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Infectious Disease: This Week's News |
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Sunday, January 14, 2024 01:00 PM |
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This week's news includes emerging treatment options for patients with persistently positive blood cultures with Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus; how the development of antimicrobial stewardship programs can be an effective strategy for beginning to reduce this critical timing for patients in ICUs; a look at another antibiotic being studied for a healthcare-associated infection; and an investigational vaccine against the Nipah virus begins. Read more. |
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Study Finds Hospital Surfaces Can Harbor Harmful Microbes Even After Routine Disinfection |
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Saturday, January 13, 2024 02:24 PM |
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A new study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) reports microbial contamination — including pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria — on high-touch hospital surfaces despite compliance with recommended disinfection protocols. The findings shed light on the persistent challenge of reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and indicate that innovative strategies may be needed for more effective disinfection of these surfaces. Read more. |
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Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2024 |
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Saturday, January 13, 2024 01:13 PM |
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At its October 2023 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices* (ACIP) approved the Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for Ages 19 Years or Older, United States, 2024. Read more. |
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As COVID-19 Cases Surge, Here’s What to Know About JN.1, the Latest SARS-CoV-2 “Variant of Interest” |
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Saturday, January 13, 2024 12:52 PM |
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BA.2.86’s spawn, JN.1, has become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the US, status its parent variant never achieved. Fortunately, although COVID-19 cases have surged, hospitalizations and deaths from the disease are still considerably lower than they were the same time a year earlier. Read more. |
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Study identifies CPR dummies as potential source of hospital infections |
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Saturday, January 13, 2024 12:45 PM |
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A study identified microbial contamination on numerous high-touch hospital surfaces, including CPR mannequins. Read more. |
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Outpatient C diff infection may be underdiagnosed, study finds |
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Friday, January 12, 2024 07:19 PM |
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A study of two large, integrated health systems suggests that outpatient Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) may be underdiagnosed, researchers reported today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.Read more. |
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Friday, January 12, 2024 07:04 PM |
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Radon-associated lung cancer can be prevented by limiting exposure to radon in indoor air. You can start by testing radon levels in your home and installing a radon reduction system, if needed. Read more. |
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Some states reinstate masking in health care settings |
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Friday, January 12, 2024 05:52 PM |
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Dentists encouraged to be aware of updated mandates. Read more. |
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Is It COVID-19, a Cold, or the Flu? What to Do When COVID and Flu Cases Surge |
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Friday, January 12, 2024 05:37 PM |
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Here we go again. Another winter, another COVID-19 wave. As many Americans try their best to move on from or ignore the coronavirus—calling quits on masking, skipping vaccinations, not bothering to test—COVID-19 is surging in the United States. Read more. |
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US respiratory virus levels remain high amid possible post-holiday spike |
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Friday, January 12, 2024 04:54 PM |
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Emergency department visits for illnesses involving all three major respiratory viruses declined last week, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that changes in holiday-related health seeking behavior may have played a role in the downward trend. Read more. |
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New Hampshire luxury resort linked to 2 cases of Legionnaires' disease, DPHS investigating |
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 06:20 PM |
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The New Hampshire Division of Public Health Services has identified at least two cases of Legionnaires’ disease among guests of Mountain View Grand Resort in Whitefield. Read more. |
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CDC weighs in on JN.1 and intensifying COVID activity |
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 06:17 PM |
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In an update on the JN.1 variant late last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the variant—steadily expanding its dominance—may be intensifying the spread of COVID-19 this winter. In the January 5 update, the CDC said COVID activity is high, but infections are causing less severe disease than earlier in the pandemic. Read more. |
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MMWR Weekly - January 11, 2024 |
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 05:38 PM |
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Weekly / Vol. 73 / No. 1. Read more. |
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FDA Facilitates Broader Adoption of Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide for Medical Device Sterilization |
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Thursday, January 11, 2024 05:00 PM |
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Agency Continues to Encourage Ethylene Oxide Sterilization Alternatives. Read more. |
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Sulfa allergies, sulfite allergies, and local anesthetics in dentistry |
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 05:46 PM |
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Sulfa, sulfite, and sulfur may sound alike, but the similarity ends there. Here’s what to consider when you have dental patients with allergic reactions to sulfa drugs and sulfites and who can’t have articaine as a local anesthetic. Read more. |
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Red Cross declares emergency blood shortage, calls for donations during National Blood Donor Month |
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 05:39 PM |
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The American Red Cross is facing an emergency blood shortage as it experiences the lowest number of people giving blood in the last 20 years. Blood and platelet donations are needed now to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures proceed without delay. Read more. |
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Philadelphia Measles Outbreak Has Officials Concerned |
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 01:13 PM |
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Eight Philadelphia residents are known to have contracted measles, the city's department of health said in an update on the outbreak released Monday. Read more. |
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IZ Express #1,734: Revised nirsevimab guidance, Vaccination Experience web page, and more |
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024 09:22 AM |
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IZ Express #1,734: Revised nirsevimab guidance, Vaccination Experience web page, and more. Read more. |
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Study: Thirdhand smoke may harm children |
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Tuesday, January 09, 2024 06:30 PM |
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UC researcher says toxic substances remain on surfaces, even in homes that ban indoor smoking. Read more. |
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Philadelphia blames measles outbreak on people declining vaccines, failing to quarantine |
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Tuesday, January 09, 2024 06:27 PM |
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The city of Philadelphia is blaming the recent measles outbreak on people declining to get vaccinated and failing to follow quarantine recommendations, after its Department of Public Health confirmed at least four cases. Read more. |
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Fatal TB outbreak shows importance of screening tissue transplants |
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Tuesday, January 09, 2024 06:25 PM |
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Today a new study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) linked to contaminated bone allografts (tissue transplant) from the same donor. Read more. |
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US sees COVID resurgence as JN.1 variant becomes dominant |
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Tuesday, January 09, 2024 06:22 PM |
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The U.S. is riding another wave of rising COVID-19 infections, as holiday gatherings and a new variant are driving increased transmission. Read more. |
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The gum disease-dementia connection |
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Monday, January 08, 2024 08:30 PM |
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Who knew dental hygienists are also brain health hygienists? We did! The Queen of Dental Hygiene, Barbara Tritz, explains how caring for the gums can reduce the risk of dementia. Read more. |
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Few Children With SARS-CoV-2 Develop Post-COVID-19 Condition |
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Monday, January 08, 2024 08:26 PM |
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More children with positive SARS-CoV-2 tests have post-COVID-19 condition, but no significant difference seen in QoL for those with positive, negative tests. Read more. |
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Dear Patient: You can die from cavities |
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Monday, January 08, 2024 08:23 PM |
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Dental care is not an afterthought, and ignoring dental issues or toughing them out can have dire consequences. Do your patients understand what they are? Read more. |
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Study Investigates Role of Experiential Service Learning in Dental Education |
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Monday, January 08, 2024 03:59 PM |
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A recent study explored the use of experiential service learning — an approach that encourages students to apply their knowledge base as well as critical thinking to effectively manage a community health problem — in dental education, focusing on a project that integrates theoretical learning, dental epidemiological investigations, data analysis, creation of scientific oral health education materials, and actual oral health education. Read more. |
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Bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of previously uncounted tiny plastic bits, study finds |
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Monday, January 08, 2024 03:18 PM |
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In recent years, there has been rising concern that tiny particles known as microplastics are showing up basically everywhere on Earth, from polar ice to soil, drinking water and food. Formed when plastics break down into progressively smaller bits, these particles are being consumed by humans and other creatures, with unknown potential health and ecosystem effects. Read more. |
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NYC Moves Closer to Eliminating Viral Hepatitis as a Public Health Threat |
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Sunday, January 07, 2024 02:01 PM |
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There were declines in newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis C as well as hepatitis A between 2021 and 2022 while newly reported cases of chronic hepatitis B in New York City rose in 2022. Read more. |
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A third in Hong Kong may have had COVID amid Omicron, most with no symptoms |
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Sunday, January 07, 2024 01:54 PM |
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Hong Kong researchers estimate that 33.6% of the adult population had COVID-19 in 2022, 72.1% with no symptoms, according to an analysis published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases. Read more. |
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WVU School of Dentistry dean highlights needs for modernization in dental training |
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Sunday, January 07, 2024 01:03 PM |
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The dean of the West Virginia University School of Dentistry sees continual investments in innovation within dental education as key to serving the oral health care needs of West Virginia residents, a major contributor to overall health. Read more. |
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RSV Vaccines Would Greatly Reduce Illness if Implemented Like Flu Shots |
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Sunday, January 07, 2024 01:00 PM |
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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines recently approved for people 60 and older would dramatically reduce the disease’s significant burden of illness and death in the United States if they were widely adopted like annual influenza vaccines, a new study has found. Read more. |
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Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: What can we do better? |
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Sunday, January 07, 2024 12:31 PM |
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The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for all Americans, with unprecedented morbidity and mortality, economic hardship and social stressors. Read more. |
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What the Pandemic Is Teaching Us About the Immune System |
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Saturday, January 06, 2024 12:29 PM |
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Four years after the first cases of an unusual pneumonia appeared in Wuhan in December 2019, nearly 7 million people have lost their lives to COVID-19, and some 65 million more continue to struggle with the infection’s mystifying aftermath — a poorly understood syndrome known as long COVID. Read more. |
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Answering the most-asked questions from social media: Hand hygiene |
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Saturday, January 06, 2024 12:26 PM |
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This is the third in a series of articles in which we will bring in an expert to address some of the misinformation we have read in various social media posts and groups. You can see the previous two installments at the bottom of this article. Read more. |
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Spit Happens - The Surprising Importance of Saliva |
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Saturday, January 06, 2024 12:24 PM |
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Do you have a favorite food that makes your mouth water? The liquid that fills your mouth is called saliva. This remarkable fluid helps you digest food and stay healthy. Read more. |
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