News

COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. It is spread from person to person, causing mild to severe respiratory illnesses.

In the African nation of Zambia, UAB School of Medicine Professor Albert Manasyan, MD, conducts perinatal research, which is focused on the critical few weeks before and after birth. After coming back to the main UAB campus in March, he returned to Zambia with a plan to create personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Manasyan’s plan to produce face shields for front-line medical staff has quickly grown into a large-scale project.

Many vitamins and minerals play a role in the immune system. Mega-doses of any one vitamin or mineral can be dangerous and will not prevent or treat COVID-19. No research has shown that using any supplement protects against COVID-19.

The COVID-19 virus is spread person to person, among people who are in close contact with one another through respiratory droplets. If these droplets enter someone else’s mouth and are inhaled into the lungs, then that person may become ill.

For patients with the life-threatening genetic respiratory disorder known as cystic fibrosis (CF), daily treatment routines often mean a life of inconvenience and discomfort. For UAB Medicine patient Mark Sleeper, however, CF is no longer a matter of constant care. Major advances in drug therapy at the UAB Gregory Fleming James Cystic Fibrosis Research Center gave Sleeper what he calls “a completely normal life.”

Many vitamins and minerals play a role in the immune system. Mega-doses of any one vitamin or mineral can be dangerous and will not prevent or treat COVID-19.

Azithromycin in combination with hydroxychloroquine is being studied for potential treatment of COVID-19. If someone is allergic to azithromycin, amoxicillin is not an alternative. In general, antibiotics do not prevent or treat COVID-19.

There is no confirmed evidence that witch hazel is an effective antiseptic for bacteria or viruses, including COVID-19. To clean your hands, we recommend washing them well with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer. For cleaning “high-touch” surfaces, the Environmental Protection Agency provides a list of approved cleaning products, including disinfectants for use against COVID-19.

Seeing a health care provider usually is the most reliable way to determine if you have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In some cases, home testing for STDs provides a convenient or necessary alternative, but it may come with some drawbacks.

UAB Medicine congratulates the 2020 recipients of the Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award, the highest honor available for nursing staff within UAB Health System. Each year, professional nurses and nursing support staff are considered for this award based upon nursing knowledge, technical skills, and clinical leadership.

UAB Medicine has always followed strict guidelines for cleaning our hospitals and clinics, and we are doing even more during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Medical professionals have long known that blood pressure measured in a doctor’s office may not match your true normal blood pressure. This may be due to one of two conditions that cause “false” readings, and recent research shows that both call for more consistent and accurate blood pressure monitoring.