November 5, 2007/Volume 64/No. 8

Public Health in Action

MRSA Updates

•  From the Editorial Board: MRSA Overview, Ongoing Public Health Activities, and Response to Recent Events
  Awareness about MRSA has increased over the last five years, but is far from universal, as evidenced by large numbers of calls to state, regional, and local health departments after the events of the last few weeks. Special emphasis should be given to personal hygiene, early screening for infection, use of conservative mechanical therapies (incision and drainage and compresses) in lieu of antibiotics, and appropriate selection of antibiotics, when required. Many public inquiries relate to the role of environmental surfaces in infection transmission. This means of transmission is not completely understood, but it is well established that direct physical contact is a more efficient means of disease transmission. While the public has felt considerable anxiety about the possibility of infection through casual contact in public areas, based on the CDC report, interaction with health care facilities remains the most likely source of infection. Read more… ( PDF, 27 KB)
  
  
  
• Caution: Killing Germs May Be Hazardous to Your Health
  Newsweek.com, October 29, 2007 Issue. The war on microbes has toughened them. Now, new science tells us we should embrace bacteria.   Read article...()
  
  
  

Also in this issue:

• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance in Texas 2000–2006
  Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease caused by prions. The disease is usually fatal within a year and there is currently no known treatment or cure. CJD has been a reportable condition in Texas since 1998. There are currently 4 known types: sporadic, familial, variant, and iatrogenic. Diagnosis is complex and direct examination of brain tissue is required for case confirmation and identification of the type of CJD. During 2000–2006, there were 181 cases of confirmed, probable or possible CJD diagnosed among Texas residents including 88 cases of sporadic CJD, 5 cases of familial CJD, and 1 case of variant CJD. Most case-patients were male (55%) and greater than or equal to 55 years of age (78%). The Texas Department of State Health Services is available to assist health care professionals with arrangement of free diagnostic testing and to provide resources for family support.   Read more... ( PDF, 27 KB)
  
  
  
• Authors Wanted!
  The EpiLink accepts manuscripts that adhere to the mission and purpose of the publication: to provide public health and healthcare professionals accurate, practical, and updated information about important public health issues in Texas. Public and private healthcare professionals, local health department officials, Department of State Health Services program staff, federal officers placed in local, regional, and state public health offices, and other public health professionals are welcome to submit manuscripts for consideration. Go to schedule of upcoming issues and deadlines for submission.
  
  
  
• Promote your public health program in EpiLink Features
  Does your agency or program want to promote a conference, event, continuing education module, or a link to your services? Please contact us by the COB of second Friday of each month for posting in the next issue.
  
  
  



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