Physician's First Watch

04/30/2021

04/30/2021

Hello, all. This is our final post as Physician’s First Watch. Remember that beginning in May, this page will merge with NEJM Journal Watch, where you will continue to receive the latest medical research. We look forward to seeing you there: https://jwat.ch/3aQ7DEw

04/29/2021

A key objective of mass COVID-19 vaccination is to reduce the viral reproductive number, thereby curbing SARS-CoV-2 spread. Although this is primarily

04/27/2021

New guideline: The American College of Physicians suggests that clinicians use point-of-care ultrasonography in addition to standard diagnostic tests for adults with acute dyspnea with uncertain diagnosis in the emergency department or inpatient settings: https://jwat.ch/3no9YLM

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MDThe American College of Physicians, in a new clinical

04/27/2021

Our third in a series of four interviews on the topic of race & clinical equity brings us the thoughts of Dr. Karen Dorsey Sheares. Her advice to clinicians: try to be as familiar with the culture of the patients you treat as you are with the pathophysiology of the diseases under treatment. Listen in: https://jwat.ch/3xrqNdz

By the EditorsOur third in a series of four interviews on the topic of race and clinical equity brings us the thoughts of Dr. Karen Dorsey Sheares. Her

04/26/2021

Infectious disease expert Dr. Paul Sax weighs in on the FDA's & CDC's decision on the J&J COVID-19 vaccine: https://jwat.ch/3vk5CrX

The “pause” on the one-shot Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine is over. Based on a further review of safety data that occurred on April 23, both the CDC and the FDA said the vaccine may resume here in the U.S., provided the label includes a warning about a serious, but rare, side effect .....

04/23/2021

The NIH has updated its COVID-19 treatment guidelines with new recommendations on the use of colchicine, fluvoxamine, and other therapeutics: https://jwat.ch/3ejrb4U

By Kelly YoungEdited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MSThe National Institutes of Health has made significant updates to its

04/22/2021

Early results indicate that COVID-19 vaccination appears to be safe in the third trimester of pregnancy, according to a CDC study in . https://jwat.ch/3egxR3K

By Kelly YoungEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MDHere are some of the latest developments on the COVID-19

04/21/2021

The European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine should come with a warning about the rare risk for thrombosis with thrombocytopenia, finding a "possible link" between the vaccine and the blood clots. The EMA emphasized, however, that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any potential risks: https://jwat.ch/3sCCzhq

By Kelly YoungEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHMThe European Medicines Agency said on Tuesday that the

04/20/2021

After 15 years, Physician’s First Watch is coming to a close -- we will publish our final stories on April 29th. The healthcare information marketplace is constantly evolving, and while NEJM Group is dedicated to keeping clinicians up to date, the focus will be on other channels. This page will merge with NEJM Journal Watch beginning in May.

NEJM Journal Watch will continue to provide you with the latest medical research. You do not have to adjust anything in your Facebook setting to continue to receive updates. Thank you for your continued loyalty and support. https://jwat.ch/3dvsAX6

04/19/2021

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Paul Sax asks himself why he still puts on a mask every morning when he takes his dog for a walk alone. Take a look, then share your thoughts: https://jwat.ch/3mX7fcc

I do the morning dog walk in our house. And every day, I put on a mask before going out, just as I have since March of last year. As the data accumulate on the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, it’s definitely time to ask this question — why am I still doing this? After all, it’s […]

04/17/2021

Researchers: Patients with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia in the weeks after COVID-19 vaccination should not receive platelet transfusions or heparin and rather should be treated with a nonheparin anticoagulant and intravenous immune globulin: https://jwat.ch/32p7of8

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MSPatients with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia in the weeks after

04/16/2021

04/15/2021

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices decided on Wednesday to continue recommending that vaccine providers pause use of Johnson & Johnson's adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine. Here's a quick look at the details: https://jwat.ch/3e663Pt

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by Susan Sadoughi, MDThe CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) decided on Wednesday to continue

04/14/2021

The FDA and CDC have asked that clinicians temporarily stop administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after the occurrence of rare but severe venous thrombotic events. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will hold an emergency session to discuss the risks on Wednesday: https://jwat.ch/3dhNSHH

By Kelly YoungEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHMThe FDA and CDC have asked that clinicians temporarily stop

04/13/2021

Clinical Conversations talks with Dr. Kimberly Manning about her experience with clinical inequity — starting with her dad's story. There are many ways to attack the problem. You'll learn that, sometimes, just singing "Happy Birthday" in the right language will be the best clinical approach. Listen in: https://jwat.ch/3sg0l2y

We’ve conducted a set of four interviews with physicians on the topic of race and clinical equity. The conversations center not so much on their published research, but on the roles that these physicians take in their organizations and, in addition, the stories they tell about their own experience...

04/12/2021

Infectious disease specialist Paul Sax polls readers about whether a 1-minute video could change the minds of people hesitant to get a COVID-19 vaccine: https://jwat.ch/3tgcJBi

Watch this video. It’s a minute long: I first heard about the video because, as mentioned before, I play in a regular poker game with a group of smart friends. Naturally, the in-person game, which started sometime in the early days of the 21th century, has been on hold since March of last year. O....

04/10/2021

Catch up on the week's COVID-19 news: 6-month efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, real-world effectiveness of the mRNA vaccines, death rates after hospital discharge & more. Take a look: https://jwat.ch/3cGszPu

04/10/2021

Catch up on the latest COVID-19 news: neuro & psych symptoms in the months after COVID, vaccine efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants, CDC guidelines on cleaning & more. Take a look: https://jwat.ch/31ZlHH6

By the EditorsThis week, researchers reported that roughly a third of patients received a neurologic or psychiatric diagnosis in the 6 months after

04/09/2021

Roughly 15% of patients who had mild COVID-19 symptoms still had symptoms 8 months later: https://jwat.ch/2POob8r

By Kelly YoungEdited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MSRoughly 15% of patients who had mild COVID-19 symptoms still had symptoms 8

04/09/2021

The occurrence of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia should be considered a very rare side effect of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, according to the European Medicines Agency. The World Health Organization said a causal relationship is "plausible but is not confirmed." Read more: https://jwat.ch/3s06Kiy

By Kelly YoungEdited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAMHere are some of the latest developments on COVID-19 vaccines:EMA

04/07/2021

During the 6 months after COVID-19 diagnosis, roughly one third of patients received a neurologic or psychiatric diagnosis, and 13% overall received such diagnoses for the first time. https://jwat.ch/31S9bce

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHMCatch up on some of the latest COVID-19

04/07/2021

The CDC has issued new guidance on cleaning and disinfecting during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://jwat.ch/39JxIVm

04/05/2021

The CDC has updated its travel guidance for people who've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Here's a quick look at the recommendations for domestic and international travel: https://jwat.ch/3uswrcS

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPHPeople who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to get tested

04/04/2021

ID specialist and rabid baseball fan Dr. Paul Sax discusses last week's excellent news regarding COVID-19 vaccination -- and weighs in on Major League Baseball's new COVID-19 protocols: https://jwat.ch/2OlzEMd

Big announcement this week from CDC, saying that people who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can safely travel. Of course many didn’t need this permission, as data increasingly show the vaccines not only powerfully protect you, but protect others. But having official endorsement from our c...

04/02/2021

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has 91.3% efficacy against symptomatic illness diagnosed from 1 week to 6 months after the second dose of vaccine. It also shows high efficacy against the B.1.351 variant: https://jwat.ch/39ztpvD

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by André Sofair, MD, MPHHere's some of the latest news on the COVID-19 vaccines:Pfizer-BioNTech efficacy at 6 months: The

04/02/2021

ID specialist Dr. Paul Sax's FAQs on the COVID-19 vaccines now include helpful answers on the J&J vaccine. Have a look: https://www.nejm.org/covid-vaccine/faq

Prepare to become a physician, build your knowledge, lead a health care organization, and advance your career with NEJM Group information and services.

04/01/2021

In a large U.K. study, patients discharged following a hospital stay for COVID-19 were at increased risk for mortality, readmission, and organ dysfunction. In particular, 12% of patients died during follow-up -- a rate 7.7 times higher than in population controls. https://jwat.ch/3wn42ai

By Kelly YoungEdited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAMHere are some of the COVID-19 items worthy of your attention

03/31/2021

The most probable origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was an intermediary animal host, states a joint report from the World Health Organization and experts from China and 10 other countries. https://jwat.ch/3rNaoMF

By Kelly YoungEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHMThe most probable origin of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was an

03/30/2021

In the United States, the real-world effectiveness of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines is 90%, CDC researchers report. Here's a quick look at the details: https://jwat.ch/2O5QHBF

By Amy Orciari HermanEdited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MDIn the United States, the real-world effectiveness of the