Bat-associated Rabies Virus in Skunks

Rabies was undetected in terrestrial wildlife of northern Arizona until 2001, when rabies was diagnosed in 19 rabid skunks in Flagstaff. Laboratory analyses showed causative rabies viruses associated with bats, which indicated cross-species transmission of unprecedented magnitude. Public health infrastructure must be maintained to address emerging zoonotic diseases

MRSA model of learning and adaptation: a qualitative study among the general public

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>More people in the US now die from Methicillin Resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) infections than from HIV/AIDS. Often acquired in healthcare facilities or during healthcare procedures, the extremely high incidence of MRSA infections and the dangerously low levels of literacy regarding antibiotic resistance in the general public are on a collision course. Traditional medical approaches to infection control and the conventional attitude healthcare practitioners adopt toward public education are no longer adequate to avoid this collision. This study helps us understand how people acquire and process new information and then adapt behaviours based on learning.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using constructivist theory, semi-structured face-to-face and phone interviews were conducted to gather pertinent data. This allowed participants to tell their stories so their experiences could deepen our understanding of this crucial health issue. Interview transcripts were analysed using grounded theory and sensitizing concepts.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our findings were classified into two main categories, each of which in turn included three subthemes. First, in the category of <it>Learning</it>, we identified how individuals used their <it>Experiences with MRSA</it>, to answer the questions: <it>What was learned? </it>and, <it>How did learning occur? </it>The second category, <it>Adaptation </it>gave us insights into <it>Self-reliance, Reliance on others</it>, and <it>Reflections on the MRSA journey</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study underscores the critical importance of educational programs for patients, and improved continuing education for healthcare providers. Five specific results of this study can reduce the vacuum that currently exists between the knowledge and information available to healthcare professionals, and how that information is conveyed to the public. These points include: 1) a common model of MRSA learning and adaptation; 2) the self-directed nature of adult learning; 3) the focus on general MRSA information, care and prevention, and antibiotic resistance; 4) the interconnected nature of adaptation; and, 5) the need for a consistent step by step plan to deal with MRSA provided at the time of diagnosis.</p

Genomic Relationships, Novel Loci, and Pleiotropic Mechanisms across Eight Psychiatric Disorders

Genetic influences on psychiatric disorders transcend diagnostic boundaries, suggesting substantial pleiotropy of contributing loci. However, the nature and mechanisms of these pleiotropic effects remain unclear. We performed analyses of 232,964 cases and 494,162 controls from genome-wide studies of anorexia nervosa, attention-deficit/hyper-activity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and Tourette syndrome. Genetic correlation analyses revealed a meaningful structure within the eight disorders, identifying three groups of inter-related disorders. Meta-analysis across these eight disorders detected 109 loci associated with at least two psychiatric disorders, including 23 loci with pleiotropic effects on four or more disorders and 11 loci with antagonistic effects on multiple disorders. The pleiotropic loci are located within genes that show heightened expression in the brain throughout the lifespan, beginning prenatally in the second trimester, and play prominent roles in neurodevelopmental processes. These findings have important implications for psychiatric nosology, drug development, and risk prediction.Peer reviewe

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI): The Perfect Storm has Arrived!

On any given day approximately 1 of every 25 inpatients in U.S. acute care hospitals has at least one healthcare–associated infection (HAI), adding up to about 722,000 infections in 2011. Pneumonia and surgical-site infection are the most common infection types, and Clostridium difficile is the most common pathogen

The Perfect Storm: Emerging Trends and Pathogens in Healthcare

In 1999, the article To Err is Human brought healthcare-associated infections (HAI) to the nation’s attention. However, the risk posed by healthcare facilities to those who went there for healing had not developed overnight. Decades of changing demography, microbial evolution, and –ironically-- healthcare advancements had resulted in this perfect storm. Since the change in paradigm in healthcare that nosocomial or healthcare-associated infections are a natural consequence of treatment to a practice of surveillance and prevention, hospital acquired infections are no longer considered consequences of inpatient treatment. Prevention of healthcare-associated infections includes protecting patients, healthcare workers, visitors, volunteers and health science students. This paper aims to describe the contributory roles of affected populations with their attendant, diverse healthcare sites and healthcare workers, and emerging pathogens

The Changing Role of the Healthcare Environment

The role of the healthcare environment and its contribution to acquisition and transfer of microorganisms that cause infection and illness in both patients and healthcare workers is not by any means straightforward. Considerations include potential contamination of hard surfaces like desks, sinks, beds, light switches, carts, walls, and floors, as well as porous surfaces like wheelchairs, bedding, linen, curtains, and upholstery. Historically the focus on managing the role of environmental variables was considered less critical because we knew less about the impact those surfaces had in infection prevention

Bat Rabies, Texas, 1996–2000

Bats submitted to the Texas Department of Health (1996–2000) were speciated and tested for rabies virus antigen by direct immunofluorescence microscopy. Antigenic analysis of rabies virus–positive specimens was performed with monoclonal antibodies against the nucleoprotein of the virus; atypical or unexpected results were confirmed by genetic analysis of nucleoprotein sequence

The Legal Landscape: HAI Public Reporting in the United States

Since early 2000, there has been a “growing interest in the use of law as a tool to address” healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the U.S.1 All 50 states and two territories have HAI programs established within their public health agencies.2 Likewise, the majority of states have HAI public reporting laws.3-4 HAI data is being reported from hospitals in all 50 states, either voluntarily or under state or federal legal reporting mandates.5 Additionally, while the current national focus is on reporting HAIs in the patient population, requirements for reporting infections and illness in the healthcare worker population also exists. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the federal and state-level legal environment applicable to HAI prevention in the context of the overall response to HAIs