First health security risk assessment highlights risk of respiratory pandemic and AMR The UK Health Security Agency said that the risk of respiratory infections with pandemic potential was ranked the highest owing to “high impact and likelihood, and repeated historical precedence”.…
Tezepelumab may reduce need for oral corticosteroids in severe asthma Study authors said their results “show the potential of tezepelumab to reduce maintenance oral corticosteroid use while maintaining asthma control and without compromising the efficacy outcomes”.…
NICE approves add-on treatment for uncontrolled COPD Clinical trial evidence suggests that mepolizumab plus triple therapy reduces the number of moderate or severe exacerbations associated with uncontrolled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.…
Best practice for patients taking oral glucocorticoids An overview of the considerations for oral glucocorticoid use, including interactions, side effects and sick day rules.…
Paxlovid speeds COVID-19 recovery but does not reduce hospital admissions Across two trials, more than 4,000 patients were randomised to receive usual care or Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir; Pfizer) within three or four days of symptom onset.…
Pharmacies deliver almost 16,000 RSV vaccinations as programme found to cut newborn hospitalisations by up to 85% Babies born at least four weeks after their mother received a respiratory syncytial virus vaccination had nearly 85% protection against the virus.…
Recognition and management of whooping cough As the number of whooping cough cases rise, this article outlines the role of pharmacy in recognising and managing the condition.…
Pharmacies administered more than 10% of all vaccines in RSV pilot The NHS pilot was aimed to test the potential for community pharmacies to increase equity in access to the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine.…
Coroner calls for greater recognition of clinical significance of ‘excessive’ salbutamol inhaler use A patient died in December 2023 after using an salbutamol inhaler more than frequently than recommended.…
A pharmacy guide for smoking cessation consultations This step-by-step guide outlines how pharmacists and pharmacy teams can encourage patients to make an initial decision to quit smoking, going on to provide advice and support on nicotine replacement therapy and relapse prevention.…
