A smarter finger brace; 1 in 6 infections are drug-resistant; common hospice drugs may increase death risk in patients with dementia – Morning Medical Update

Morning Medical Update

A team in the Interactive Structures Lab developed a fully customizable finger brace that can easily switch from stiff to flexible with the push or flex of a finger. It can also be 3D printed and requires no assembly. © Carnegie Mellon University

A smarter finger brace for faster recovery

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a customizable 3D-printed finger brace that can switch between stiff and flexible modes with the simple movement of a finger. Designed by the Interactive Structures Lab, the brace lets users alternate between immobilization and motion without removing the device — a key improvement for patients recovering from injury or managing arthritis. The brace consists of two rigid sections connected by an elastic band that “snaps” between modes, similar to a snap bracelet. Using basic finger measurements and strength data, patients can generate a custom-fit brace design.

1 in 6 infections are drug-resistant

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has reached alarming new levels, with one in six bacterial infections globally now resistant to standard antibiotics, according to the World Health Organization’s 2025 Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Report. Based on data from more than 100 countries, the report shows resistance rising across 40% of pathogen–antibiotic combinations between 2018 and 2023, especially among Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae. In some regions, more than half of these isolates are resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, and carbapenem resistance is climbing. The WHO identified South-East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean as the hardest hit, with roughly one in three infections resistant to treatment. Patient Care Online has more.

Common hospice drugs may increase death risk in patients with dementia

Medications routinely prescribed to calm agitation and anxiety in hospice patients with dementia — benzodiazepines and antipsychotics — are linked to higher mortality, according to a JAMA Network Open study from the University of Michigan. Among more than 139,000 nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s and related dementias in hospice, those started on benzodiazepines after enrollment were 41% more likely to die within six months, while antipsychotic users had a 16% higher risk, compared with similar patients who did not receive these drugs. Nearly half of patients received benzodiazepines soon after admission, often when they were not in the final weeks of life.