Perhaps this is information we may already have surmised. Of note in this study is that 72% of respondents to a survey on COVID vaccination were female.
TITLE
Assessment of US Healthcare Personnel Attitudes Towards Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination in a Large University Healthcare System.
JOURNAL
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
DOI
10.1093/cid/ciab054
Author(s)
J Shaw;T Stewart;KB Anderson;S Hanley;SJ Thomas;DA Salmon;C Morley
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a priority group, healthcare personnel (HCP) will be key to the success of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination programs. This study assessed HCP willingness to get vaccinated and identified specific concerns that would undermine vaccination efforts. RESULTS There were 5287 respondents with a mean (SD) age of 42.5 (13.56) years; 72.8% were female (n = 3842). Overall, 57.5 % of individuals expressed intent to receive COVID-19 vaccine; 80.4% were physicians and scientists representing the largest group. 33.6% of registered nurses, 31.6% of allied health professionals, and 32% of master's level clinicians were unsure they would take the vaccine (P < .001). Respondents who were older, male, White, or Asian were more likely to get vaccinated than other groups. Vaccine safety, potential adverse events, efficacy, and speed of vaccine development dominated concerns listed by participants. Fewer (54.0%) providers of direct care versus non-care providers (62.4%) and 52.0% of those who had provided care for COVID-19 patients (vs 60.6% of those who had not) indicated they would take the vaccine if offered (P < .001).
This article highlights the fact that longer courses of antibiotics are not more effective than shorter courses of antibiotics.
TITLE
Shorter and Longer Courses of Antibiotics for Common Infections and the Association With Reductions of Infection-Related Complications Including Hospital Admissions.
JOURNAL
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
DOI
10.1093/cid/ciab159
Author(s)
V Palin;W Welfare;DM Ashcroft;TP van Staa
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial resistance is a serious global health concern that emphasizes completing treatment course. Recently, the effectiveness of short versus longer antibiotic courses has been questioned. This study investigated the duration of prescribed antibiotics, their effectiveness, and associated risk of infection-related complications. METHODS Clinical Practice Research Datalink identified 4 million acute infection episodes prescribed an antibiotic in primary care between January 2014-June 2014, England. Prescriptions were categorized by duration. Risk of infection-related hospitalizations within 30 days was modelled overall and by infection type. Risk was assessed immediately after or within 30 days follow-up to measure confounders given similar and varying exposure, respectively. An interaction term with follow-up time assessed whether hazard ratios (HRs) remained parallel with different antibiotic durations. RESULTS The duration of antibiotic courses increased over the study period (5.2-19.1%); 6-7 days were most common (66.9%). Most infection-related hospitalizations occurred with prescriptions of 8-15 days (0.21%), accompanied by greater risk of infection-related complications compared to patients who received a short prescription (HR: 1.75 [95% CI: 1.54-2.00]). Comparing HRs in the first 5 days versus remaining follow-up showed longer antibiotic courses were no more effective than shorter courses (1.02 [95% CI: 0.90-1.16] and 0.92 [95% CI: 0.75-1.12]). No variation by infection-type was observed. CONCLUSIONS Equal effectiveness was found between shorter and longer antibiotic courses and the reduction of infection-related hospitalizations. Stewardship programs should recommend shorter courses of antibiotics for acute infections. Further research is required for treating patients with a complex medical history.Summary: Prescribing of longer courses increased over the study period. The majority of hospitalizations occurred for patients receiving longer courses. Risk of developing a complication (immediate vs remaining follow-up) found longer courses were no more effective than shorter courses.
