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The possibility of a bird flu pandemic has health officials worldwide in a high state of alert.
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After the voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx from the market in September 2004 following reports of increased cardiovascular events associated with the drug, there was a call from some quarters for a similar action for all selective COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs). This article reviews the current clinical knowledge regarding the coxibs and their cardiovascular effects. Recommendations for prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs in common clinical situations are provided.
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Potentially fatal bacterial infections following platelet transfusions are flying below the infection control radar. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently drew attention to the problem by reporting two fatal infections following transfusions and noting that infectious disease physicians have a surprising lack of awareness about the problem.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recently released a template document for officials seeking to establish infection rate disclosure laws.
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A leading health care quality group is moving to set national standards for infection rate disclosure laws that essentially would codify recently released guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Hospital Infection Control has learned.
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Is your state next? Laws requiring disclosure of individual hospital infection rates are sweeping the nation. Four states Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, and Missouri have passed infection rate disclosure laws, and 20 others have introduced bills.
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No evidence was found of nosocomial transmission of H5N1 avian influenza among 83 health care workers with exposure to case patients in Vietnam, researchers reported.
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It is critical that clinicians are aware of the problem of bacterial contamination of blood components, particularly platelets, and consider the possibility of bacterial contamination when investigating transfusion reactions, the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) is urging.