Friday, December 18, 2009
Santa's reindeer quarantined over Lyme disease fears
North Pole reindeer have been quarantined following the discovery of ticks carrying Lyme diseases, bringing into question their availability on Dec. 24 and the possibility of causing a global Lyme disease pandemic should they cross international borders.
Elves first found reindeer ticks on Rudolph, which they reported to Santa. Responses to the question, "Who will guide my sleigh?" were greeted mostly by much tugging on beards and shuffling of pointy slippers.
"Normally, culling the herd is the best response," said one epidemiologist specializing in animal-human disease vectors, who declined to be named due to fears of being labeled a Grinch. "But I don't want to be the one to have to explain that my kids."
The issue has created considerable response, though, for fears of widespread Lyme disease infection. The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is now tracking Santa's sleigh and mulling possible responses.
"We'll track Santa," NORAD's commander emphasized. "But I have no authorization from the President to engage him under any circumstances. Besides, how would he explain that to Congress?"
Global pandemic experts remain concerned, however. "What if reindeer ticks can fly, too," asked one epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who declined to be named for fear of nothing in his stocking this year. "Frankly, I don't want to be the one to have to explain that. I can't explain that."
Labels: epidemiology, humor, infectious disease, Lyme disease, superbugs
posted by Ryan DuBosar at
8:00 AM
0 Comments
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Ties that bind, and make you gag
Here's a complex solution to a simple problem. Doctors wear ties, which may carry germs that may add to the problem of health care acquired infections. British hospitals banned ties. In America, we made them germ resistant.
SafetyTies claims to make ties and scarves with a built-in barrier for dirt, liquids and bacteria. The company describes its "nanotechnology" and cites "independent studies" that show 99.95% resistance to H1N1 influenza. 
Whether the ties are attractive enough to wear is a matter of opinion, however. Patterns include those of MRSA microbes and other common germs. Do write us or send pictures if you actually buy one of these and wear it to your health care facility.
"In our effort to stop the spread of H1N1, we need every tool at our disposal," said SafeSmart co-founder April Strider in a press release. "While vaccinations and handwashing are obviously the first line of defense, SafetyTies and SafetyScarves are an easy, sensible and fashionable way for individuals to help reduce the spread of H1N1."
Or, doctors can stop wearing them. We've covered this issue before. ACP Hospitalist has a bit more practical advice from our magazine and our weekly e-news about serious efforts to reduce health care acquired infections. And, others have suggested using dedicated stethoscopes in rooms dedicated to treating resistant infections.
UPDATE: Doctors are buying these ties. Some feel a tie conveys respect to the patient and have chosen to adopt their use.
posted by Ryan DuBosar at
12:37 PM
0 Comments
Friday, May 29, 2009
Superbug threat lurks in sewer
The threat of antibiotic resistance is attributed mainly to the overprescribing and overuse of antibiotics, but a new study explores a new, often-overlooked, danger: sewage sludge.
The study, by the Swedish National Veterinary Institute and the Finnish Food Safety Authority and published in the journal Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, analyzes vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) found in sewage sludge from a waste-water treatment plan. Researchers performed the unenviable task of collecting sludge from the plant weekly for four months and found that 79% of the 77 samples tested positive for drug-resistant superbugs. The danger, the researchers noted, is that VRE may pass on resistant genes to other bacteria.
Since sewage sludge is often used as fertilizer, its use threatens to spread antimicrobial resistance throughout the animal and human food chains, researchers warned. More efficient hygienic treatment of sewage sludge, they concluded, must become another weapon in the public health arsenal against superbugs.
Labels: drug resistance, drugs, superbugs
posted by Janet Colwell at
8:00 AM
0 Comments
ACP Internist hosted Grand Rounds on June 16, wrapping up the best of the medical blogosphere. Click here for the complete wrap-up.
Contact ACP Internist
Send comments to ACP Internist staff at acpinternist@acponline.org.
Previous Posts
- Does Pay for Performance Improve Health Care Quali...
- QD: News Every Day--Sunday House vote may set up S...
- QD: News Every Day--Spend more to save more
- Insurance Companies Should Pay Primary Care Physic...
- QD: News Every Day--Health care reform amid rising...
- QD: News Every Day--When did voting become passe?
- QD: News Every Day--Health reform vote by the week...
- Medical News of the Obvious
- QD: News Every Day--Considering health care reform...
- QD: News Every Day--Federal action leads to states...
Archives
Blog log
American Journal of Medicine
Also known as the Green Journal, the American Journal of Medicine publishes original clinical articles of interest to physicians in internal medicine and its subspecialities, both in academia and community-based practice.
Clinical Correlations
A collaborative medical blog started by Neil Shapiro, ACP Member, associate program director at New York University Medical Center's internal medicine residency program. Faculty, residents and students contribute case studies, mystery quizzes, news, commentary and more.
db's Medical Rants
Robert M. Centor, FACP, contributes short essays contemplating medicine and the health care system.
Everything Health
EverythingHealth is designed to address the rapid changes in science, medicine, health and healing in the 21st Century.
Getting Better with Dr. Val
Getting Better is the continuation of Dr. Val Jones' previous blog at Revolution Health. It is devoted to helping people understand health issues from a balanced, scientifically sound perspective.
HealthHombre
A roundup of health policy news drawn from a database of hundreds of Web sites.
Interact MD
Michael Benjamin, ACP member, doesn't accept industry money so he can create an independent, clinician-reviewed space on the Internet for physicians to report and comment on the medical news of the day.
Kevin, MD
The alter ego of Kevin Pho, ACP Member, is the closest thing to royalty in the medical blog world.
LSUHSC-S Medical Library Evidence Alert
Major guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and/or major reviews by national and international organizations.
PLoS Blog
The Public Library of Science's open access materials include a blog.
White Coat Rants
One of the most popular anonymous blogs written by a doctor.
