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Reliance Teams Strengthen Relationships with Central IRB

IRBs and research institutions continue to hammer out processes and best practices related to the revised Common Rule. As one IRB found, this process requires a team effort. When collaborative IRB requests began to increase, the Augusta (GA) University IRB office formed a reliance team. The IRB also designated one team member, a reliance coordinator, to handle issues related to reliance agreements. A recent study revealed the reliance team helps IRB offices with collaboration and reviewing reliance agreements to ensure the research is in accordance with local policies. The team also can help investigators navigate through reliance process.

IRB Staff Training Program Improves Consistency and Work Group Efficiency

When an IRB office aimed to improve its staff training and work efficiency, the solution was to create a new program, called the IRB Staff Training and Onboarding Program. The process began with the IRB’s internal staff training and member work group and leaders identifying ways to improve training and onboarding of new IRB staff.

Pfizer and Moderna Begin COVID-19 Vaccine Trials in Younger Children

Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna announced in March they had begun clinical trials of their COVID-19 vaccines in children younger than age 12 years. Although public reaction was mixed, researchers and bioethicists now say the timetable for a pediatric vaccine and for the United States to possibly reach herd immunity is early 2022.

2021 Update on Adult Vaccinations with a Focus on SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19

Vaccination in adults remains one of the most important means of preventing disease in vulnerable populations. Certain vaccines, such as influenza, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis, and the new COVID-19 vaccine are recommended for all adults, while others are recommended in subsets of adults depending on age, comorbidities, and certain risk factors.

Nonpenetrating Ocular Trauma Part II: Potential Vision Threats and Special Populations

Part I of this article reviewed nonpenetrating ocular trauma that presents a severe threat to vision. Part II will discuss potential vision threats of nonpenetrating ocular trauma, including burns, corneal abrasions, corneal foreign bodies, and hyphemas.

Infectious Disease Alert Updates

Aussie Flesh-Eating Disease; Misleading Imaging in COVID; Abstruse 2021 CLABSI Case Definition

Ebola — Sometimes it Does Not Go Away

A patient without apparent immunodeficiency experienced a late relapse of Ebola virus disease with subsequent transmission causing 91 secondary cases. Such late relapse raises concerns regarding control of this disease.

Candida Endocarditis

A review of a national administrative database examined 703 patients with Candida endocarditis and found the greatest risk factor for mortality was underlying liver failure, while a history of opiate abuse was associated with a reduced risk of death.

Antibiotic Therapy: How Long Is Long Enough (or too Long)?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Physicians have provided advice on the best practice regarding the duration of antibiotic therapy for a number of common infections.

Reduced Incidence of Kawasaki Disease During the Time of COVID-19

Mitigation in response to COVID-19 has been associated with decreases in common childhood respiratory infections. The incidence of Kawasaki disease from April to December 2020 was significantly decreased from the same period during the previous eight years.