Weekend ICYMI: October 21 to October 25

FDA Approves Abrysvo for Adults 18-59 at Increased Risk for RSV

Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo has been approved by the FDA for the prevention RSV-associated of lower respiratory tract disease in individuals aged 18 to 59 who are at increased risk of disease. This unadjuvanted, bivalent RSV prefusion F (RSVpreF) vaccine is the first and only RSV vaccine indicated for adults younger than 50 years.

Vaccination Key to Preventing COVID-19 Hospitalizations Among Children

Although the public health emergency ended in May 2023, COVID-19 remains a threat due to new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that continue to emerge. Younger children who are not eligible for vaccination are at a high risk for hospitalization due to COVID-19, according to new study data published in the journal Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses. The study also found older children had a lower risk for hospitalization, but needed a higher level of care when they were hospitalized.

The Association Between Cardiac Surgery and Gastrointestinal Complications

Despite being a relatively rare occurrence, researchers found that cardiac surgery can lead to gastrointestinal complications with high mortality, specifically paralytic ileus, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, bowel ischemia, and liver failure. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are typically intubated and may find it more difficult to express pain and clinical symptoms, highlighting that early detection and aggressive intervention are key to treating GI complications, according to data from Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.

Efficacy of Immunization for Pediatric Health Outcomes, Antibiotic Use | IDWeek 2024

Among the influenza, pneumococcal conjugate, and mpox vaccines, all 3 showed significant effectiveness for keeping children protected from each disease, with vaccine administration also leading to fewer annual antibiotic prescriptions amongst study participants, according to posters presented at IDWeek 2024. Researchers also explored vaccine hesitancy and health literacy among parents, informing public health officials on how to target vaccine promotions and help parents garner trust toward vaccination in general.

Examining Race-Based Disparities in Access to Multimodal Analgesia

Following major surgery, Black patients maty be less likely to receive multimodal analgesia options compared to white patients, according to research results presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Pharmacy practice is always changing. Stay ahead of the curve: Sign up for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips, straight to your inbox.