Healthcare-Associated Infections

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News Scan for Apr 12, 2017

Hungary, Romania confirm more H5N8 avian flu outbreaks

Two European countries—Hungary and Romania—reported more highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza outbreaks in poultry and wild birds today, and Hong Kong officials confirmed H5N6 in a wild bird found dead in Kowloon,  a major urban area.

  • H5N8 in Hungary, Romania
  • MERS in UAE
  • Vaccine hesitancy
  • Huge surgical gown verdict
  • El Nino cholera shift

News Scan for Mar 02, 2017

US study shows Zika-type birth defects rise 20-fold

The incidence type of birth defects seen with congenital Zika infections in the United States rose 20 times higher than it was before the virus started circulating in the Americas region, researchers reported today in the latest issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

  • Birth defects and Zika
  • MERS case in teen
  • More H5N8 avian flu
  • MRSA, VRE in infants
  • Multistate E coli outbreak

Stewardship / Resistance Scan for Feb 22, 2017

Study describes incidence, risk factors for MDR Enterobacteriaceae in kids

A study yesterday in BMC Infectious Diseases shows that critically ill children with tracheal Enterobacteriaceae infection are at risk for multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections.

  • MDR Enterobacteriaceae in children
  • MCR-1 in Chinese pets
  • MDR-TB testing, treatment

Stewardship / Resistance Scan for Feb 21, 2017

Neonatal sepsis risk calculator nearly halves newborn antibiotic use

An online calculator that predicts the risk for early onset sepsis (EOS) can cut antibiotic use in newborns nearly in half, according to a study yesterday in JAMA Pediatrics.

  • Neonatal sepsis risk calculator
  • Antibiotic-free chicken
  • Klebsiella pneumoniae in UK, Ireland

News Scan for Feb 14, 2017

DRC declares yellow fever outbreak over

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the yellow fever outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is over, based on an announcement from the DRC. The declaration follows Angola's Dec 23 announcement that the outbreak had ended in that country. The DRC reported its last case on Jul 12, 2016.

  • Yellow fever in DRC ends
  • H7N9 in China
  • Patient hand hygiene
  • Cholera in Somalia
  • Chikungunya update

News Scan for Feb 13, 2017

H7N9 cases detected in Beijing and Shanghai

The H7N9 avian influenza virus has sickened two more people in China. The infections were detected in two of the country's biggest cities: Beijing and Shanghai.

  • H7N9 in China
  • Ebola super-spreaders
  • Handshake stewardship
  • Cholera vaccine in pregnancy
  • WNV seroprevalence and immune status

News Scan for Feb 09, 2017

Brazil's yellow fever outbreak tops 1,000 cases

A worrisome spike of more than 300 yellow fever cases in the past week has boosted Brazil's outbreak to 1,060 cases and 166 deaths, the country's health ministry said in an update yesterday.

  • More yellow fever in Brazil
  • Stewardship in nursing homes
  • Burkholderia cepacia probe

News Scan for Jan 19, 2017

More H5N8 Europe, H5N1 outbreaks in India and Niger

In the latest avian flu developments, two European countries confirmed more highly pathogenic H5N8 in wild birds, as India and Niger reported poultry outbreaks from the H5N1 subtype, according to reports to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Also, Chile's agriculture ministry yesterday reported a second low-pathogenic H7 outbreak in turkeys.

  • Avian flu in Europe, India, Niger
  • Sepsis and antibiotic Rx
  • More yellow fever in Brazil
  • Meningococcal protection
  • Pre-surgery baths

News Scan for Jan 18, 2017

Larvicide reduces 80% of Aedes in Brazilian city

A study yesterday in PLoS Medicine shows that the larvicide pyriproxyfen (PPF) greatly reduces the number of adult Aedes mosquitoes, the vector that transmits Zika, yellow fever, and dengue.

  • Brazil mosquito control
  • Lingering Ebola symptoms
  • More chikungunya
  • Antimicrobial-coated sutures
  • Center for Health Security move

Stewardship / Resistance Scan for Jan 17, 2017

UV-light disinfection might cut hospital MRSA, VRE rates

An expensive type of ultraviolet (UV) light treatment called UVC was associated with a 30% drop in the incidence of infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) but did not affect Clostridium difficile rates when used for cleaning hospital rooms between patients, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet.

  • UV light against superbugs
  • Antibiotic resistance in refugees

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