Get Smart About Antibiotics With the cold and flu season underway, now is a good time to review appropriate antibiotic use. The California Medical Association (CMA) Foundation's Alliance Working for Antibiotic Resistance Education (AWARE) project has teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and others to slow the rise of antibiotic resistance by: Promoting adherence to prescribing guidelines among providers, Decreasing demand for antibiotics for viral upper respiratory infections among healthy adults and parents of young children, and Increasing adherence to prescribed ... November 19, 2013 Public Health Antibiotics 0 0 Comment Read More »
Pertussis Cases Increasing in San Diego County October 25, 2013 The San Diego County health department has confirmed 202 local cases of pertussis so far in 2013, compared to 127 cases reported at this time last year. One local high school site has had thirteen reported cases: all were students 14–16 years old up-to-date on vaccinations with symptom onset dates between August 14 and September 27. When cases occur in schools or daycares, staff and families are routinely notified and urged to seek care promptly for early symptoms or for contact prophylaxis. Clinicians who evaluate patients with ... October 28, 2013 Public Health Pertussis, Public Health, Vaccinations, Whooping Cough 0 0 Comment Read More »
Acute Hepatitis and Liver Failure Following the Use of a Dietary Supplement If any physician has an acute liver failure case that might be associated with any nutritional supplement, he or she should notify the San Diego County Epidemiology Branch at (619) 692-8499 or by using a confidential morbidity report form. Many physicians do not routinely ask about nutritional supplement use, but surveys have shown that the majority of patients use a supplement of some type on at least a weekly basis. The supplement specifically identified in this alert, OxiELITE Pro, is more likely to be used by young adults, athletes, ... October 21, 2013 Public Health Dietary Supplements, Hepatitis, Liver Failure 0 0 Comment Read More »
San Diego County Influenza Watch: March 5, 2014 Click Below to Access the County of San Diego's Influenza Watch Updates: March 5, 2014 February 26, 2014 February 19, 2014 February 12, 2014 February 5, 2014 January 29, 2014 January 23, 2014, Update From CAHAN January 23, 2014 January 15, 2014 January 8, 2014 January 3, 2014, Severe Influenza Update From the CDPH ... October 16, 2013 Influenza, Public Health Influenza 0 0 Comment Read More »
San Diego Cases Identified in Multistate, Multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg Outbreak October 11, 2013 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and other state and local health departments are investigating an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg infections. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback investigations have identified consumption of Foster Farms brand chicken as the likely outbreak source. USDA issued a public health alert warning consumers of these illnesses and their association with three Foster Farm facilities in California. As of October 7, 2013, a total of 278 cases with 7 outbreak ... October 11, 2013 Public Health Public Health 0 0 Comment Read More »
CDC Releases Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza With Vaccines, 2013-2014 September 30, 2013 The CDC recently released its annual publication of Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza With Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2013–2014. This CAHAN publication communicates important information that will be useful to manage this year’s influenza season. Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications. Healthcare providers should begin offering vaccination soon after vaccine becomes available and, if possible, by early October. Vaccination efforts should continue throughout the season, as the duration ... September 30, 2013 Public Health Influenza 0 0 Comment Read More »
Continuing Nationwide Shortage of Tuberculin Skin Testing Antigen September 17, 2013 This CAHAN updates the August 28, 2013, alert on the nationwide tuberculin skin testing (TST) antigen shortage and notifies local providers regarding changes in routine tuberculosis (TB) screening at County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Public Health Centers (PHCs). The ongoing national shortage in TST antigens has caused reduced supplies throughout the community. In order to assure resources are available for groups at increased risk for TB, HHSA PHCs will no longer provide routine TB testing for individuals with health insurance. Routine testing includes ... September 18, 2013 Public Health TB 0 0 Comment Read More »
Continuing Nationwide Shortage of Tuberculin Skin Testing (TST) Antigen August 28, 2013 This CAHAN is intended to assist local providers in screening for tuberculosis (TB) during the ongoing shortage of TST antigen products licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has informed health departments that TUBERSOL® (Sanofi Pasteur Limited) will not be produced at normal levels until “sometime in the fall, perhaps October” (1). The alternative TST antigen product, APLISOL® (JHP Pharmaceuticals), is only available in extremely restricted quantity and remains on allocation for all providers. Based on these shortages, the ... September 5, 2013 Public Health TB 0 0 Comment Read More »
Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) in San Diego County in 2013 Date: August 9, 2013 Thirteen (13) San Diego County residents have been diagnosed with confirmed or probable Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) during the first seven months of this year. Nine confirmed cases were culture-positive for Neisseria meningitidis. Four probable cases had clinical disease and positive PCR testing for N. meningitidis after no culture growth. Since 2003, the number of confirmed or probable IMD cases reported annually among San Diego County residents ranged from 4 to 19, with an average of 12. Recent IMD cases emphasize the need for both clinicians and laboratories to report suspect ... August 9, 2013 Public Health Invasive Meningococcal Disease 0 0 Comment Read More »
CMA White Paper on Opioid Prescribing The California Medical Association (CMA) has released a white paper titled "Opioid Analgesics in California: Relieving Pain, Preventing Misuse, Finding Balance," a report on the use of opioid medications. California, along with the nation, is faced with a serious healthcare dilemma about opioid use and abuse. The white paper discusses how to use opioid medications to relieve pain safely and effectively, while simultaneously reducing the risk of prescription medication misuse, addiction, and overdose. “Physician, patients, law enforcement, and the general public need accurate information about appropriate opioid use,” said Paul R. ... July 5, 2013 Prescription Drug Abuse, Public Health Opioids, Prescription Drug Abuse 0 0 Comment Read More »