69,000 new HIV cases reported in Russia

69,000 new HIV cases reported in Russia Daijiworld.com Signalling that there has been no letdown in the rising spread of the virus, Gennady Onishchenko told a scientific conference in Moscow that around 720,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV in.

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(OSHA) Sharps Safety – Standard Medical Version

Needlesticks and other sharps injuries to your office personnel can spread Hepatitis B and C as well as HIV. The Smart Training-ISIPS Sharps Safety module helps your practice improve sharps handling and infection prevention protocols.

As part of an overall sharps injury reduction program, this safety presentation can help your practice safeguard employee wellbeing and prevent the spread of disease. Click the link below and then enter ISIPS as the Promo Code during checkout and receive an additional 15% off each module Purchase.

Click here for 15% discount!

Swiss police arrest “healer” accused of infecting 16 with HIV

Swiss police have arrested a self-styled healer after he stopped attending a trial where he stands accused of infecting 16 people with HIV using acupuncture needles.  Swiss police said on Friday that they stormed the home of the 54-year-old man, who had barricaded himself inside, was armed with a knife and had issued repeated threats. An unidentified woman with him was also arrested.

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Contamination Of Drugs Found At Connecticut Hospital Prompts Nationwide Warning

The Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors and hospital managers about a nationwide recall of all drugs made by a New Jersey compounding pharmacy because they may be contaminated with mold.  The recalled products from Med Prep Consulting Inc. include dozens of drugs packaged in infusion bags, plastic syringes and glass vials distributed to regional hospitals.

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January is National Blood Donor Month

According to Danielle McLean, site supervisor for the Red Cross Blood Donation center at the Plaza at Carolina Forest, January is an excellent time to make and act on a resolution to help others by becoming a blood donor.  “This time of year our donations fall off during the holidays,” she said. “High school donors are on vacation and people simply get very busy over the holidays. January is [National Blood Donor Month], a time to bring awareness back around.”

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Is your facility doing anything to promote National Donor Month? Please share with us.

Health fears for ‘backyard botox’ patients

Western Australia’s Department of Health has advised all clients of registered nurse Tiffany Fraser, of Wembley Downs, to visit their doctor for blood tests to check for a potential blood-borne virus or bacterial infection.

The health department said it had launched an investigation into a possible infection control breach at Ms Fraser’s home, and she had been reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Chief health officer Tarun Weeramanthri said the potential risk of infection was small but real.

“While the risk of infection for individual patients is considered very low, it is important that any potential risk, no matter how unlikely, is ruled out,” Dr Weeramanthri said.

“Ms Fraser was conducting cosmetic procedures including the injection of Botox and fillers in an unregulated environment, without any documentation of infection control practices.

“Anyone who received treatment in Ms Fraser’s home involving the injection of hyaluronic acid (Juvederm) or botulinum toxin (Botox) should visit their GP as soon as possible to arrange a blood test.”

Dr Weeramanthri said the health department had written to all of Ms Fraser’s known clients to advise them of the threat, but also wanted to identify any other clients who may have visited her home for cosmetic treatments.

“The Department of Health is continuing its investigation into this possible infection control breach and advises people to exercise caution before undergoing cosmetic procedures in private homes, outside a clinical setting,” Dr Weeramanthri said.


This type of “backyard clinics” are being implicated more frequently in hepatitis and HIV infections.  Has your facility had to clean up for one of these incidents?

Surgeon infected 5 patients at Cedars-Sinai, hospital reports

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said Friday that a heart surgeon unwittingly infected five patients during valve replacement surgeries, due to tiny tears in his latex surgical glove, earlier this year. The infections caused four of the patients to need a second operation, officials said. The infections occurred after the tears in the latex surgical gloves routinely worn by the doctor allowed bacteria from a skin inflammation on his hand to pass into the patients’ hearts, according to the hospital. The patients survived the second operations and are still recovering, hospital officials said.

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With healthcare acquired infections being very common in the US, many hospitals have started more programs to reduce these infections.

How are things going at your hospital?

North Shore University Hospital is volunteering to take surveillance to another level

As you might be aware, the North Shore Hospital has placed sensors over the doorway to help control hand hygiene.   There is a sensor over the doorway that senses that you have enter the doorway.  The camera turns on above the sink and hand dispenser “to make sure doctors and nurses are washing their hands.  According to Dr. Erfan Hussain “When you speak with any doctor they agree that this is something everyone should absolutely do but because of time, energy, busyness…sometimes gets missed.”
Several years ago I had to take my youngest son to the emergency room because he had severed his Achilles tendon.  As we sat in the emergency room for about two hours, I had six clinicians approach us.  Only one of the six clinicians washed their hands between the previous patient and my son.  To the right of my son was an individual to have severe infection from a spider bite and had pus running down his arm.  To the left of my son was a patient who had a pop varicose vein and had blood all over.  I was very surprised to see that only one of the clinicians washed their hands spontaneously before coming to my son.  I asked each of the remaining five clinicians if they would please wash their hands before they examined my son.  Three of them wash their hands cheerfully and then came back and examine my son.  The remaining two indicated that they had wash their hands prior to coming over to treat my son.  I asked them if they knew would watch their hands again so I could watch them.  One did as he grumbled.  The remaining one refused to wash their hands and so I asked them to please find a replacement-they were not very happy with my request.
What would you do?  Do you think your institution would feel like the North Shore Hospital and request that video cameras be placed to confirm that hands were actually been washed?
What do you think?

New Device Means Fewer Needle Sticks At Local Children’s Hospital

You might cringe at the idea of having your blood drawn or being hooked up to an IV line. Many have had the fear of needles since they were kids, but one revolutionary device being used at McLane Children’s Hospital Scott & White in Temple could be preventing that fear ten fold.

Since September, the hospital has been using a device called Vein Viewer. With infrared light, the Vein Viewer projects vein real-time on the skin.

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Have you had an opportunity of using this product?  What were your thoughts on it?  Do you think this product will help reduce the number of accidental needlesticks?  Please leave your comments below.