Past Updates from the Clinician Registry Listserv

Update Sent May 19, 2008

NOTE: This document is provided for historical purposes only and may not provide our most accurate and up-to-date information. The most current Clinician's information can be found on the Clinician Home Page.

Today's topics Include:

• COCA Conference Call: Poison Control Centers and Toxicosurveillance
• National Emergency Medical Services Week
• Mass Critical Care
• Seasonal Influenza
• Pandemic Influenza
• MMWR Weekly
• Travelers' Health
• Food Safety

 

 

COCA Conference Call: Poison Control Centers and Toxicosurveillance

TITLE: Poison Control Centers and Toxicosurveillance: Real-time National Surveillance for Outbreaks of Chemical-Associated Illness
SPEAKER: LCDR Joshua G Schier, MD, USPHS

DATE: TOMORROW - Tuesday, May 20, 2008
TIME: 1:00 PM ET - 2:00 PM ET

Please visit our website for the call-in information, objectives, Continuing Education Credit information, and PowerPoint slideset: http://www.emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp.

National Emergency Medical Services Week

National Emergency Medical Services Week - May 18-24, 2008
Every day, under any circumstances, approximately 750,000 EMS providers serve their communities. National EMS Week (May 18-24, 2008) brings together local communities and medical personnel to promote safety and recognize the dedication of paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders, firefighters, police, and others who provide often heroic, lifesaving services as a routine part of their jobs. For more information on EMS Week please follow the links below:

CDC Features:
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/EMSWeek/

American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP):
http://www.acep.org/practres.aspx

Mass Critical Care

Definitive Care for the Critically Ill During a Disaster - ACCP
Published as a supplement to the May issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), Definitive Care for the Critically Ill During a Disaster offers guidance for hospitals, medical professionals, and public health authorities on how to prepare for and provide essential critical care when the need for critical care resources far exceeds availability. Spearheaded by the ACCP, the task force that developed the guidance consists of 37 senior-level participants with broad expertise relevant to emergency mass critical care (EMCC), representing military medicine, medical societies and institutions, and government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Health and Human Services. The task force also includes members of the Critical Care Collaborative (CCC), a group of medical professional societies who collectively represent more than 100,000 health-care professionals. Members of the CCC include the ACCP, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Society of Hospital Medicine, and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
     
Link to the supplement:
http://www.chestjournal.org/content/vol133/5_suppl/

Link to the ACCP press release:
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-05/acoc-ndp050108.php

Seasonal Influenza

Weekly Report: Influenza Summary Update - May 16
During week 19 (May 4 – 10, 2008), influenza activity continued to decrease in the United States. Thirty-five (2.8%) specimens tested by U.S. World Health Organization (WHO) and National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) collaborating laboratories were positive for influenza. The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza has been above the epidemic threshold for 18 consecutive weeks. The proportion of outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and the proportion of outpatient visits for acute respiratory illness (ARI) were below national baseline levels. ILI was at the region-specific baseline in one region (New England), while the proportion of outpatient visits reported for ARI was below all region and age-specific baselines. One state reported regional influenza activity; two states reported local influenza activity; 28 states and Puerto Rico reported sporadic influenza activity; and 19 states and the District of Columbia reported no influenza activity.    
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Weekly US Map - May 16
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/usmap.htm

Pandemic Influenza

Proposed Guidance on Workplace Stockpiling of Respirators and Facemasks for Pandemic Influenza - OSHA - May 13
This proposed guidance reflects the current thinking on the stockpiling of respirators and facemasks for the purpose of pandemic influenza preparedness. The information contained in this document is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination public comment. It has not been formally disseminated by DOL. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.
http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/stockpiling-facemasks-respirators.html

MMWR Weekly

This week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report contains several reports of interest, including:

Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infections Attributed to Unsafe Injection Practices at an Endoscopy Clinic - Nevada, 2007
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5719a2.htm

Use of Enhanced Surveillance for Hepatitis C Virus Infection to Detect a Cluster Among Young Injection-Drug Users - New York, November 2004-April 2007
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5719a3.htm

Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Infections Caused by Contaminated Dry Dog Food - United States, 2006-2007
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5719a4.htm

Travelers' Health

Outbreak Notice Hand, foot, and mouth disease in Asia - CDC - May 14
Since March 2008, a growing number of cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has been reported in parts of Asia, mainly affecting children. cases have been reported in China, Singapore, and Taiwan. No vaccine is available to prevent HFMD. There is no specific treatment for people who are sick with this disease other than treating symptoms, such as fever. Travelers can take steps to prevent getting HFMD by practicing good personal hygiene and following safe food and water practices. For more information please see the link below.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentHandFootMouthAsia.aspx

Rift Valley Fever in Madagascar - CDC - May 14
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of April 17, 2008, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Madagascar has reported 59 laboratory-confirmed cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF). There are a total of 418 suspected cases, including 17 deaths. Cases of RVF have been identified in the regions of Alaotra Mangoro, Analamanga, Anosy, Itasy, and Vakinakaratra. The MOH in Madagascar is investigating the outbreak and carrying out control and response measures. These measures include, among other things, increased surveillance, patient care, and hospital infection control. Several international organizations and agencies are helping to implement these measures. 
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentRiftValleyFeverMadagascar.aspx

Update on the Global Status of Polio - CDC - May 13
According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), only 4 countries (Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan) remain polio-endemic, an all-time low. The following countries, however, have had imported polio cases or cases related to an imported case in the past 24 months: Angola, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Somalia, and Sudan. Of these countries, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), DRC, and Namibia had previously been polio-free for over 4 years, and Kenya had been polio-free for over 10 years. Outbreaks continue to be a risk and susceptible people are still at risk for infection until poliovirus is eliminated worldwide. Therefore, travelers should be sure they and their children are fully immunized against polio according to the recommendations described in the link below.  
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentPolioOutbreaks.aspx

Food Safety

Illinois Firm Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination  - USDA - May 16
JSM Meat Holdings Company, Inc., a Chicago, Ill., firm, is voluntarily recalling an undetermined amount of beef products intended for use in ground products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The beef products bear the establishment number "EST. 6872" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These beef products were distributed to establishments for further processing in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_016_2008_Release/index.asp

Investigation of Outbreak of Infections Caused by Salmonella Agona - CDC - May 13
CDC is collaborating with public health officials in multiple states across the United States and with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Agona infections. The investigation suggests that cereal from Malt-O-Meal unsweetened Puffed Rice Cereals and unsweetened Puffed Wheat Cereals is likely related to these illnesses. As of May 13, 2008, state and city health departments from 15 states have identified 28 ill persons infected with same genetic fingerprint of Salmonella Agona. Onset dates, which are known for 23 patients, ranged from January 1 to April 10, 2008. Patients’ ages ranged from 4 months to 95 years with a median age of 65 years. Eight hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported.
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/agona/

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