THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) ON HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS IN 2020: A SUMMARY OF DATA REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL HEALTHCARE SAFETY NETWORK
Central–line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), ventilator-associated events (VAEs), select surgical site infections, and Clostridioides difficile and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia laboratory-identified events reported to the National Healthcare Safety Network for 2019 and 2020 by acute-care hospitals were analyzed. Significant increases in the national Standardize Infection Ratios for CLABSI, CAUTI, VAE, and MRSA bacteremia were observed in 2020.
Full Access: Cambridge University

PUBLIC PREFERENCES FOR DELAYED OR IMMEDIATE ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTIONS IN UK PRIMARY CARE: A CHOICE EXPERIMENT
An online choice experiment in 2 UK general population samples: adults and parents of children under 18 years. Respondent preferences were modelled using mixed-effects logistic regression.

This study found that delayed prescription appears to be an acceptable approach to reducing antibiotic consumption. Prescribing choices for sore throat may need additional explanation to ensure patient acceptance, and parents in particular may benefit from reassurance about the usual duration of these illnesses.
Full Access: Journal Pmed

INTRANASAL CORTICOSTEROIDS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER OUTCOMES IN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19)
Using the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 Research Registry, researchers performed a propensity score matching for treatment with INCS prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection (April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2021). Intranasal Corticosteroids therapy is associated with a lower risk for COVID-19-related hospitalization, ICU admission, or death.
Full Access: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical immunology

THE OTHER EPIDEMIC: VIOLENCE AGAINST HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Violence against healthcare workers is not a new dilemma. Stories abound of patients or family members physically attacking, verbally abusing, or harassing healthcare workers the highest rates of violence are in the emergency department and against less experienced physicians. Despite the level of discord surrounding COVID-19, it is important that healthcare workers remain united.
Full Access: Medscape