Infectious Disease

Several pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop an effective treatment for the virus that is now a global pandemic.

The new guidance for industry (GFI) document, “Policy for Temporary Compounding of Certain Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products,” was released Saturday.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s test is designed to provide patient results within 4 hours of a sample being received by a lab.

In the United States, the CDC has confirmed 938 cases and 29 deaths, as well as 771 patients under investigation.

The United States now has more than 100 confirmed cases and 10 deaths, according to the CDC.

The greatest risk is still to people who have been in close contact with COVID-19 patients, according to the CDC.

The virus has now reached all continents except Antarctica, with cases reported in 47 countries.

The FDA has approved Xenleta (Lefamulin, from Nabriva Therapeutics) for the treatment of adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) caused by susceptible microorganisms.

As pharmacists, patients are inquiring about these kits already, and recommending such items can help prevent a lot of worry.

The FDA and the White House also announced new initiatives to combat the novel coronavirus.

Dengue is endemic in the United States territories of American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands.

Fears surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak have had major effects even in unaffected areas, including face mask shortages, a falling stock market, and many unsubstantiated rumors.

Although the number of US cases is still low, experts are raising concerns that the US reliance on China for pharmaceutical ingredients could result in drug shortages as Chinese officials battle the outbreak.

As the most accessible health care providers, pharmacists can play a key role in counseling patients on the best practices for infection control and prevention.

There is still no vaccine or effective antiviral treatment for the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that continues to spread worldwide, and health care providers should be aware of the symptoms.

Each year, infections related to antibiotic-resistant superbugs kill 700,000 people worldwide, according to researchers at the Italian Society of Anti-Infective Therapy (SITA).

The survey, administered by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), aimed to evaluate how pharmacists and their patients are handling concerns about 2019-nCoV.

Tedros Adhanom, PhD, director general of WHO, concluded his statements in the WHO press conference by reiterating that while 2019-nCoV is of global concern, it should not lead to widespread panic.

Pharmacists can administer the MMR vaccine without a prescription in most states and US territories.

The Clinical Advisor program detects potential issues with antibiotic prescribing and sends near real-time alerts to health care providers through means that include mobile devices.

In a tele-briefing Thursday, the CDC also reiterated that the threat to the general public in the US is still low.

The virus, first seen in Wuhan, China, is characterized by mild to severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Fidaxomicin is a macrolide antibacterial medicine indicated to be used to treat infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by C. difficile.

A case of the virus that reportedly originated in Wuhan City, China has been confirmed in Washington State.

Since 2006, the CDC has tracked increases in cases and outbreaks about every 5 years.