.in/ghRhMfUH

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/15 CST According to the center, babies younger than a year old are at the greatest risk of developing the infection and having severe complications. Nearly 1 in 3 babies in that age range who get whooping cough end up needing treatment in the hospital. The most common complications for them are Apnea and Pneumonia. https://lnkd.in/gkFwTpKu

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/11 CST Hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection rates among patients who inject drugs were found to be high in the immediate period following curative treatment but significantly decreased over time, indicating the importance of early intervention.  These data will inform public health strategies to achieve HCV elimination and minimize reinfection through identification of high-risk behaviors and the implementation of appropriate interventions for people who inject drugs. https://lnkd.in/gPr76tCn

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/10 CST Low screening rates and elevated prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) infection and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were found among non-United States-born people from countries with high tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) burden. Combining screening efforts for both TBI and HBV may decrease blood draws and facilitate identification of and specific clinical interventions to prevent HBV and TB associated mortality. https://lnkd.in/gRv4RYAC

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/09 CST Sufficient serum levels of vitamin D may confer protection against acute respiratory infection (ARI) and the preventive effect may be mediated via the induction of cathelicidin production. Further randomized controlled trial  research is needed to determine the optimal amount of vitamin D supplement for the possible preventative effect. https://lnkd.in/gCEgANjq

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/08 CST The average annual incidence of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was higher among residents of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities vs community-dwelling adults. Further study is needed to assess if our findings will be replicated in other geographic locations, but these data suggest a need for strong vaccine recommendations to prevent RSV disease in this vulnerable population. https://lnkd.in/g6DWhfGJ

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/07 CST The COVID-19 pandemic has had a differential effect on the established pattern, incidence, seasonality, and characteristics of several major respiratory illnesses. A clear goal currently will be to document how and when the pattern of infection with all the major respiratory viruses fully returns and the place of SARS-CoV-2 infection in personal patterns. https://lnkd.in/gN5FMY6w

ASCP Daily Diagnosis 10/04 CST Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological condition worldwide with approximately 85% to 95% of adolescents experiencing acne at some point, half of which experience it into adulthood. Stopping acne early on can mitigate troubling sequelae such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring. Inflammation driven by immune cells and hyperkeratinization of keratinocytes are two critical processes in the initiation and development of acne. The upregulation of GRN and IL13RA1 in acne patients exacerbates inflammation and promotes hyperkeratinization. https://lnkd.in/gHWKrQFG