Progress has been made in the effort to eliminate infections that commonly threaten hospital patients, including a 46 percent decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) between 2008 and 2013, according to a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Almost two-thirds of Americans 70 and older suffer from hearing loss ranging from mild to severe, according to what might be the first study to estimate the prevalence of hearing impairment in a nationally representative sample of older adults, The New York Times recently reported.

A research letter in a recent edition of the weekly JAMA Internal Medicine found older people who felt three or more years younger than their actual age had a lower death rate compared with those who felttheir age or those who felt more than one year older than their actual age.

A growing number of pharma companies are pursuing drugs for the ear, according to a recent article in The New York Times. A clinical trial recently began of a gene therapy being developed by Novartis that is aimed at restoring lost hearing, according to the article.

Small businesses are prepared to adopt workplace wellness programs and, based on the kinds of health risks facing employees, are a good target for such health interventions according to new research published in this month’s issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine from the Colorado School of Public Health.

A University of Canterbury (New Zealand) study hopes to produce results which may help people with hearing loss, according to a recent press release from the school. Associate Professor Megan McAuliffe says hearing loss affects 10 to 15 percent of young adults and more than 30 percent of older adults.

Domtar and 3M have been recognized with a Safe-in-Sound Excellence Award™ for the comprehensive integration of their hearing loss prevention program beyond the traditional occupational work environment into recreational and community activities enjoyed by their workers, their families and their neighbors.

Tinnitus affects millions of people in the U.S. Most cases resolve on their own, but for some it is a lifelong issue. About 20 percent of people with persistent tinnitus need some sort of intervention. Dr. Sujana Chandrasekhar of the American Academy of Otolaryngology co-authored new guidelines to treat tinnitus.

Eating one avocado a day as part of a heart healthy, cholesterol-lowering moderate-fat diet can help improve bad cholesterol levels in overweight and obese individuals, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Hong Kong’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced Dec. 29 that it was investigating two suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) affecting a nine-year-old boy and his six-year-old sister.