EFFECT OF ANTIBIOTIC-PRESCRIBING FEEDBACK TO HIGH-VOLUME PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS ON NUMBER OF ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS – A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
Antibiotic overuse contributes to adverse drug effects, increased costs, and antimicrobial resistance. This 3-arm randomized clinical trial of 3500 primary care physicians, receipt of a letter targeting appropriate antibiotic durations resulted in a statistically significant 4.8% relative reduction in total antibiotic use.
Full Access: JAMA

VACCINE BREAKTHROUGH CASES RISING WITH DELTA: HERE’S WHAT THAT MEANS
Fully vaccinated people continue to be well protected against severe disease and death, even with Delta, but so-called breakthrough cases, where a person gets infected despite being fully vaccinated, are on the rise. Because of that, many experts continue to advise caution, even if fully vaccinated. After two doses, vaccines prevent symptomatic infection about 79% of the time against Delta, according to data compiled by Public Health England. Vaccines are still highly effective at preventing hospitalization, 96% after two doses.
Full Access: Medscape

HOW INTRANASAL COVID VACCINES COULD BE ‘HOLY GRAIL’ OF VACCINATION
The seven intranasal COVID-19 vaccines in development could offer two additional layers of protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Intranasal vaccines could produce antibodies and attract other components of the immune system to the nose and upper respiratory tract, forming a first line of defense against infection. Additionally, a local response in the nose can be faster than a systemic one, giving SARS-CoV-2 less of a chance to replicate, shed, and be transmitted to others.
Full Access: Medscape

NEW BIOMARKERS FOR TICK-BORNE DISEASE IDENTIFIED
Lyme and other tick-borne infections are notoriously difficult to diagnose. In addition, standard blood tests miss about 40% of tick-borne infections. In research supported by the Lyme Disease Association (LDA demonstrated that the presence of a hazy, white ring of peri-papillary ischemia around the optic nerve — especially in children or adults younger than 60 years who would not be expected to have ischemic changes — is associated with tick-borne infection.  The Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) test presents another diagnostic screening opportunity. Awareness of the new biomarkers will help speed that process for early detection by the optometrist and ophthalmologist.
Full Access: Healio