Devices

Device-Related Infections Likely Antibiotic-Resistant: Study

A report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network says that healthcare-associated infections related to the use of medical devices are more likely to be antibiotic resistant than infections resulting from surgical procedures. The report was published in the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology’s journal Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

A society statement on the study says the report summarizes data from 5,626 facilities from 2015 to 2017 and shows that resistance was consistently higher for device-associated infections than for the same bacteria identified after surgical procedures. Devices studied were not permanent implants but rather were those used for a limited time in a hospital setting such as central lines, ventilators, and urinary catheters.

The data also show that bacteria associated with long-term care acute facilities are more likely to be antibiotic resistant than those acquired in short-stay acute care hospitals, and infections in adult healthcare settings are more likely to be resistant than those in pediatrics.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome