Individuals with hearing loss are at increased risk of having poor access to health care compared with hearing peers. The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on health care access for adults with hearing loss in the United States was investigated through weighted analyses of the 2021 National Health Interview Survey. The association of hearing loss and disruptions to health care use during the pandemic was examined using multivariable logistic regression controlling for demographic characteristics including sex, race/ethnicity, education, socioeconomic status, insurance status, and medical comorbidities. Adults with hearing loss had significantly higher odds of reporting receiving no medical care (odds ratio [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46‐1.82, p < .001) or delayed medical care (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.43‐1.71, p < .001) due to the pandemic. Individuals with hearing loss did not have higher odds of COVID‐19 diagnosis or vaccination. Strategies should be developed to support adults with hearing loss to improve their access to care during public health emergencies.

Staphylococcus aureus causes the majority of implant-related infections. These infections present as biofilms, in which bacteria adhere to the surface of foreign materials and form robust communities that are resilient to the human immune system and antibiotic drugs. The heavy use of broad-spectrum antibiotics against these pathogens disturbs the host’s microbiome and contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant infections. The use of bacteriophages as antibacterial agents is a potential alternative therapy. In this study, bioluminescent strains of S. aureus were grown to form 48-h biofilms on polyether ether ketone (PEEK), a material used to manufacture orthopaedic implants, in either static or dynamic growth conditions. Biofilms were treated with vancomycin, staphylococcal phage, or a combination of the two. We showed that vancomycin and staph phages were able to independently reduce the total bacterial load. Most phage-antibiotic combinations produced greater log reductions in surviving bacteria compared to single-agent treatments, suggesting antimicrobial synergism. In addition to demonstrating the efficacy of combining vancomycin and staph phage, our results demonstrate the importance of growth conditions in phage-antibiotic combination studies. Dynamic biofilms were found to have a substantial impact on apparent treatment efficacy, as they were more resilient to combination treatments than static biofilms.

Objective To quantitatively compare the ergonomic risk of otologic surgeries performed with endoscopes and microscopes. Study Design Observational cross‐sectional study. Setting Operating room of a tertiary academic medical center. Methods Intraoperative neck angles of otolaryngology attendings, fellows, and residents were assessed during 17 otologic surgeries using inertial measurement unit sensors. Sensors were attached midline between the shoulder blades and on the posterior scalp of participants and were calibrated just prior to beginning each case. Quaternion data were used to calculate neck angles during periods of active surgery. Results Endoscopic and microscopic cases included similar percentages of time in high‐risk neck positions, 75% and 73%, respectively, according to a validated ergonomic risk assessment tool, the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment. However, microscopic cases included a higher percentage of time spent in extension (25%) compared to endoscopic cases (12%) (p < .001). When examining the magnitude of average flexion and extension angles, endoscopic and microscopic cases were not significantly different. Conclusion Utilizing intraoperative sensor data, we found that both endoscopic and microscopic approaches in otologic surgery were associated with high‐risk neck angles, which can result in sustained neck strain. These results suggest that optimal ergonomics may be better achieved by the consistent application of basic ergonomic principles than by changing the technology in the operating room.

Objectives Describe demographic and professional factors predictive of burnout in academic otolaryngology before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods In 2018 and 2020, cross‐sectional surveys on physician wellness and burnout were distributed to faculty members of a single academic institution's otolaryngology department. Faculty were dichotomized into low and high burnout groups for 2018 ( n = 8 high burnout, 19%) and 2020 ( n = 11 high burnout, 37%). To identify protective factors against burnout, three semi‐structured interviews were conducted with faculty that reported no burnout. Results Forty‐two participants (59%) in 2018 and 30 out of 49 participants (62%) in 2020 completed the survey. In multivariate analysis of 2018 survey data, full and associate professors had significantly lower odds of high burnout (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.00–0.53; p = .03). Female gender was associated with increased in odds of high burnout (OR 15.55, 95% CI 1.86–231.74; p = .02). However, academic rank and gender did not remain independent predictors of high burnout in the 2020 survey. We identified significant differences in drivers of burnout brought on by the pandemic, including a shift from a myriad of work‐related stressors in 2018 to a focus on patientcare and family obligations in 2020. Interview analysis identified three themes in faculty who reported no burnout: (1) focus on helping others, (2) happiness over compensation as currency, and (3) gratitude for the ability to have an impact. Conclusion Approximately 20% of faculty reported high burnout before the pandemic, and this proportion nearly doubled during the pandemic. The risk factors and themes identified in this study may help academic otolaryngologists prevent burnout. Lay Summary Factors driving burnout among academic otolaryngologists during the COVID‐19 pandemic transitioned away from research, conferences, and work outside business hours toward family and patient responsibilities. Females report higher burnout and full professors report lower burnout. Level of evidence III.