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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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The possibility of a bird flu pandemic has health officials worldwide in a high state of alert.
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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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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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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 new mindset of zero infection rates generally is considered more of a goal than a practical reality, an unattainable threshold meant to shake the complacency and comfort of some longstanding benchmark range. On the contrary, some infection control professionals are taking it literally. For certain infections on certain units, target zero is being obtained.
