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Health care workers receiving their first lifetime vaccination for smallpox only should be stuck three times with the bifurcated immunization needle not the 15 skin pricks previously recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has sent out a sentinel alert to all accredited facilities calling for them to report fatal nosocomial infections. The request for data has raised concerns among infection control professionals, who argue that ascribing deaths to infections is a complex matter confounded by underlying illness and a host of other variables.
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West Nile virus is emerging as a new threat to laboratory workers as its presence grows in the United States. Infection control precautions should be reemphasized in light of two occupational cases of West Nile virus infection in research laboratorians, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes.
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A patient with group A streptococcal respiratory and soft tissue infection was the source of an outbreak involving 24 health care workers.
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Pneumococcal vaccination rates in the United States are reported to be 28% to 47%, well below the desired 90% levels, with the result that many patients are denied effective protection against a major cause of morbidity and mortality. This study demonstrates that an ED-based vaccination strategy would protect most patients at risk for pneumococcal bacteremia in an inner-city public hospital, with a best-case scenario showing cost savings.
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Israel reports 4 hospitalized among 18,000 smallpox immunizations; Smallpox Vaccine Alert: Use only three needle sticks for first-time vaccinees; IOM: Set trigger before a vaccine death occurs; How not to run a bioterror immunization campaign
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Deciding that the risk of smallpox vaccine outweighs the current benefit of immunization, an increasing number of hospitals are refusing the governments offer to vaccinate key health care workers. Though public health authorities still are expecting widespread compliance, the move has raised concerns that the nonparticipants will undermine bioterrorism preparedness.
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Confidentiality and testing concerns about HIV-infected health care workers are starting to surface as the government moves ahead with its plan to offer smallpox vaccine to hospital staff. Those with HIV would be at risk of dangerous complications, including potentially fatal progressive vaccinia, if they receive smallpox vaccine.
