BC reduces antibiotic use: BCCDC article in BCMJ
The BC Centre for Disease Control issued the following news release on November 15, 2016: BC reduces antibiotic use, but still more to be done The rate of antibiotic prescribing in British Columbia fell 15 per cent between 2005 and 2014, according to a new analysis conducted by the BC Centre for Disease Control. “We’re seeing some good progress when it comes to reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescription in the community, which not only saves the...
World Antibiotic Awareness Week
Nov 14-20, 2016 Below are some resources for World Antibiotic Awareness Week: World Health Organization materials Government of Canada resources Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada (AMMI) Antibioticwise.ca website Do Bugs Need Drugs? website Centers for Disease Control resources There are also two antibiotic-related webinars taking place this week: NPSF webcast: Taking action to combat antibiotic resistance and improve antibiotic use - Nov 14 PHAC webinar: Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Canada - Highlights from the CARSS Report (2016)...
Infections, not antibiotics, may be tied to childhood obesity
From The New York Times: Is the use of antibiotics in infancy tied to childhood obesity? Some studies suggest so, but a new analysis suggests the link may be with infections rather than antibiotics. Using records of a large health maintenance organization, researchers tracked 260,556 infants born from January 1997 through the end of March 2013. The database included details on antibiotic use, diagnosis, and height and weight from birth through age...
Explanatory article on recent reporting on ‘serial’ flu shots causing higher flu risk
On November 5th, CTV ran a story about new research showing that 'serial' flu shots may lead to reduced immunity. Although the article and video both state that more research is needed, some social media posts (often due to their brevity) implied that the findings were more conclusive. If you receive questions from patients or staff, here is a good article that further explains the findings (and lack of conclusive evidence). From the...
Eight cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in Washington state
From Global News: Eight of nine children hospitalized in Washington state for a polio-like illness have a rare syndrome that causes varying degrees of limb weakness, state health officials confirmed on Friday. The eight cases from five counties in the state were determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be acute flaccid myelitis, also known as AFM, which affects the nervous system and specifically the spinal cord. State officials said...
Lab testing confirms new Lyme-related bacteria discovered in three BC ticks
News Release BC Centre for Disease Control November 7, 2016 For Immediate Release Vancouver – The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirm three ticks collected in British Columbia since June have tested positive for a new species of bacteria closely related to Borrelia mayonii (B. mayonii). “This is a rare discovery which highlights that our tick surveillance program is working at both a local...
Ebola virus mutation made the epidemic more deadly
The Ebola epidemic that tore through West Africa in 2014 claimed 11,310 lives, far more than any previous outbreak. A combination of factors contributed to its savagery, among them a mobile population, crumbling public health systems, official neglect, and hazardous burial practices. But new research suggests another impetus: The virus may have evolved a new weapon against its human hosts. In studies published on Thursday in the journal Cell, two teams...