WHO commemorates the 40th anniversary of Smallpox eradication
On 9 December 1979, the end of smallpox was confirmed to have been eradicated. In Geneva on 13th December this year, the WHO commemorated the event. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Today, smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated, a testimony to what we can achieve when all nations work together. “When it comes to epidemic disease, we ...
>>Latest IPCNC newsletter now available for members
The December issue of The Infection Controlla is now available. Great issue with feedback from two IPC conferences and working parties including an update from our standards representatives. Read it here: https://www.infectioncontrol.co.nz/members/infection-controlla/
CDC updates guidance for tuberculosis screening, testing, and treatment of healthcare workers
The CDC has published 'Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019' which provides updated guidance for occupational health programmes in healthcare facilities.
The report published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) may be a useful reference for New Zealand IPC professionals.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6819a3.htm?s_cid=mm6819a3_w
CDC publishes Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings
The CDC has recently published their 'Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Measles in Healthcare Settings'. While some of the Occupational Health reccomendations are slightly different from what is practised in NZ, this is a useful resource.
https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/measles/index.html
WHO declares DR Congo Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Following a meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee for EVD in the DRC, the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17th July 2019.
More details from the WHO press release
UK Public Health calls for tatooists and body piercers to undertake IPC training
The risk of inflammation or infection or other adverse effect from a tattoo, piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis is around 18% according to a survey undertaken by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK.
RSPH has published its latest report, Skins and Needles, which takes a look at health risks associated with the increasing number of people in the UK ...
>>Genetically engineered phages used to treat MRO infection
Mycobacterium abscessus (CDC)
A group of doctors and scientists have used genetically engineered phages to successfully treat infections caused by an antibiotic-resistant strain of Mycobacterium abscessus in a young cystic fibrosis patient who had received a double lung transplant. The case was reported in Nature Medicine on 8th May.
You can read more via this LINK
Notes from TGA Faecal Microbiota Transplant stakeholder forum
IPC practitioners may be interested in the discussion notes arising from a TGA hosted Faecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) forum held last October in Melbourne.
At the forum, invited speakers described the collection, manufacture and supply of material used in FMT in Australia, and provided views on the future regulation of these products.
Individual patients, gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists and Commonwealth and State ...
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