Clinical review
Clinical Sources & Review Log
The current authoritative references used to verify guideline-sensitive and high-yield medical content on Step 2 Mastery.
Last comprehensive clinical review: September 17, 2026.
Screening content uses current final USPSTF recommendations unless explicitly labeled otherwise. Vaccine content uses current CDC/ACIP guidance, including newer disease-specific CDC pages when the annual schedule page has not yet been relabeled for the new calendar year.
Screening content uses current final USPSTF recommendations unless explicitly labeled otherwise. Vaccine content uses current CDC/ACIP guidance, including newer disease-specific CDC pages when the annual schedule page has not yet been relabeled for the new calendar year.
Preventive Care
USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening FinalOfficial recommendationBiennial mammography age 40–74; evidence insufficient at age ≥75.
USPSTF Colorectal Cancer Screening FinalOfficial recommendationAverage-risk screening age 45–75; selective age 76–85.
USPSTF Lung Cancer Screening FinalOfficial recommendationAnnual LDCT age 50–80 with ≥20 pack-years and current smoking or quit within 15 years.
USPSTF Cervical Cancer Screening Final 2018Current final recommendationThe site follows the current final recommendation for testing decisions. A newer 2024 USPSTF draft exists but is not presented as final guidance.
USPSTF Cervical Cancer Draft Draft — not finalDraft recommendationListed only to make the final-vs-draft distinction transparent.
USPSTF Osteoporosis Screening Final 2025Official recommendationWomen ≥65; younger postmenopausal women at increased fracture risk; insufficient evidence for population screening in men.
USPSTF Prediabetes & Type 2 Diabetes FinalOfficial recommendationAge 35–70 with overweight/obesity, with earlier consideration in higher-risk groups.
CDC Hepatitis B Newborn Update Adopted Dec 2025CDC updateInfants of HBsAg-negative mothers: birth dose is now individual/shared decision-making; infants of HBsAg-positive or unknown-status mothers retain time-sensitive newborn prophylaxis.
CDC Immunization SchedulesCDC schedulesThe current annual schedule pages remain labeled 2025 with addenda; disease-specific CDC guidance is checked for newer 2026 changes.
CDC Pneumococcal Guidance Reviewed 2026Official CDC guidanceAge-based adult vaccination begins at 50; PCV15/20/21 options depend on prior vaccination and risk.
CDC Adult RSV Guidance Reviewed 2026Official CDC guidanceSingle dose for all adults ≥75 and adults 50–74 at increased risk; not currently annual.
CDC 2026–2027 Influenza Guidance Current seasonOfficial CDC seasonal pageAnnual influenza vaccination remains recommended for people age ≥6 months without contraindication.
CDC Tetanus Wound Management Reviewed Sep 2026Official CDC guidanceComplete series: clean/minor wound booster at ≥10 years; dirty/major wound booster at ≥5 years. TIG is reserved for selected dirty/major wounds with absent or unreliable immunity.
CDC Hepatitis A Vaccination Reviewed 2026Official CDC guidanceRisk-based adult indications include international travel and chronic liver disease, among other exposure/risk groups.
ACOG Routine Tests During PregnancyOfficial ACOG guidanceEarly pregnancy testing includes CBC, blood type/Rh, urinalysis/culture, and infectious-disease screening.
ACOG Rh Factor GuidanceOfficial ACOG guidanceRh-negative patients are identified early and antibody screening determines whether preventive Rh(D) immune globulin can avert sensitization.
ADA Standards of Care 2026 — CKDOfficial ADA standardsAt least annual UACR + eGFR: type 2 diabetes from diagnosis; type 1 diabetes after ≥5 years of duration.
USPSTF Newborn Ocular Prophylaxis FinalOfficial recommendationUniversal erythromycin ophthalmic prophylaxis prevents gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum.
HRSA Recommended Uniform Screening PanelOfficial newborn-screening resourceState programs vary, but universal newborn screening targets serious treatable disorders before symptoms; congenital hypothyroidism is a classic endocrine example.
Nutrition
GLIM 5-Year Update 2025 updatePubMedThe 2025 update retains the core diagnosis: ≥1 phenotypic criterion plus ≥1 etiologic criterion, with severity graded by phenotypic abnormalities.
ASPEN Refeeding Syndrome ConsensusPubMedRefeeding syndrome may involve declines in phosphorus, potassium, and/or magnesium within 5 days of calorie reintroduction, with thiamine deficiency/organ dysfunction incorporated into severe criteria.
ASPEN Nutrition Terminology / Visceral ProteinsASPENAlbumin/prealbumin are influenced by inflammation and are not reliable proxy measures of total body protein or muscle mass.
NIH Office of Dietary SupplementsHealth professional fact sheetsUsed to verify vitamin/mineral deficiency, toxicity, interaction, and supplementation details.
CDC Vitamin D & Breastfeeding 2026Official CDC guidanceBreastfed and partially breastfed infants generally need 400 IU vitamin D daily beginning shortly after birth.
AAP Iron Deficiency Clinical Report 2026AAP PediatricsExclusively breastfed term infants should receive about 1 mg/kg/day of iron by 4 months, with iron-rich complementary foods emphasized from around 6 months.
ACOG Weight Gain During PregnancyOfficial ACOG guidanceSingleton gestational weight-gain targets are based on prepregnancy BMI.
SMFM Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnancy ACOG-endorsedSMFM guidelinePregnant patients with sickle cell disease have increased folate requirements; SMFM recommends 4 mg folic acid daily.
Editorial rule for changing guidance
When an authoritative body has a newer draft but the final recommendation has not changed, Step 2 Mastery labels the draft as draft and continues to teach the current final recommendation. When a disease-specific CDC page is newer than the annual immunization schedule page, the newer adopted CDC guidance is used for that disease-specific topic.
Educational scope: these references support exam-preparation content and do not replace patient-specific clinical judgment or current institutional guidance.