A recent study from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy at Resources for the Future revealed that almost 50,000 people die each year in hospitals from infections picked up during their stay. Experts say that many of the deaths could be avoided with better infection control, including handwashing, improved hygiene and better screening of patients when they arrive. The report also found that the infections translated into 2.3 million extra patient days in 2006 at a cost of more than $8 billion.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders could see some significant changes in several areas of its 2013 edition, including bipolar disorder, that could have large implications on diagnosis, treatment and medical research, the New York Times reported. One large change would be adding a childhood disorder, temper dysregulation disorder with dysphoria, that was thought to be bipolar disorder, which many children are diagnosed with but don�??t necessarily have. Recommendations have also be made to alter verbiage to more completely characterize all patients, especially when determining severity.

In an attempt to halt the increasing number of patients that are being over-exposed to radiation, doctors at the National Institutes of Health will begin tracking how much radiation a patient has been exposed to in their electronic records. Officials believe that if other doctors and institutes follow suit, researchers will be able to compare the cancer risk of patients with high vs. low radiation exposures. A study released last month said that patients may be exposed to four times more radiation from imaging machines than previously believed.

Technology advances in radiation treatment of cancer patients have moved so swiftly that doctors and hospitals are struggling to implement the necessary safeguards. Patients in New Jersey, Louisiana and Texas have suffered severe radiation injuries resulting from overexposure or improper dosages. While serious injuries are still infrequent, the fact that they happen at all shows that hospitals need to reevaluate their safety measures. The gap between advancing technology and outdated safety protocols leaves �??physicists and radiation oncologists without a clear strategy for maintaining the quality and safety of treatment.�?�

A new study has found that as more and more doctors across the country prescribe opioid painkillers to treat chronic pain, more and more consumers are suffering fatal overdoses. An article published Monday found that 51 patients overdosed on opioids in the past three months, with six of those cases resulting in death. Opioids, including oxycodone, morphine and hydrocodone, are the most commonly prescribed class of medication in the U.S. The study found that some of the deaths resulted from accidental overdose, and many were the result of an alleged suicide attempt or part of drug abuse

A federal study has concluded that Chinese drywall containing high levels of hydrogen sulfide is strongly associated with the corrosion of home appliances. However, officials with the Consumer Product Safety Commission said the problem may not be as common as previously believed. The agency is still trying to determine if a link exists between the drywall and reports of health problems

A new study has concluded that uninsured patients who visit emergency rooms with traumatic injuries were more likely to die than their insured counterparts. According to the study, conducted by researchers at Harvard University, uninsured patients were 80 percent more likely to die from injuries sustained in car crashes, falls or in gun-related incidents than patients covered by health insurance. The study appears in the November issue of the journal Archives of Surgery.

A new study is casting added doubt on the effectiveness of the embattled blockbuster cholesterol drugs Zetia and Vytorin, reports USA today. In a report presented Monday, researchers concluded that the vitamin niacin was significantly more effective in reducing artery plaque than Zetia or Vytorin. The results of the study were published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.

A new analysis has concluded that children who regularly eat balsamic and other red wine vinegars may be at risk for dangerous lead-related health problems. The study conducted by Environmental Health News says that daily consumption of some vinegars can raise lead levels by as much as 30 percent in young children. Lead exposure has been linked to neurological, learning and behavioral disorders in previous scientific studies.

Pfizer Inc. may have skewed the results of studies testing possible off-label uses for the epilepsy drug Neurontin, a new analysis of research data has concluded. In the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researches found inconsistencies including reporting positive results in trials that were initially found to be negative, and the altering of study goals. In a statement, the company denied that it attempted to mislead doctors about off-label uses for Neurontin.