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Hepatitis C Virus Transmission Methods Research &
Documentation |
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Veterans from the Vietnam era were more at risk for contracting hepatitis C than any other war. Vietnam-era veterans made up 62.7% percent of those veterans who tested positive for hepatitis C. The next largest group is post-Vietnam at 18 %. World War II at 4%, Korean 5.3% and Persian Gulf veterans make up 3%. Hundreds of Vietnam veterans are being diagnosed daily across America and are almost 4 out of 5 times more likely to have hepatitis C than the average America.
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Oct. 2008 The hazards of blood transfusion in historical perspective- Harvey J. Alter1,*, and Harvey G. Klein1,* ...over the course of almost 3 decades... Retrospective testing showed that only 25% of TAH was hepatitis B–related... 75% of cases tentatively classified as non-B hepatitis ... In 1975, ...NIH discovered the hepatitis A virus (HAV), and we immediately tested stored sera from our non-B hepatitis cases. Surprisingly, not a single case was due to HAV, the only other known hepatitis virus at that time. Hence, the origin of the designation "non-A, non-B hepatitis,"9 |
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| January 2008 WHO > Programmes and projects > Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response (EPR) > Diseases covered by EPR > Hepatitis ... the only means of protection are the implementation universal precautions and safe injection practices. Read more | |
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October 2006 75% of College Students Report Risk Factors for Hepatitis C College undergraduates in the United States do not recognize the magnitude of their risk behaviors for contracting Hepatitis C, according to a survey conducted at a large midwestern university. Researchers found that 75 percent of undergraduates in this study had a potential Hepatitis C risk factor, from tattoos to sharing body jewelry. Results of this study were presented at the 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Las Vegas.
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| 2004 Study: Analysis of a hepatitis C screening for US Veterans Dept. of Preventive Medicine, HSC Level 3, Rm. 086, SUNY at Stony Brook, School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8036, USA. In the multivariate model developed... service during the Vietnam era, tattoo, and a history of abnormal liver function tests were independent predictors of HCV infection. Our data support considering a more targeted screening approach that includes five of the 11 risk factors. | |
| September 2001 Don't Reuse Single-Use Medication Vials -Source: Healthcare Hazard Management Monitor -Improper medication practices in 15 patients in a hemodialysis center over a five-week period were associated with inappropriate use of single-use medication vials...often pooled residual medications to avoid waste...The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in conjunction with the drug manufacturer, issued an advisory to hemodialysis centers... | |
| October 1999 Safety and availability of immunoglobulin replacement therapy in relation to potentially transmissable agents Clinical & Experimental Immunology Volume 118 Issue s1 Page 29 - ... However, the role of partitioning of viruses ...amount of recoverable HCV-RNA in the various Cohn fractions changed dramatically ...As Cohn–Oncley fractionation is not sufficient to remove lipid-coated viruses, additional antiviral inactivation steps are required. More info | |
| September 1999, Sterilants and Disinfectants Applied and Environmental Microbiology, p. 4255-4260, Vol. 65, No. 90099-2240/99/$04.00+0 Bacterial Spores Survive Treatment with Commercial Sterilants and Disinfectants Hepatitis C Survives Treatment with Commercial Sterilants and Disinfectants |
| 12/23/1996 Partially Manufactured Pastes Withdrawn Due to the Possibility of the Transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) (multiple manufacturers) - More HCV related glue documents | |
| The Hepatitis Report By Michael Marco-Natural History, Clinical Manifestations, and Prognostic Indicators of Disease Progression and Survival of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection-Approximately 20% of newly individuals have symptoms that arise before the seroconversion to anti-HCV occurs (antibody-positive) (Koretz 1993). The average time from exposure to seroconversion is approximately 50 days, although it can be as long as nine months (Tremolada 1991; MJ Alter 1992). | |
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Non-Drug
Related
The information relays to the reader the importance of addressing methods specific for HCV Transmission. Currently, IV drug use and related behaviors are cornerstone for the Centers of Disease Control strategy plan to control HCV. Legally, HIV grants for education and prevention, require only HIV transmission methods be addressed. Table Highlights: |
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May 15, 2008 New York
State HCV Patient safety bill would publicize doctors'
names Newsday.com BY RIDGELY OCHS Gov. David A. Paterson introduced ...give the state more authority in health investigations and, for the first time, make public names of doctors under scrutiny...require every medical student to complete infection control training and show proof of it...how to prevent hepatitis C transmission, not just hepatitis B and HIV... restricting the use of multiuse medicine vials and requiring the use of "disposable medical equipment" engineered for single use. |
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| Vaccine. 2008 Mar 4;26(10):1344-52. Epub 2008 Jan 18. Preventing contamination between injections with multiple-use nozzle needle-free injectors: a safety trial.- The study ended early because the protector cap needle-free injector (PCNFI) failed to prevent contamination in the first batch tested (8.2% failure rate). | |
| February 7, 2007 Prostate biopsy between 1989 and 2003 FDA News FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE P07-14 Media Inquiries: FDA Press Office, 301-827-6242 Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA- Custom Ultrasonics Signs Consent Decree- Company agrees to stop manufacturing devices that wash and disinfect endoscopes until it corrects problems... | |
| June 19, 2006 Prostate biopsy between 1989 and 2003 FDA Public Health Notification: Reprocessing of Reusable Ultrasound Transducer Assemblies Used for Biopsy Procedures | |
| June 2, 2006 MILWAUKEE - More than 22,000 veterans who underwent prostate biopsies at veterans' hospitals across the country are being warned that improperly sterilized equipment may have exposed them to deadly viruses...inadequacies with the biopsy cleaning procedure at 21 medical centers in 18 states, plus Puerto Rico. | |
| November 2006 Journal of Viral Hepatitis 13(11): 775-782. 15 independent risk factors for HCV By Liz Highleyman a significant proportion of hepatitis C patients (20%-40%) have no identified route of transmission. In conclusion, the authors wrote, ... our data incriminate previously unidentified risk factors (abortions, some dermatological procedures, outpatient injections, contact sports, beauty treatments, professional pedicure/manicure) and confirm those already recognized hospitalization, digestive endoscopy, acupuncture... | |
| March 2005 Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology Association Between Smallpox Vaccination and Hepatitis C Antibody Positive Serology in Pakistani Volunteers. These results suggest that the widespread prevalence of hepatitis C infection...may be an unintended consequence of the country's smallpox vaccination program... | |
| 2004 55th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases- David Bernstein, MD- Hepatitis C -- Current State of the Art and Future Directions CME- - Prevalence and Natural History- Trends in Hepatitis C Prevalence in the United States - ...One of the major shortcomings of this study (NHANES III survey) is that it reports on the prevalence of the hepatitis C antibody, which may indicate previous exposure or active disease. This study does not report on disease prevalence, as prevalence of hepatitis C infection is defined by the presence of hepatitis C viral RNA in serum. Only 148 of the 15,079 participants had serum available for hepatitis C viral RNA testing, making any statements regarding disease prevalence, and not potential exposure to the disease, invalid. | |
| 2009 | |
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3/31/
Manhattan MD loses license in hepatitis probe The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) - A Manhattan anesthesiologist has lost his medical license after state officials said his sloppy injection techniques infected at least 11 patients with hepatitis. |
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March 27, Kerry urges probe of unsanitary conditions at VA- Senator John F. Kerry this afternoon urged the inspector general at the Department of Veterans Affairs to investigate sanitation standards at VA hospitals, following reports this week that facilities in Florida and Tennessee rinsed, but did not disinfect equipment used in colonoscopies. As many as 9,000 patients may have had invasive procedures with contaminated equipment, potentially exposing them to infectious diseases including hepatitis. |
Mar 26, 2009 VA mum extent of equipment contamination By Bill Poovey - The Associated Press CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Thousands of military veterans across the South are waiting to find out if they were exposed to infectious diseases by government clinics that performed colonoscopies and other procedures with equipment that wasn’t properly sterilized.,,Veterans Affairs officials won’t say if mistakes that may have exposed patients to infections at medical centers in Tennessee and Florida and a clinic in Georgia have been discovered elsewhere. |
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Mar 23, 2009 Vets had colonoscopies with unsterile equipment -By Matt Sedensky - The Associated Press MIAMI — Officials say more than 3,000 patients at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Miami had colonoscopies with equipment that wasn’t properly sterilized. |
March 19- FDA ALERT - The FDA is issuing this alert to remind healthcare providers and patients that insulin pens and insulin cartridges* ...are never to be shared among patients. Sharing of insulin pens may result in transmission of hepatitis viruses, HIV, or other blood-borne pathogens. The FDA has received information that insulin pens may have been shared among numerous patients (two thousand or more) in one hospital in the United States from 2007-2009 |
| March 6 Hepatitis C Virus Transmission at an Outpatient Hemodialysis Unit --- New York, 2001--2008 -... negative to anti-HCV positive in a New York City hemodialysis unit Supervisory staff members failed to address these breaches. Many of the direct care staff members were unaware of ...unit's written infection control policies, including those pertaining to cleaning and disinfection. Investigators also noted the lack of a separate clean area for... has 8% risk factor | March 5 Columbia County Medical Center In Hot Water State of Georgia officials are taking a look at a local medical center. Workers there may not have followed proper cleaning procedures, which may have placed hundreds of patients in danger. |
| March 4, 2009 Columbia County Medical Center In Hot Water By Fraendy Clervaud WJBF News Channel 6 Reporter Published: Evans, GA officials.. look at a local medical center. Workers... not have followed proper cleaning procedures. ..1,300 patients of Evans Surgery Center.. received this letter. ..concerns over the sterilization process of endoscopes. | 3/4/09 Wash. state senators push for official piercing regulations Eric Gordon Issue: Despite the sordid past of the state of Washington's health regulations in tattoo and piercing parlors, native legislators and members of the industry soon hope to see a change. |
| Feb 26- Elementary students get tested after sharing needle- they all pricked their fingers with the same lancet, a device that's commonly used by diabetics to draw blood. | Feb 17- Blood transfusion fears after haemophiliac contracts vCJD for the ...Daily Mail - UK'Since the risk of vCJD transmission through blood was first considered, ... which saw almost 5000 people infected with hepatitis C... |
| Feb 15 Neighborhood Healthcare Clinics: Hepatitis C can happen to anyone North County Times - Escondido,CA,USA About 20 to 25 percent of people with hepatitis C have no risk factors, so there may be other ways of transmission we don't know about yet. ... | Feb 14 Army Times - News -Tenn. VA clinic warns of infection risk - Army News, opinions ...VA officials also said a problem was found with equipment at an ear, nose and throat clinic at the VA medical center in Augusta, Ga., and 1800 veterans have been notified they may have been exposed to infection there. ... He was awaiting results |
| Feb 5, 2009 Army medical center gave flawed insulin shots- The Associated Press.. Last week’s discovery that injection pens ...used on multiple diabetics..El Paso medical center contacting patients who may be infected, William Beaumont...The warning covers WBMAC patients who received insulin injections between August 2007 and January 2009....18 months of potentially incorrect use.... Army-wide review found the same pen model was used in nine facilities. Officials said it also may have been used incorrectly at Fort Polk’s Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital in Louisiana, where 15 or fewer patients were potentially affected. | |
| Jan. 15 Manhattan Dialysis Center Notifies Patients Of Possible Exposure ... eMaxHealth.com - Hickory,NC,USA- The transmission was identified after routine testing conducted by the facility identified a patient who became infected with hepatitis C while receiving ... Follow up story here http://forums.delphiforums.com/march_on_dc/messages?msg=5066.1 |
6 January 2009 CDC REVIEW Nonhospital Health are–Associated Hepatitis B and C Virus Transmission: United States, 1998–2008 ...hepatitis C virus (HCV) from health care exposures has been considered uncommon. However, a review of outbreak information revealed 33 outbreaks in nonhospital health care settings in the past decade: 12 in outpatient clinics, 6 in hemodialysis centers, and 15 in long-term care facilities, resulting in 448 persons acquiring... the putative mechanism of infection was patient-to-patient transmission through failure of health care personnel to adhere to fundamental principles of infection control and aseptic technique (for example, reuse of syringes or lancing devices)...recognized outbreaks indicate a wider and growing problem as health care is increasingly provided in outpatient settings in which infection control training and oversight may be inadequate. |
| 2008 | |
| Dec. 2008 Unhygienic barbershops pose health hazard Saudi Gazette - Riyadh,Saudi Arabia “Blood caused by nicks and cuts on a pilgrim’s head is a fertile environment for the transmission of viruses, such as Hepatitis B and C and HIV which causes . | |
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Nov 2008
Slight fall in caesareans at top hospital Irish Independent - Dublin, Ireland- The majority of pregnant women diagnosed with Hepatitis C or syphilis in the Dublin city hospital last year were unaware of the infection until they had ... |
Nov 2008 Health Professionals At Risk Of Bloodborne Viruses eMaxHealth.com - Hickory, NC, USA 78% of those who had been put at risk of hepatitis C may not have been followed up adequately, potentially leaving some cases of hepatitis C undiagnosed ... |
| Nov 24, 2008 Healthcare & Waste Disposal Workers: Don't Get Stuck! MarketWatch - USA These accidental exposures can have serious consequences, from the spread...hepatitis C... | Nov 2008 9 Diseases You Can Get at the Salon By Cathy Harris (Cathy Harris) The CDC has not published any reports of the transmission of either hepatitis B or C transmission to or from salon workers to date. Healthcare 101 - |
| Nov 2008 Needles Place Nurses At Risk StaffNurse.com - UK Needlestick injuries place nurses at risk from infections such as HIV and hepatitis C - and as many as a third of nurses reported being frightened this had ... |
Nov 2008
Patient Safety With Injectables Medscape - USA ... heparin used to flush IV catheters), and unsafe injection practices resulting in disease transmission of hepatitis C and bacterial infections. ... |
| Nov. 20, 2008 WRHA says 17 people exposed to HIV, hepatitis risk Winnipeg Sun - Canada The exposure risk of infections possibly including hepatitis B and C occurred between May 2007 and last month during the nurse's work with a finger-stick ... | Nov. 19, 2008 Working in health care can be risky, study hints Reuters - USA But for women, only death from hepatitis C was more frequent in health care workers ... |
| Nov. 19, 2008 FDA nixes state appeal to ban multi-dose vials Newsday - Long Island, NY, USA Attorneys for Susan Lewis of North Massapequa, who claimed the department's tardy notification delayed treatment of her hepatitis C, said they will appeal. |
Hepatitis C Transmission Not Reduced By C-sections, Says New Study Planned cesarean sections do not help to reduce the chances of a pregnant mother with Hepatitis C (HCV) transmitting the infection to her unborn baby, ... |
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Nov. 18, 2008
Liver, thyroid cancer rates increasing in Canada: report
CBC.ca - Toronto,Ontario,Canada ... it is estimated that about 22 per cent of primary liver cancers are attributable to hepatitis B infection and 60 per cent to hepatitis C infection, |
Nov. 15, 2008
Woman who got HIV organ suing Chicago Sun-Times - United States BY KARA SPAK Staff Reporter A 33-year-old woman who tested positive for HIV and Hepatitis C after receiving an infected kidney during an organ transplant at ... |
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Nov. 1, 2008 ScienceDaily Old Blood' Linked To Infection — Blood stored for 29 days or more, nearly 2 weeks less than the current standard for blood storage, is associated with a higher infection rate in patients who received transfusions with the blood... “The results of this study raise questions about current blood storage standards and transfusion practices and suggest additional research is needed in these areas,” said James A. L. Mathers, Jr., MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. |
Oct. 28, 2008 New Report Finds Rising Risk of Infectious Diseases in America MarketWatch - USA... An estimated 3.2 million Americans have hepatitis C infections, costing the country an estimated $15 billion annually in health care costs; |
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Oct. 28, 2008 Syringe reuse a widespread problem: U.S. expert Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.com EDMONTON - Syringe reuse is a larger problem than once thought... "Injection safety was often thought of as a developing world problem and we kind of took it for granted in the U.S. and other developed countries," said Joseph Perz, who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. "But as a result of accumulating evidence from outbreaks and surveys, we are taking a firmer stand on the need for education and firmer standards." |
October 28, 2008 Officials start to notify Alberta patients to get tested in dirty syringe scare- HIGH PRAIRIE, Alta. - Health officials in northern Alberta began notifying patients Tuesday to come in for blood tests while community leaders tried to calm nervous and angry residents in a dirty-syringe scare that may affect up to 2,700 people..."There's a lot of panic, a lot of confusion, people trying to find out who needs what tests where... |
| 10-11-2008 Medical staff contract HIV via unsafe occupational practices Viet Nam News - Hanoi, Vietnam- According to a survey ... more than 100 health workers have been infected by HIV due to occupational accidents since the beginning of the year...The HCM City Hospital for Tropical Disease’s Department of Infection Control receives more than 40 HIV-infected patients a day. | Oct. 2008 The hazards of blood transfusion in historical perspective- Harvey J. Alter1,*, and Harvey G. Klein1,* ...over the course of almost 3 decades... Retrospective testing showed that only 25% of TAH was hepatitis B–related... 75% of cases tentatively classified as non-B hepatitis ... In 1975, ...NIH discovered the hepatitis A virus (HAV), and we immediately tested stored sera from our non-B hepatitis cases. Surprisingly, not a single case was due to HAV, the only other known hepatitis virus at that time. Hence, the origin of the designation "non-A, non-B hepatitis,"9 |
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October 09, 2008 Hepatitis C Transmission from Botox and Other Spa Treatments- by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac. Since medical spas are offering more treatments involving the use of needles, sometimes without the supervision of a medical physician or properly sterilized equipment, the potential for Hepatitis C transmission is rising... Hepatitis Transmission Dangers- As the number of people realizing they have the Hepatitis C virus continues to rise, so does the concern of how they were infected in the first place. ... The unregulated, burgeoning medical spa industry could be one of the culprits of mysterious Hepatitis C transmission cases. |
Oct 2008 IHC patient infects
worker- By MARTY SHARPE- An IHC organisation is being
prosecuted after one of its workers suffered acute organ
failure and needed a liver transplant after
contracting hepatitis B from a patient...believed
she was immune because she had been vaccinated in
1999 at the company's expense. |
| Oct 6, 2008 At least 600 people have been tested for hepatitis C in Scotland and Robeson- NC- By Jennifer Calhoun-Staff writer- LAURINBURG - At least 600 people have been tested for hepatitis C following an outbreak linked to a doctor's office ...stemmed from unsafe medical practices associated with a nuclear stress test...While the unsafe medical practices have not been identified, on Aug. 28 the North Carolina Medical Board ordered Block to cease performing invasive procedures at his office. In August, the state Division of Public Health sent letters to 1,200 patients | September 2008 Clinical Infectious Diseases;47:627–633 Volume 47, Number 5 - Clinical Infectious Diseases ;47:627–633- Determinant Roles of Environmental Contamination and Noncompliance with Standard Precautions in the Risk of Hepatitis C Virus Transmission in a Hemodialysis Unit- Nosocomial transmission is the second most frequent cause of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection... Blood-contaminated surfaces may be a source of HCV cross-transmission in a hemodialysis unit. Strict compliance with hand hygiene and glove use and strict organization of care procedures are needed to reduce the risk of HCV cross-transmission among patients undergoing hemodialysis. |
| Sep 17, 2008 Patient Contracts Hepatitis-C From Dialysis Center NYC Clinic Shut Down, Nearly 700 Urged To Get Tested For Hepatitis, HIV; Blood Found On Chairs, Machines NEW YORK (CBS) ― An Upper West Side dialysis center was shut down by the state Health Department and hundreds of patients were urged to be tested after at least one patient contracted hepatitis C from treatment at the center. |
Ink back flowing at tattoo parlour-Piercing services still on hold-Posted By RAYMOND BOWE-An Alcona tattoo parlour was given a clean bill of health yesterday to resume inking area residents. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit issued a public warning last month after clients at Adam & Eve Tanning, Tattooing and Piercing were potentially exposed to non-sterile equipment...Sterilization was the issue. "The autoclave had failed |
| Sep 12, 2008 Report on HIV incidence in the U.S.- By CDC-Subpopulation Estimates from the HIV Incidence Surveillance System --- United States, 2006-CDC has created an HIV incidence surveillance system...The ability to distinguish recent from long-standing HIV infection ...first U.S. estimates of HIV incidence based on a biologic marker of recent infection...disease continues to affect the MSM population more than any other in the United States...however, using new diagnoses as a proxy for incidence is complicated by numerous factors...the 22 states account for 73% of all AIDS diagnoses...not be nationally representative. |
2008 67 hepatitis B
patients sue the state
http://www.japantimes.co.jp Kyodo News Damages
suits were filed Wednesday by 67 hepatitis B patients,
or the next of kin of deceased patients, in district
courts in Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Tottori and
Fukuoka, with the plaintiffs blaming the infections
on childhood vaccinations in which the same syringes
were used repeatedly. The plaintiffs are seeking a
combined ¥2.5 billion in compensation from the state,
which they claim was aware as long ago as 1948 that
continuous use of the same syringes could lead to
infection but neglected to take preventive measures. |
| Sep. 2 2008 NC clinic probed in small hepatitis C outbreak -RALEIGH, N.C. - State health officials are investigating ... seven patients to test positive for hepatitis C. Officials are contacting 1,200 patients who underwent cardiac stress tests within the last 14 months... The cardiac stress test involves injecting a dye into a patient's vein as stress levels in the patient's body are increased. Devlin said officials believe patients transmitted hepatitis C to other patients because they had the same strain. See more on HCV by stress test | September 1, 2008 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases HCV May Be Transmitted via Blood-contaminated Surfaces By Liz Highleyman "Nosocomial" transmission in healthcare settings is the second most common route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission, after shared use of needles and other drug injection equipment. It is well known that HCV may be transmitted via accidental needle-sticks, but contact with the virus on contaminated surfaces in healthcare facilities may also play a role. |
| Aug-27 Adam and Eve clients asked to contact health unit- The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is asking all clients who received tattooing or piercing services at the Adam and Eve Tattooing and Piercing in Innisfil between April 29 and Aug. 21 to call the health unit, as part of an investigation into potential exposure to non-sterile equipment. |
08/08
Discarded needles pose low infection risk for youths
AAP News (subscription) - USA Results showed no seroconversions for HBV, hepatitis C virus or HIV six months after injury. The authors concluded that it is reasonable to offer . |
| Aug. 27 2008 Newest disease-spreading fear: Handcuffs MONTREAL, (UPI) -- A Canadian company warned a national police conference in Montreal that dirty handcuffs can transmit herpes, HIV, influenza and hepatitis B. ...l conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police ... Cleaner company... markets a device and chemicals that disinfect handcuffs..."If you go around ...any police officer how often they clean their cuffs, they'll probably say never," ... found viruses and bacteria along with dried blood and skin particles in the hinges...dangerous for the next person to be cuffed but for the officers...The cleaning device creates ultra-high frequency sound waves. | 08/27/08 Clovis patients possibly exposed to hepatitis, HIV-Some instruments used last week may not have been fully sterilized. By Barbara Anderson / The Fresno Bee Fourteen Clovis Community Medical Center patients -- some of whom were on the maternity ward -- may have been exposed to hepatitis and HIV last week when doctors used instruments that may not have been fully sterilized. |
| August 17, 2008 DIRTY DOC A ONE-MAN HEP-IDEMIC By SUSAN EDELMAN- A sloppy city anesthesiologist infected 14 patients with hepatitis B and C - and probably spread the liver-attacking viruses to at least 10 more...Dr. Brian Goldweber used the same syringe to give patients already infected with hepatitis a second dose from anesthesia vials. This "double dipping" contaminated the contents, which he then injected into other patients - spreading the virus, a city Health Department probe found. | August 17, 2008 Another View: Yolo's needle exchange program flawed- Matt Rexroad - http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/1161242.html Your recent praise of Yolo County (CA) is appropriate, but not for our needle "exchange" program...we were provided with some startling figures...More than 61,000 needles were passed out to about 150 people ... more than 400 needles per participant. Shockingly, 11,253 of those needles were not returned. |
| Aug 1, 2008 CDC Updates Guidance for Bloodborne Pathogens After Mass-Casualty Events... These observations support the potential for explosions to result in transmission of infections among persons injured during the event and indicate that emergency responders and health-care providers in the United States need uniform guidance on prophylactic interventions appropriate for persons injured in bombings and other events resulting in mass casualties. | |
| August 1, 2008 PEDIATRICS Vol. 122 No. 2 August 2008, pp. e487-e492 Pediatric Injuries From Needles Discarded in the Community: Epidemiology and Risk of Seroconversion- ...anxiety exists concerning the perceived risk of transmission of bloodborne viruses after community-acquired needlestick injuries...At 6 months, 189 were tested for HIV, 167 for hepatitis B virus, and 159 for hepatitis C virus. There were... |
July 25, 2008 HCV-Infected Pregnant Women May Have Worse Neonatal and
Maternal Outcomes CME News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD CME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd -Hepatitis C virus (HCV)–positive pregnant women appear to be at risk for adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes...a population-based birth cohort study reported in... American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology..."HCV-positive pregnant women appear to be at risk ... indicating that routine HCV screening in pregnant women may need to be reconsidered... |
| July 25, 2008 Brac Cosmetology Workshop Held- The Department of Environmental Health (DEH) conducted a workshop on Cayman Brac for employees in the cosmetology industry. This includes all hairdressers, barbers, and other cosmetologists... Most cosmetologists and barbers use low lever grade disinfectants which may not kill all the micro-organisms. To be really safe, it is suggested that customers bring their own instruments. | July 21, 2008 HBV and HCV infection in Japanese dental care workers www.newsrx.com- Current study results from the report, 'HBV and HCV infection in Japanese dental care workers,' have been published. "Protective measures against occupational exposure to the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) must be taken in order to prevent infection in dental care workers. To determine the best way to protect these workers, our study examined viral hepatitis infection in dental care workers in regions with a high prevalence of HCV infections in Japan," scientists in Kurume, Japan report. |
| Jul-20 2008 CDC, Premier Healthcare Alliance Work to Eliminate Occupational Needlestick Injuries CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 385,000 needlestick and other sharps-related injuries are sustained annually by hospital-based healthcare personnel..."For more than three decades, the CDC has been involved in activities related to sharps injury prevention, including analysis of injuries, surveillance and data reporting, safety device analysis, prevention research, and education and training," said Dr. Denise Cardo, director of the CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. | |
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7/19/2008 Oklahomans join
lawsuit against biomedical firm By The Associated
Press OKLAHOMA CITY -- At least a dozen Oklahomans have
joined a lawsuit against a New Jersey biomedical company
they allege
sold tissue from dead bodies without permission or
proper medical screening.
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July 17, 2008 The New York Times- Problems Persist With Red Cross Blood Services For 15 years, the American Red Cross has been under a federal court order to improve the way it collects and processes blood. Yet, despite $21 million in fines since 2003 and repeated promises to follow procedures intended to ensure the safety of the nation’s blood supply, it continues to fall short....Various records of F.D.A. inspections... highlight poor follow-up, including falsified records. |
| Jul 14, 2008 Govt names 1,825 hospitals on tainted coagulant fears The Yomiuri Shimbun- The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry announced Tuesday the names and addresses of 1,825 medical institutions that might have administered blood coagulation factor VIII and IX products to patients that are not hemophiliacs... people becoming infected with the hepatitis C virus through the administration of tainted blood products... this time including heated blood products in its investigation. | July 03, 2008 News & Star News Number of teenagers being treated for hepatitis has quadrupled By Steph Johnson- The number of teenagers being sent out of county to be treated for Hepatitis B and C has more than quadrupled over the last year... Since 2005, there has been a 28 per cent increase in Hepatitis C diagnosis for adults |
| June 20, 2008 aidsmap.com Michael Carter- HIV and hepatitis coinfection in Africa: ,,,studies provide conflicting prevalence data... None of the hepatitis C cases observed in Africans were attributed to injecting drug use. Instead, the investigators suggested that “exposure to contaminated blood transfusions, medical equipment or needle-stick injuries in healthcare settings, including traditional healers could be responsible.” | June 19, 2008 World Science staff- Faked research data surprisingly common, survey suggests- Scientific misconduct, notably including falsification of data, may be far more common than suspected, according to the authors of a new survey of more than 2,000 scientists. |
| June 18, 2008 CDC Early Release- False-Positive Oral Fluid Rapid HIV Tests --- New York City, 2005--2008- The cause for the episodic increases in false-positive oral fluid tests has not yet been determined. NYC DOHMH has again suspended the use of oral fluid testing in STD clinics, and finger-stick whole-blood testing is the only rapid HIV test being used in this setting. These findings underscore the importance of confirming all reactive HIV tests, both from oral fluid and whole-blood specimens | June 13, 2008 Health risks of piercings - Piercings are three times more common in women- “One in four body piercings goes wrong”, reports The Independent today. The newspaper goes on to say that body piercings, which have become “an essential fashion accessory”, carry significant risks, according to the first study to examine complications arising from this body art. |
| Jun. 12, 2008 Retesting of blood samples finds risk of spreading HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis through transfusions and medical malpractice- After rescreening samples from 7500 donors, the results showed a clear and present danger that blood contaminated with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis may be entering into the countries' blood supply. The findings are reported in "Blood Services in Central Asian Health Systems: A Clear and Present Danger of Spreading HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases," ...in collaboration with US CDC and WHO-EURO... | Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (2008, June 30). Includes lists of EPA registered anti-microbial products to assist in choosing the appropriate decontaminant. |
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Jun. 7, 2008 Mortality Due to Hepatitis C in the U.S.: Has the Worst Passed? By Liz Highleyman ...Based on these findings, the researchers suggested that previous forecasts projecting that HCV mortality would continue to increase well into the second decade of the current century might be incorrect. |
Jun. 1, 2008 Hiroshima hospital admits reusing blood meters The Yomiuri Shimbun-...Needle-equipped blood meters were reused in taking blood samples from 1,434 people... "... Although the hospital changed needles after every use, the area around the needle was not changed and was reused after alcohol sterilization... As the hospital had reused the instruments for a long time before the notification," |
| May 29, 2008 ScienceDaily- Diabetes Doubles Liver Cancer Risk For Patients With Advanced Hepatitis C- Patients who have chronic hepatitis C with advanced fibrosis have twice the risk of developing liver cancer if they also have diabetes. | May 27 2008- J Infect Dis. -Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)- Specific Immune Responses of Long-Term Injection Drug Users Frequently Exposed to HCV. Injection drug users (IDUs) who successfully clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) have a reduced risk of developing chronic reinfection, despite their continuing exposure to the virus. |
| 2008-05-23 Frequency distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in different geographical regions of Pakistan and their possible routes of transmission- Author: Muhammad Idrees and Sheikh Riazuddin Credits/Source: BMC Infectious Diseases 2008, 8:69... specific objective of this study was to find out the frequency of various HCV genotypes present in well-characterized Pakistani HCV isolates and their possible routes of contamination... More than 70% of the cases were acquired in hospitals through reuse of needles/syringes and major/minor surgery that is very common in this country. |
May 16, 2008 /
57(19);513-517 Acute Hepatitis C Virus Infections
Attributed to Unsafe Injection Practices at an Endoscopy Clinic --- Nevada, 2007 MMWR- CDC- Inappropriate reuse of syringes on individual persons and use of medication vials intended for single-person use on multiple persons was identified through direct observation of infection-control practices at clinic |
| 05/16/2008 CDC: Syringe reuse linked to hepatitis C outbreak By SCOTT SONNER Associated Press Writer RENO, Nev.—A hepatitis C outbreak was caused by workers improperly reusing syringes and medicine vials at a Las Vegas clinic, federal health officials said Friday...Since 1999, the CDC counts 14 hepatitis outbreaks in the U.S. linked to bad injection practices | 05/15/2008 Hepatitis cases prompt federal recommendations By BRENDAN RILEY Associated Press- They're among about 400 former patients of the center who tested positive. Officials have determined the other patients could have contracted the virus through other means, including intravenous drug use, blood transfusions, organ transplants or kidney dialysis, receiving blood clotting agents before 1987, or sexual contact with a person with hepatitis C. |
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May 15, 2008 New York
State HCV Patient safety bill would publicize doctors'
names Newsday.com BY RIDGELY OCHS Gov. David A. Paterson introduced ...give the state more authority in health investigations and, for the first time, make public names of doctors under scrutiny. The bill follows the case of Dr. Harvey Finkelstein...require every medical student to complete infection control training and show proof of it...how to prevent hepatitis C transmission, not just hepatitis B and HIV...Commissions a study on the viability of restricting the use of multiuse medicine vials and requiring the use of "disposable medical equipment" engineered for single use. |
May-13-2008 OAK BROOK, Ill. American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Contact: Anne Brownsey abrownsey@asge.org 630-570-5635 ...updated infection control guidelines... an endoscopy-related infection might occur ...measures to prevent such infection, including endoscope reprocessing, antibiotic prophylaxis, and protection of endoscopy personnel....The single best protection against patient-to-patient transmission...is stringent reprocessing of endoscopes after use, with careful adherence to the “Multi-Society Guidelines for Reprocessing Flexible Gastrointestinal Endoscopes” issued in 2003. ...personnel may facilitate transmission ... if they fail to carefully adhere to general infection control principles. ...appropriate aseptic techniques and safe injection practices ... reuse of syringes and the use of contaminated multiple dose drug vials have been linked .... Such practices should be avoided, and single use drug vials are recommended. |
| Possible reuse of insulin pen prompts medical scare BY RIDGELY OCHS | ridgely.ochs@newsday.com Nassau University Medical Center, concerned about possible reuse of insulin pens in more than one patient, said Wednesday it will be sending letters to up to 185 diabetes patients, urging them to be tested for hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV. The East Meadow hospital... | |
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May. 02, 2008 Las Vegas
Review-Journal- Quality consultants, clinic, drugmaker
sued in outbreak
"They gave them the Good Housekeeping seal of approval,
and off they went," said lawyer Will Kemp, who
represents Brunson... filed lawsuits Thursday against
the.. company that inspected the clinic and the makers
of the anesthesia used during medical procedures. Nevada Health District has
connected to unsafe
injection practices at the Endoscopy Center of
Southern Nevada, |
April 29, 2008 Doctor tied to hepatitis cases settles lawsuit BY MICHAEL AMON Michael.amon@newsday.com ...Dr. Harvey Finkelstein, the Dix Hills physician ...put thousands of patients at risk by reusing syringes... infected in Finkelstein's office. ...used a syringe multiple times...contaminating multidose medicine vials... the source of injections...More |
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Apr 24, 2008
Officials say 10,000 more
at risk in hepatitis outbreak The Associated Press ...another 10,000 people...exposed to hepatitis C at an outpatient medical clinic in Las Vegas... brings to 50,000 ..might have been infected .. through the Endoscopy Center of Nevada. |
4-23-08 Contaminated blood inquiry launched |
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Apr 23, 2008
High Hep C infection
among immigrants in New York...
Intramuscular injections, and blood transfusions
were the only variables that were significantly
associated with Hepatitis C virus infection..."These
infections resulted from inadequately sterilized medical
equipment and blood transfusions." |
Apr 8, 2008 Sun editorial: Local action not enough Congress should find out why clinics have ignored warnings about syringe reuse... transmission of the disease through unsafe injection practices was well-known..“It is entirely unacceptable and extremely dangerous to reuse ... syringes on multiple patients,” a medical doctor wrote in the newsletter. |
| Apr 4 2008 Source: Tallahassee.com [edited] The Florida Department of Health is waiting on the results of lab tests to determine what caused an outbreak ...could be the use of a single dose medication vial for multiple patients. | Apr-2-2008 Vegas Health Agency Reports Big Rise in Positive Hepatitis Tests (AP) - Health officials are reporting a threefold increase in positive tests ...typically fields 20 to 40 positive hepatitis C reports a day, but has been getting up to 150, officials said |
| April 07, 2008 Medical News:
ESRD NKF: HCV Outbreaks at Dialysis Units Linked to Outmoded Infection Control
By Charles Bankhead, MedPage Today Reviewed by Zalman
S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "we're finding that outbreaks continue to occur despite the recommendations for enhanced infection control." |
March 28, 2008 lansing.injuryboard.com Dr. Robert Stokes Used Unsanitary Procedures And Exposed Patients To Infection...a Grand Rapids dermatologist... also reused medical equipment, such as scalpels, syringes, and sutures, among others, without properly sanitizing the equipment... used a sanitizing solution to try and clean the medical equipment, this only decreased, but did not eliminate, the chance of disease transmission. Initially, nearly 5,000...were notified...increased to over 13,000. Of those 13,000, at least 12 have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. |
| March 26, 2008- Blood tests suggested in hepatitis scare NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Virginia hospital has asked more than 300 former patients to come in for blood tests because a nurse suspected of infecting patients with hepatitis in Texas worked there last year. | |
