ASPERGILLOSIS IS COMMON AMONG COVID-19 PATIENTS IN THE ICU
A multinational study published in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases shows that as many as 15% of patients with COVID-19 who are hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU) develop Aspergillus infection. Damage to the lining of airways from severe SARS-CoV-2 infection allows Aspergillus fungi to invade the tissue. These secondary fungal infections can worsen patient outcomes, and they’ve raised concern about emerging evidence of Aspergillus resistance to voriconazole and isavuconazole, the first-line therapies.
Full Access: JAMA

MEDICALLY CHALLENGING CASE SHOWS NSAIDS CAN PROMPT EXERCISE-INDUCED ANAPHYLAXIS
A new medically challenging case presented at this year’s American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting reports a situation in which a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) caused an anaphylactic reaction in a female runner.
The abstract authors note that NSAIDs are capable of both bringing on allergic responses and heightening the reaction in certain individuals.
Full Access: ACAAI

WORLD AT RISK OF MEASLES OUTBREAKS AS COVID-19 DISRUPTS INFANT SHOTS
The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned about the risk of measles outbreaks after more than 22 million infants missed their first vaccine doses during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Full Access: MDEdge

EFFECTS OF KETAMINE VERSUS MIDAZOLAM ON NEUROCOGNITION AT 24 HOURS IN DEPRESSED PATIENTS WITH SUICIDAL IDEATION
Subanesthetic ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in some depressed patients. Blinded ketamine produced rapid improvement in suicidal ideation and mood in comparison to midazolam. Ketamine, relative to midazolam, was also associated with specific improvement in reaction time and interference processing/cognitive control. Overall, ketamine was found to have a positive therapeutic effect on neurocognition 1 day after treatment on at least 1 measure associated with suicidal behavior in the context of depression. Results suggest additional independent therapeutic effects for ketamine in the treatment of depressed patients at risk for suicidal behavior.
Full Access: The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry