Infection Control News: Dec 10-14, 2018

Northern advocates say new HIV guidelines a win. News.

Vancouver – A new science and data centre at Simon Fraser University (SFU) will help researchers use technology to help stop the spread of resistant diseases and much more. News.

South Sudan to begin Ebola vaccinations as ‘very high risk’. News.

Food Recall Report. Reason for Recall:  Salmonella. Product: Canada Herb brand culantro (Ngò Gai). Recalling Firm: Canada Herb. Distribution: Ontario. Food recall report.

Technology helping bring immunization records up to date. News.

Skunk captured in Ayr tested + for rabies. 1 person is receiving treatment after handling another animal that interacted with the infected skunk. Oral vaccine will be dropped for wild animals to eat. Residents should not touch the green coloured pods. News.

Headed to Cuba? Bring repellent. Deadly dengue virus has returned. News.

Antimicrobial stewardship programs have been established in hospitals, but less  in LTCFs, a setting with unique challenges & available resources. Study suggest potential to reduce antimicrobial use in this challenging setting. Study.

Microbes that live at the gym are pumped up on antibiotic resistance. News.

USA: Record number of cases of ‘polio-like’ illness AFM confirmed. There have been 158 cases of the illness in 36 states so far among 311 suspected cases. News.

Study supports indicate that treatment for bacteremia with a 7-day course of antibiotics is non-inferior to a 14-day course. This is a great finding that could have important implications for antibiotic stewardship. Study.

Medical community says Lyme disease is a challenging one in terms of treatment and diagnosis.News. 

E. coli outbreak from romaine lettuce traced to at least 1 California farm. The PHAC reported 27 illnesses are under investigation in the outbreak as of Dec. 6. In US, 59 people in 15 states are sickened by the tainted lettuce. News.

Plan ahead this holiday season to avoid unnecessary trips to the ER. Our best advise: Get a flu shot & practice good hand hygiene to avoid getting sick over the holidays. News.

BCCDC urges people to get vaccinated as flu season set to worsen. News.