Here are nine articles on medical research study findings from the week of Dec. 14.
1. Researchers revealed surgical site infections are the main complications faced by postpartum women who had a cesarean section in a recent study. Read more.
2. A study out of the University of Missouri suggests registered nurses are better equipped than licensed practical nurses to identify high-risk medication errors that could pose a threat to patient safety. Read more.
3. A research team from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston found a new method of detecting a potentially fatal fungal lung infection in patients being treated for leukemia or who have had an organ transplant. Read more.
4. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows soap and water is less effective than saline water at cleaning wounds, a finding that could result in significant cost savings. Read more.
5. Including patient decisions about life-sustaining treatments, such as do not resuscitate orders, in the statistical models hospitals use to determine their rankings results in changes that could impact ratings, reimbursements and financial penalties, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study. Read more.
6. There may be a link between healthcare-associated infections and hospital-onset sepsis in pediatric patients, according to a recent study. Read more.
7. By training uninsured patients to safely self-administer long-term intravenous antibiotics, public hospitals may be able to reduce hospital stays and radically change patient treatment, according UT Southwestern Medical Center physicians in Dallas. Read more.
8. Scientists at the Los Alamos (N.M.) National Laboratory hypothesize this influenza season will peak in February based on a probabilistic model they developed to forecast the flu season. Read more.
9. New research published in Scientific Reports details the application of target nanoparticles to break up bacterial biofilms. The nanoparticles dislodge the biofilms and make bacteria vulnerable to antibiotic treatments. Read more .