Although dexamethasone is often used to prevent nausea and vomiting after surgery, concerns have been raised that it may increase the risk of surgical-site infection. A new study from researchers in New Zealand and Australia published on May 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that dexamethasone was noninferior to placebo in the incidence of surgical-site infection within 30 days after nonurgent, noncardiac surgery.  

Researchers from the University of Michigan examined vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) in young adults versus adolescents for an 8-year period, from 2010 to 2018. Regardless of what age they were at first dose, more survey respondents opted for vaccination as the years passed. Still, compared with adolescents—68% of whom received one or more HPV doses by 2018—overall takeup among young adults was low.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) continues to track the errors that have been reported from the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

On April 30, FDA announced the approval of a higher dosage of naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray (Kloxxado—Hikma Pharmaceuticals) to treat opioid overdose. The newly approved product delivers 8 mg of naloxone into the nasal cavity, compared with previously approved 2- and 4-mg naloxone nasal spray products.

Pregnant women should get the COVID-19 vaccine, said CDC. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, noted at a White House briefing that vaccination surveillance systems found “no safety concerns” for more than 35,000 women in their third trimester or for their babies.