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Game Changer: COVID-19 Delta Variant Breaks Through in Provincetown

The Provincetown, MA, COVID-19 outbreak in July made headlines because hundreds of fully vaccinated people had breakthrough infections. The critical question is whether the Provincetown outbreak is more of an outlier, or is it a harbinger of the kind of outbreaks and vaccine breakthroughs we may see more often with the highly transmissible delta variant?

Pediatric Malaria

Malaria is present in all continents except Antarctica and has led to significant human illness and death. Children account for the majority of malaria deaths globally, making malaria a significant contributor to childhood mortality worldwide. Malaria is a mandatory consideration for children with fever who are returned travelers, since the disease process can lead to significant mortality and rapid clinical decline. The authors provide an update and current state of care for malaria in the pediatric population.

Finerenone Tablets (Kerendia)

Finerenone can be prescribed to lower the risk of sustained estimated glomerular filtration rate decline, cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, end-stage kidney disease, and hospitalization from heart failure in adults with chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes.

Association of Sleepwalking and REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Men with Parkinson’s

In this retrospective, cross-sectional study of men, both sleepwalking and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder were associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Anticholinergic Use for Three Months or More Increases Dementia Risk

There is a significant increase in dementia risk associated with the use of anticholinergic medications for three months or longer.

A Probiotic May Cause Sepsis and Death

Saccharomyces boulardii is a probiotic yeast that may cause fungemia and other fungal infections.

Common Herbal and Dietary Supplements for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Part 2

The authors review chromium, cinnamon, fenugreek, garlic, and Gymnema sylvestre as complementary and alternative medicine supplements for managing type 2 diabetes.

Watch Closely for Surge in Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Cases

The list of long-term health problems affecting patients after recovering from COVID-19 continues growing. One of these lesser-known conditions is postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Although treatments for POTS exist, the condition often is missed or misdiagnosed, leading to unnecessary suffering and anxiety for patients. However, given the condition’s recent visibility, frontline providers could gain a new understanding of POTS while also providing patients with a fast, accurate explanation for their symptoms.

Healthcare Workers, Hospital Systems Clash Over Vaccine Mandates

While it may be hard to understand why a person at higher risk for contracting the virus might take issue with this requirement, the idea of mandating the vaccine as a condition of employment is simply too strong a push for some. However, a coalition of healthcare organizations is calling on all medical facilities to mandate the vaccines.

EDs Boost COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

Some emergency providers may view COVID-19 vaccinations as another task piled on an already-full plate. However, EDs are uniquely positioned to reach many underserved and high-risk populations that have yet to receive protection from COVID-19.