Incomplete documentation of β-lactam allergy in long-term care facility residents increases risk of high-risk antibiotic use for Clostridioides difficile infection.

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Documented penicillin allergy and beta-lactam antibiotic use in Massachusetts long-term care facilities: opportunities for penicillin allergy delabeling.

In a cross-sectional study of 20 Massachusetts long-term care (LTC) facilities, 19% (n = 449) of residents received antibiotics, with approximately one-third having a documented penicillin allergy. This documented allergy decreased the likelihood of prescribing beta-lactam antibiotics for infections. Improved penicillin allergy assessments and delabeling could optimize antibiotic prescribing in LTC settings.

Simulator practice of temporary anchorage device (TAD) insertion on inter-radicular sites improves learning and confidence in dental residency.

Purpose: This exploratory study elicited the procedural considerations and inter-radicular site placement techniques of experts and investigated how the use of a simulator, with and without feedback, influenced novice learners' procedural considerations, placement techniques, and confidence.

Methods: Three orthodontic/oral maxillofacial surgery expert clinicians participated in a temporary anchorage device (TAD) insertion assessment accompanied by a think-aloud protocol. Expert transcripts were coded according to a coding scheme to analyze clinicians' (N = 18) procedural considerations and placement techniques.

The IL-6 hypothesis in COVID-19: A phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of free IL-6 sequestration by the monoclonal antibody sirukumab in severe and critical COVID-19.

Background: Upregulation of IL-6 has been associated with worse prognosis in COVID-19 patients. Impact on IL-6 signalling has mostly been limited to clinical outcomes in IL-6 receptor antagonist trials.

Methods: We performed a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (NCT04380961) of US-based hospitalised adults (<85 years) with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe (low levels of supplemental oxygen) or critical disease (high levels of oxygen supplementation).