Rachael Lee, MD (Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases) and Bob Centor, MD, MACP (Professor Emeritus, General Internal Medicine) have authored paradigm-shifting guidance in the Annals of Internal Medicine that demonstrates the benefit of prescribing a shorter course of antibiotics for four common infections. Their paper summarizes multiple studies outlining the appropriate duration of antibiotic treatment for these infections, noting that each additional day of unnecessary antibiotics can lead to more side effects, drive antibiotic resistance, and cause more infections like C. difficile.
More Good News for April 9, 2020
Camilla Margaroli, PhD (Post-doc, Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) and colleagues have described differences between COVID-19 and H1N1 influenza and their impact on the lungs in severe cases. Her investigation employed cutting edge spatial transcriptomics to define genetic impact of the viruses, which could lead to improved care.
Vibhu Parcha, MD, (Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease) and colleagues have described two validated, robust and easy-to-use scores are very effective in diagnosing heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, which can be difficult to detect. The scores may also be helpful to predict long-term outcomes in these patients.
The Alabama Area Health Education Centers Network is delivering COVID-19 vaccines to rural areas where health care accessibility is limited. AHEC Executive Director Dr. Bill Curry notes the effort to reach people in these counties involves multiple partnerships across Alabama’s health care community.
Congratulations to Fernando Bril (PGY3) for his award-winning abstract on the use of mass spectrometry to measure intact insulin to identify Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. He will present the abstract at the upcoming American Diabetes Association national meeting in June.
In the second of five essays on happiness, Dr. Well-Be shares more tips from the Yale “Happiness Course.” This week, Dr. Well-Be points out a paradox of gratitude—it is better to give and receive. He also shares ways that we can cultivate an attitude of gratitude to grow our happiness.
Join us for the inaugural Denyse Thornley-Brown Lectureship this week. Dr. Denyse Thornley-Brown, Professor Emerita in the UAB Division of Nephrology, will present "Hidden in Plain Sight: Medical Care of Undocumented Immigrants" at noon on Wednesday, April 14, via Zoom.