Emerging Respiratory Virus Update
From the BC Centre for Disease Control, February 27, 2015: There are a number of recent trends in the field of emerging respiratory viruses (ERV), including: 1. Upswing in MERS-CoV reports from the Middle East, primarily Saudi Arabia, since December 2014. a. In the context of the dramatic surge in MERS-CoV that occurred during the spring 2014, with amplification in the nosocomial setting, close monitoring through the coming weeks is warranted. b. See the...
Antibiotic discovery
The first new antibiotic to be discovered in nearly 30 years has been called a ‘game changer’ in the fight against the growing resistance to drugs. You can read about this discovery in today's news, and read the article abstract on Nature.com. ...
PHAC Advice on Infection Prevention and Control Measures for Ebola Virus Disease in Healthcare Settings
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has published a new document to provide background and advice on what the minimum level of infection control measures should be based on a review of available scientific evidence. You can read the full document on the PHAC website. PHSA's Ebola resources are all available on the POD. ...
Flu vaccination
There were several articles in the media this week about this year's flu vaccine not being as effective. However, according to Danuta Skowronski of BC Centre for Disease Control, there is still cross-protection even when there isn't a perfect match. Per BC's provincial influenza policy, health-care workers must still either get their flu vaccination or wear a mask for the entirety of flu season. Beginning Monday, December 1, 2014 you will need to...
Emerging respiratory-borne viruses update from BCCDC
Below is an update from BCCDC on emerging respiratory-borne viruses (ERV), including details related to: Increase in MERS-CoV cases in September and October 2014 primarily in Saudi Arabia and linked to camel contact. Subsequent amplification through human-to-human spread within the nosocomial setting is reminiscent of SARS. Also in October, a travel-related MERS-CoV case has been reported for the first time in Turkey. Several Hajj-associated suspect cases are under investigation elsewhere but...
Ebola information for health professionals
Current information for health professionals on Ebola virus disease (EVD) can be found on the BCCDC website, which includes a link to the Ebola Clinical Care Guidelines developed by the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada, Canadian Critical Care Society. PICNet is currently working with a provincial committee on provincial recommendations for Personal Protective Equipment; until these recommendations are released, please follow your facility's...
Mishap Mansion and Canadian Patient Safety Week
What Patient Safety Mishaps Will You Spot in Mishap Mansion? BC’s health authorities and the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council (BCPSQC) are using Canadian Patient Safety Week (Oct 27-31) and Halloween as opportunities to talk about a scary subject: patient safety mishaps. You’re invited to visit the Mishap Mansion. Once there, you can enter care rooms that are full of patient safety mishaps. Some are intentionally over-the-top (like giant, plastic rats)....