University of Alberta (Edmonton) Substance misuse and addiction is a complex health and social issue that affects as many as 21 per cent of Canadians. It transcends social, economic and geographic borders. And though there are many interventions and treatment strategies known to have positive results, few have been widely implemented across the country. That will change with the announcement … Read More
Study Finds Hospitals are Not Doing All They Can to Prevent C diff Infections
Nearly half of American hospitals aren’t taking key steps to prevent a kind of gut infection that kills nearly 30,000 people annually and sickens hundreds of thousands more — despite strong evidence that such steps work, according to a new study. While nearly all of the 398 hospitals in the study use a variety of measures to protect their patients … Read More
Virology powerhouse – University of Alberta
Michael Houghton “Back in the ’60s and ’70s, we thought we had pretty much conquered infectious disease,” wryly notes Michael Houghton, Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Virology at the U of A. But then came HIV and SARS, new pandemic influenza strains and an awakening to the damage wrought by hepatitis viruses. Any sense of complacency was shattered, and … Read More
Can Humans Get Norovirus From Their Dogs?
Human norovirus may infect our canine companions, according to research published online April 1 in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, a publication of the American Society for Microbiology. That raises the possibility of dog-to-human transmission, said first author Sarah Caddy, VetMB, PhD, MRCVS, a veterinarian and PhD student at the University of Cambridge, and Imperial College, London, UK. Norovirus is … Read More
Hoarding Disorder and the DSM V
Hoarding disorder is the name of a psychiatric condition that produces symptoms such as the compulsive urge to acquire unusually large amounts of possessions and an inability to voluntarily get rid of those possessions, even when they have no practical usefulness or monetary value. Until recently, mental health guidelines in the United States viewed hoarding as a specific form of … Read More
Impact of Electronic Hand Hygiene Monitoring Systems: A Review of Case Studies
It is universally acknowledged that adequate hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent transmission of infections. There have been many strategies developed to help improve hand hygiene compliance. The most effective of such strategies include monitoring hand hygiene behaviors and implementing performance-based interventions. This Whitepaper reviews both the clinical and financial impact to the facility by: … Read More
Misconceptions About Vaccinations
With all the information available on vaccines, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Here’s the truth behind some of the most common misconceptions about vaccines. Do vaccines cause autism? No. Scientists have studied this for years, in large groups of children, and have found no evidence that there is any link between vaccines and autism. There is … Read More
How do you Prevent #measles?
It’s simple: Get vaccinated. You get two doses of the MMR vaccine. Children usually get the first dose when they are 12 months old, and a second before kindergarten. On its web site, the CDC calls the vaccine “very effective” and states that “one dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses about 97% effective.” Before the … Read More
What are the Symptoms of Measles?
What are the first symptoms, and how quickly do they usually show up? People usually get a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes first. Within a few days, a red rash starts on the face and can spread to the rest of the body. If you notice those signs, tell your doctor right away. What are the possible complications? … Read More
What is Measles?
Measles is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. It can have life-threatening complications. The CDC calls it the “most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses.” It spreads easily, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it. The CDC recommends that all children, and some adults, get the MMR vaccine. The U.S. declared measles eliminated from the nation in 2000, … Read More