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In a strategy somewhat reminiscent of the state-by-state battle to get needle safety laws enacted, consumer advocates are taking their cry for open hospital infection rate reporting to one legislature at a time. Pennsylvania and Illinois have enacted laws, and bills are under discussion in a variety of other states.
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Shedding of virus after use of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in adults occurs the first few days after vaccination, but is minimal by one week after immunization. The data suggest that the recommendations for LAIV use in health care workers could be modified to include separation from patients for, at most, seven days after vaccination, reports Tom Tolbert, MD, MPH, instructor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.
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Moving to clear up the considerable confusion of the last flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has drafted new guidelines for health care workers who receive the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), Hospital Infection Control has learned. The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to soon release new guidelines that will allow the LAIV nasal spray vaccine to be used more liberally in health care settings with fewer restrictions on immunized workers.
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When it comes to treating lipids in patients with heart disease, the mantra may be, The lower the LDL, the better. Data from the multicenter Reversal of Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering (REVERSAL) trial indicate that aggressive reduction of atherogenic lipoproteins prevents progression of disease.
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The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology recently posted information on its web site to assist infection control professionals (ICPs) in doing a sentinel event analysis. The information includes the highlights in this article.
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Underscoring the importance of its new infection control standards for 2005, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has decided to roll out the new requirements on a consultative basis for hospitals being surveyed from July to December of this year.
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A third case of vancomycin-resistant Staphylo-coccus aureus (VRSA) has occurred in the United States, opening up the distinct possibility that the much-feared superbug will continue to emerge. Though little was known about the case as this issue went to press, Hospital Infection Control was able to confirm that it occurred in a patient in New York.
