In a new analysis, CDC said there was a large decline in essential childhood vaccinations in the early months of the pandemic last year, but rates did not return to pre-pandemic levels with the lifting of the stay-at-home orders.

A new study published in JAMA Network found that maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy was not significantly associated with the risk of immune-related health outcomes, such as asthma or infections; nonimmune–related outcomes such as neoplasms or sensory impairment; or nonspecific health outcomes such as emergency visits or hospitalizations.

For fully vaccinated individuals, the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines authorized by FDA lower the risk of infection by 91%, CDC reported this week.  

Critically ill patients who exhibit symptoms of unhealthy alcohol use can become agitated when receiving mechanical ventilation in the ICU. A study published in the February 23, 2021 issue of JAMA showed that high-dose baclofen can prevent alcohol withdrawal–related agitation.

In the United States, 77% of all UTIs and 79% of all community acquired pneumonias (CAP) are treated inappropriately in the hospital setting, according to an expert panel convened by the Pew Charitable Trust in 2018 to evaluate antibiotic use in hospitals. The panel’s findings, which were published in a March 18, 2021, report, revealed that fluoroquinolones were used inappropriately 47% of the time, and vancomycin was used inappropriately 27% of the time.