this report was prepared for publication by: National Immunization Program ...........................................Walter A. Orenstein, M.D.

source, vector, or victim of MRSA?

Background Hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) becomes irreversible unless it is identified early and progres-sion prevented. Aims To describe the health-care-seeking behaviours of workers with HAVS and barriers to health care. Methods We invited all patients assessed for HAVS between 15 January

Certain bacteria dispersed by health-care workers can cause hospital infections. Asymptomatic health-care workers colonized rectally, vaginally, or on the skin with group A streptococci have caused outbreaks of surgical site infection by airborne dispersal. Outbreaks have been associated with skin

The burdensome nature of wearing a respirator has driven controversy on the effectiveness of respiratory protection for health-care workers for many years. The safety and industrial hygiene communities have insisted on appropri-ate, dutiful, compulsive practice that includes fit testing

Turkey are smokers (1). In the United States, smoking is generally less prevalent among physicians than among other health-care workers (HCWs) (3; CDC, unpublished data, 1993). Smoking by HCWs undermines the message to smokers that quitting is important, and HCWs who smoke are less likely

of hypothermia-related morbidity and death, and the other report summarizes the findings of a new study of factors associated with risk for and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in health-care workers following percutaneous exposure to HIV-infected blood. Other reports of public health

Assessing real-time performances of N95 respirators

plasma exchange (TPE), has existed in the United States. Because of this shortage, hospital pharmacists may prepare 5 % solution of human albumin by diluting 25% human albumin with 0.9 % NaCl or, when sodium load is a concern, 5 % dextrose. However, if sterile water alone is used as the diluent, the osmolarity (tonicity) of the albumin solution is reduced and may cause hemolysis in recipients. This report describes two of 10 episodes of hemolysis (one fatal) * among persons who received 25 % human albumin diluted with sterile water and emphasizes that sterile water alone should not be used to dilute albumin. Case 1 In January 1998, a 44-year-old patient in a Maine hospital underwent TPE with 5% human albumin prepared by diluting 25 % human albumin 1:5 with sterile water to treat cryoglobulinemia. After an infusion of 270 mL of the solution, the fluid in the plasma exchange device tubing became tinged red, and the procedure was stopped. The patient reported no symptoms; however, the patient’s hematocrit decreased within 24 hours from 36 % to 29 % (normal: 37%–48%) and 48 hours later, serum creatinine

Abstract not found