By PAUL HARASIM / RJ
A number of veterans as
well as doctors now
believe that Vietnam
veterans...could have
contracted hepatitis C
through unsafe jet gun
vaccinations.
While it’s possible the government’s position on transmission of hepatitis C among boomers may have resulted in less testing, it’s critical today boomers forget any fears of stigma and get the easy blood test.
CDC PRESENTS
INFECTION-CONTROL
REQUIREMENTS FOR
DIALYSIS
FACILITIES AND GIVES
GUIDANCE ON
PARENTERAL
MEDICATION VIALS
CDC published
"Infection Control
Requirements for
Dialysis
Facilities and
Clarification
Regarding Guidance
on Parenteral
Medication Vials" in
the August 15 issue
of MMWR. A summary
made
available to the
press is reprinted
below in its
entirety.
In dialysis and
other healthcare
settings, injected
medications
that are labeled for
single-use should be
used one time for
one
patient only. To
avoid contamination
and potential spread
of
infection in
dialysis settings,
medications and
solutions must
be handled using
proper infection
control precautions
as
described in CDC
guidelines and now
mandated through the
new CMS
Conditions for
Coverage. This
includes injection
preparation
using only new
sterile
needles/syringes in
a clean area
separate
from patient
treatment areas and
contaminated items.
Beginning
in October 2008,
outpatient dialysis
facilities will be
required
by the Centers for
Medicare and
Medicaid Services
(CMS) to
follow CDC infection
control guidelines
that pertain to
hemodialysis
settings. These
guidelines include
recommendations
for correct handling
and use of injected
medications. To
prevent
transmission of both
bacteria and
bloodborne viruses
in
hemodialysis
settings, all
injectable
medications labeled
as
"single-use" should
be used for one
patient and be
entered one
time only.
Medications packaged
as multidose should
be assigned
to a single patient
whenever possible.
All parenteral
medications should
be prepared using
sterile injection
equipment
in a clean area that
is removed from the
patient treatment
area
and separate from
potentially
contaminated items
and surfaces.
