As we continue to confront a world where unforeseen viruses pose enormous public health threats, it is reassuring to know that healthcare facilities such as hospitals in West Virginia are not standing idle. These institutions are deploying a myriad of systems and teams which ensure not only that their staff are kept abreast of current…
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently spearheaded a shift in the foundational understanding of airborne pathogen prevention. This change entails a refined terminology that facilitates better comprehension of airborne disease transmission. An overarching term, in this regard, is promoted in a report from the WHO, similar to commonly used terms – 'waterborne' or 'bloodborne'. The…
In early 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) was alerted by the Bangladesh National Focal Point for the International Health Regulations of two distinct cases of Nipah Virus (NiV) infection. These instances remind us of the importance of continual infection prevention, a topic that should be of key concern to all healthcare professionals, particularly those…
On January 10, 2024, Public Health – Seattle & King County was notified about a patient who had be tested positive for Candida auris (C. auris), a form of fungus identified at Kindred Hospital Seattle. C. auris can cause severe infections and is often resistant to antifungal treatment. Through the proactive Partners for Patient Safety…
A study published recently in Emerging Infectious Diseases revealed that blastomycosis, a rare and potentially fatal fungal disease, might have far-reaching endemic locations than previously recognized. Blastomycosis is caused by an environmental fungus called Blastomyces, commonly found in damp soil and decomposing organic materials. Though most individuals exposed to its spores don't fall ill, the…
In response to soaring cases of respiratory infections, six major health systems from the Hampton Roads region in Virginia—the Bon Secour, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, Sentara, The Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and Riverside Health System—are earnestly urging patients and visitors to don masks inside their facilities at all times.
This collective…
Public health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued an advisory to clinicians highlighting reports of errors in the administration of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines in young children and pregnant women. This call for increased vigilance follows the recent approval of two new adult RSV vaccines and nirsevimab (Beyfortus),…
A recent study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases announced transformative results from a randomized clinical trial focusing on patients with low-risk Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections. The trial conducted across 31 hospitals in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Spain, showed that an early switch from intravenous (IV) to oral antibiotic therapy was as effective as…
Health officials from Northeast Ohio are intensifying their calls for people to explore recently approved vaccines against the seasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Over the past few months, several RSV vaccines have secured approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with a specific focus on safeguarding infants and elderly individuals. Erin Murphy, who oversees…