Racial disparities in lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis in the era of highly effective modulator therapy.

Background: Highly effective modulator therapies (HEMT) including ivacaftor (IVA) and elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) have transformed treatment for people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). However, non-HEMT-responsive mutations are more common in pwCF of non-White race/ethnicity; introduction of HEMT might have exacerbated racial/ethnic disparities in CF care.

Methods: Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we identified all lung transplant candidates and recipients 05/2005-12/2022 and categorized them by diagnosis (CF/non-CF), race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic White/Black/Hispanic) and era [Pre-HEMT (2005-1/30/2012), IVA (1/31/2012-10/30/2019), ETI (10/31/2019-12/31/2022)].

Administration's Share of Personnel in Veterans Health Administration and Private Sector Care.

Importance: Health care administrative overhead is greater in the US than some other nations but has not been assessed in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Objective: To compare administrative staffing patterns in the VHA and private (non-VHA) sectors.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study was conducted using US employment data from 2019, prior to pandemic-related disruptions in health care staffing, and was carried out between January 14 and August 10, 2023.

The Effect of Primary Care Visits on Total Patient Care Cost: Evidence From the Veterans Health Administration.

Background: Since the 1980s, primary care (PC) in the US has been recognized as the backbone of healthcare providing comprehensive care to complex patients, coordinating care among specialists, and rendering preventive services to contain costs and improve clinical outcomes. However, the effect of PC visits on total patient care cost has been difficult to quantify.

Objective: To assess the effect of PC visits on total patient care cost.

Viruses to the rescue-Use of bacteriophage to treat resistant pulmonary infections.

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) are commonly infected with difficult to treat organisms, including non-tuberculous mycobacteria. Bacteriophage are viruses that lyse specific bacteria. Nick and colleagues describe the first successful treatment of a Mycobacterium abscessus lung infection with bacteriophage in an immune competent individual.