The CDC reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US dropped to a record low of 8,256 in the past week, marking the first time that hospitalizations fell below 9,000 since tracking started in summer of 2020. The agency estimates that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 accounted for 15% of total COVID-19 cases nationwide over the last two weeks, while XBB.1.5 remains the dominant strain at 54%.

A cohort of COVID-19 patients experienced improved endurance and decreased respiratory system burden a year after being hospitalized for the infection, researchers said in an American Thoracic Society International Conference presentation. The patients were evaluated at one year using chest CT scans, pulmonary function testing and respiratory symptom and function assessments, and residual ground glass opacities and fibrotic abnormalities were often seen on the CT scans.

Data from the CDC show that new HIV infections in the US decreased by 12% from 2017 to 2021, and there was a 34% drop in new infections among people ages 13 to 24 years, but racial disparities remain in the use of medications to prevent the infection. Among other statistics, the CDC reported that only 11% of at-risk Black individuals and 21% of at-risk Hispanic people received pre-exposure prophylaxis drugs to prevent infection in 2021, compared with 78% of at-risk white individuals.

Overusing some antimicrobial disinfectants such as quaternary ammonium compounds may actually promote antimicrobial resistance and advance the spread of superbugs in hospital environments, and there is evidence of health harm from exposure to them, researchers have found. A group of Emory University and Emory Healthcare professionals writes that more research is needed on the topic, but in the meantime, safer alternative disinfectants can be substituted, and some systems including Emory already are using hydrogen peroxide-based products instead.

A study of Medicare data in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that mortality rates, hospital readmissions, length of hospital stay and cost of care were similar between physicians with a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree and physicians with a doctor of medicine degree. Roughly 9 in 10 physicians in the US have an MD, while roughly 1 in 4 medical students is enrolled in a college of osteopathic medicine.

The implementation of an electronic hand hygiene monitoring system at 12 Mercy acute care hospitals brought numerous benefits, including enhanced data availability, process improvement and better hand hygiene performance. Despite drawbacks such as increased workload for infection preventionists and maintenance staff, as well as limitations in accurately capturing adherence, the system proved valuable in identifying areas for improvement and prioritizing patient safety.

5G technology could transform patient care, allowing for faster diagnoses, improved data sharing and bolstered telehealth services, in addition to supporting a growing number of internet-connected medical devices. An estimated 20% of hospitals already have some form of 5G connectivity, with the Cleveland Clinic building a 5G-capable facility and the Department of Veterans Affairs opening such a hospital in 2020. The technology, which offers speeds up to 100 times faster than current wireless service, will become vital soon, experts say.

Researchers studied air pressure, temperature, pollution and precipitation patterns over a 10-year period and found associations with trends in hospitalizations for heart failure, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in a large sample of patients, especially as they aged. Investigators reported in JACC: Advances that weather and air pollution variables predicted future incidence of cardiovascular events but said their findings are associations, not causal relationships.

A meta-analysis of 30 randomized clinical trials published in the European Heart Journal found that levels of low-density lipoproteins, or "bad cholesterol," which are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dropped 10% and total cholesterol fell 7% for those eating a plant-based diet compared with those eating both plants and meat. While genetic predisposition to high cholesterol may offset the benefits of a vegan or vegetarian diet, plant-based eating patterns may still be beneficial, according to experts, with registered dietitian Duane Mellor noting, "If someone is thinking about making a dietary change, it can be useful to discuss these with a health professional and perhaps a dietitian so that it is designed to be nutritionally adequate, help address their health concern and ideally be enjoyable."

As part of ongoing efforts to report meaningful outcomes and improve patient care, the ACC has launched an open comment survey for the In-Hospital or 30-Day Risk-Standardized Mortality Model in patients undergoing PCI risk model. Before completing the survey, please review the CathPCI Registry risk model methodology document. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will close on Sunday, June 18. Take the survey.

JACC: Case Reports is inviting submissions of challenging cardio-obstetrics cases for a special issue or mini-focus issue(s). Topics of interest include valvular heart disease, arrhythmias and congenital heart disease in pregnancy; peripartum cardiomyopathy; and peripartum spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Submissions in the format of clinical cases, clinical case series, clinical vignettes and Heart Care Team/Multidisciplinary Team Live manuscripts are welcome. Submissions are due by Thursday, June 8. Learn more.