Increasing melanoma rates

  A recent press release by the CDC reports increasing melanoma rates in the United Sates. From 1982 to 2011, melanoma rates tripled from slightly over 11 occurrences per 100,000 people to almost 23 per 100,000. Over 90 percent of these cases occur as a result of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. Skin cancer is the […]

Cervical cancer screenings

A recent tweet by the Center for Disease Control is urging women to get screened for HPV and to learn more about the link between HPV and cervical cancer. According to the CDC, HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection, so much so that almost every sexually active individual will contract a strain of the virus at some […]

ALS registry proves beneficial

The ALS bucket challenge that went viral in the summer of 2014 brought awareness to a disease thousands of Americans get diagnosed with every year. The challenge brought in more than $115 million in donations. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is most commonly known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease” after the New York Yankee diagnosed with ALS in […]

Lyme disease infection through ticks

Lyme disease infections are close to 300,000 in the United States annually. Only around 30,000 of these infections are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by state health departments. Lyme disease is a common tick-borne illness that predominantly affects those living in New England, the upper Midwest, and mid-Atlantic states. Although cases of […]

Safety measures against listeria

  CDC releases safety measures against listeria, a life-threatening infection. As the death toll rises to five, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) release precautions against listeria. Listeriosis is a foodborne illness that causes muscle aches and fevers. It may also cause septicemia and meningitis in older people infected. The current outbreak is traced to a single […]

Hepatitis C virus

  The threat of HCV to public health has led to increased debate regarding widespread testing.  HCV, also known as the Hepatitis C virus, is an infection that causes liver damage and inflammation.  However, symptoms are often rare and do not present themselves until decades later under routine medical testing.  Studies indicate that nearly 1 […]

Incentives for reporting antimicrobial use and resistance

In the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposed Meaningful Use Stage 3 of EHR Incentive Programs, eligible hospitals qualify for incentive payments by electronically reporting antimicrobial use (AU) and antimicrobial resistance (AR) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). By doing so, hospitals and providers avoid downward payment adjustments. Meaningful use of […]

Bird Flu in China May Fly Overseas

A new outbreak of Bird Flu has overtaken the poultry population in China, according to HealthDay News.  This virus mutates to affect human populations, meaning infection and death are immediate concerns.  Luckily, genetic sequence technology can lay the groundwork for preventative measures. The recent increase in Avian Flu (also known as Bird Flu or the […]

Is widespread screening for hepatitis C justified?

CDC Hepatitis Updates: Public Health Testing, Guidelines, and Facts The threat of HCV to public health has led to increased debate regarding widespread testing.  HCV, also known as the Hepatitis C virus, is an infection that causes liver damage and inflammation.  However, symptoms are often rare and do not present themselves until decades later under routine medical […]

Revolutionary new test may help put an end to antibiotic misuse

A large clinical study has been published in Plos One validating the accuracy of the diagnostic blood test ImmunoXpert used to distinguish an infection as either bacterial or viral. This easy blood test can quickly tell a practitioner the cause of an infection, leading to a more informed and immediate course of treatment. Many times, […]

Stricter Guidelines for Ebola Prevention

Stricter Guidelines for Ebola Prevention   Many of us are aware of the potential for becoming victim to the Ebola disease. Like many diseases, it can be contracted by the very healthcare workers who are caring for the infected. Thus, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, or the CDC, has become more scrupulous in […]

Heart Disease

Many people in the United States today suffer from a very common type of heart disease called coronary artery disease. This disease is very serious because it can lead to heart attacks.  Coronary artery disease happens when the arteries become filled with a substance called plaque. This causes the arteries to narrow and decrease the […]