Clinical Review of Current Best Practices for Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment in The Urgent Care Setting
Patients may present with needs surrounding tuberculosis (TB) screening, testing, and treatment to urgent care centers. This article describes best practices that urgent care clinicians can follow to ensure you are appropriately testing, interpreting results and treating patients. Full Access: JUCM
Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Non-severe Influenza – A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
In this systematic review and network meta-analysis of 73 trials involving 34 332 participants, baloxavir might have reduced the risk of admission to hospital for high-risk patients, probably reduced time to alleviation of symptoms, and did not increase adverse events related to treatment, but might have increased emergence of resistance. Oseltamivir had little or no effect on mortality and admission to hospital, likely had no important effect on time to alleviation of symptoms, and likely increased adverse events related to treatment. Full Access: JAMA
Flu, RSV, and Norovirus Are in Full Swing, While COVID Looms
So far this year, the CDC estimates that 5.3 million people nationwide have had the flu, and the virus has hospitalized 63,000 people, as well as contributed to 2700 deaths, including 11 children. Meanwhile, norovirus rates have hit what is at least a 5-year high, with positive tests topping 22%, according to data through the end of December. Full Access: Medscape
FDA Approves Novel Non-Opioid Treatment for Moderate to Severe Acute Pain
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Journavx (suzetrigine) 50 milligram oral tablets, a first-in-class non-opioid analgesic, to treat moderate to severe acute pain in adults. Journavx reduces pain by targeting a pain-signaling pathway involving sodium channels in the peripheral nervous system, before pain signals reach the brain. Â
Journavx is the first drug to be approved in this new class of pain management medicines. Full Access: FDA
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: Are We Overlooking Cases?
According to a recent study, Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is often underdiagnosed. Researchers from the United States have highlighted limited awareness of this condition as a significant contributing factor to underdiagnosis. In the study, researchers found that CVS manifests in diverse ways, revealing a gap between the current diagnostic criteria, based on expert consensus rather than evidence, and actual patient experiences. Full Access: Neurogastroenterology and motility
Paxlovid: Worth a Long Look for Easing Long COVID
Paxlovid, one of the most well-known treatments for COVID-19, has also been shown to ease symptoms of some patients with long COVID. New research published in Communication Medicine found that some patients experienced improvement in their long COVID symptoms after taking the medication for a longer period, up to 30 days in some cases. Full Access: Medscape
Montelukast Use and the Risk of Neuropsychiatric Adverse Events in Children
 In this cohort study of 26 462 montelukast users and 47 829 long-acting β-agonist users aged 6 to 17 years, there was no association between montelukast and the risk of neuropsychiatric adverse events. Aggregated results from this large-scale observational analysis and other studies can inform clinical practice and support the management of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children and adolescents. Full Access: JAMA
FDA Clears NSAID/Triptan Combo for Migraine in Adults
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a novel formulation combining rizatriptan and meloxicam for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults. A single oral dose of the combination provided rapid migraine pain freedom and return to normal functioning within 2 hours, and sustained efficacy through 24 and 48 hours. Full Access: Medscape
