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, […]
The Ebola virus continues to be a serious issue for healthcare professionals
The Ebola virus continues to be a serious issue healthcare professionals. As discussed in the last blog, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently emphasized the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE). Healthcare workers put themselves at risk in order to treat those infected. However, PPE can keep professionals safe. This is […]
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 […]
Diabetes
Over 29 million Americans have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form affecting 90-95% of all diabetics. People with Type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance, meaning their bodies do not produce enough insulin or insulin is not used properly by the body. This causes glucose to build up in the blood instead of […]
How to prevent HBV
Hepatitis B is an infection that causes inflammation of the liver. It can survive outside the body for up to 7 days. It can become chronic and lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure and death. Hepatitis B can be contracted through sexual contact, needle sticks, blood transfusions, and the sharing of needles. One of […]
Healthcare Workers: Protect Yourselves!
Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk for exposure to serious, and sometimes deadly, diseases. If you work directly with patients or handle material that could spread infection, you should get appropriate vaccines to reduce the chance that you will get or spread vaccine-preventable diseases. Protect yourself, your patients, and your family members. Make sure you […]
How to prevent needlestick and sharps injuries
CDC: “Needlestick and other sharps injuries are a serious hazard in any healthcare setting. Contact with contaminated needles, scalpels, broken glass, and other sharps may expose healthcare workers to blood that contains pathogens which pose a grave, potentially lethal risk. If you experience a needlestick or sharps injury or are exposed to the blood or […]
Puncture: Exposure for Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure
A dedicated and hard-working nurse is going through a normal shift. Checking vital signs, updating medical records, administering medications, comforting patients, drawing blood samples, inserting IVs, and then OUCH! What just happened? Is that a red dot underneath the glove? This can’t be right… Read more