The Flu Is Already Widespread in 36 States

Flu season has kicked off in full force, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting Friday that influenza is already widespread in 26 states across the U.S. The peak of the flu season typically comes... read more

The Flu Is Already Widespread in 36 States

Doctor & Scientist Running for Congress

I worked for CDC: the 7 "banned words" are just the beginning... When I heard the recent news - that CDC experts have been banned or discouraged by the Trump administration from using key words, including "evidence-based"... read more

Doctor & Scientist Running for Congress

CDC Urges Early Recognition, Prompt Treatment of Sepsis

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today launched Get Ahead of Sepsis, an educational initiative to protect Americans from the devastating effects of sepsis. This initiative emphasizes the importance of early... read more

CDC Urges Early Recognition, Prompt Treatment of Sepsis

Prescribed Morphine Milligram Equivalents of Opioids by County

Despite reductions in opioid prescribing in some parts of the USA, the amount of opioids prescribed remains high relative to 1999 levels and varies substantially at the county-level. Given associations between opioid prescribing,... read more

Prescribed Morphine Milligram Equivalents of Opioids by County

Better Detection & Response to Outbreaks with Enhanced Data

Established in 2016, CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network (AR Lab Network) supports nationwide lab capacity to rapidly detect antibiotic resistance in healthcare, food, and the community, and inform local responses... read more

Better Detection & Response to Outbreaks with Enhanced Data

Contact Precautions for Endemic MRSA and VRE

Physical barriers have been used to prevent infectious diseases dating back to leather gloves and coats used during the Black Death in medieval Europe. In the United States, isolation of persons with infections coincided... read more

Contact Precautions for Endemic MRSA and VRE

Update: Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements

This document provides guidance on practical strategies to implement antibiotic stewardship programs in small and critical access hospitals. It was developed as a collaboration between The Centers for Disease Control and... read more

Update: Implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Core Elements

The vaccine study you will never see

I’ve seen a lot of social media posts or comment threads that say we don’t have any studies to prove that the CDC's vaccine schedule is safe or effective. I think they mean that we haven’t done the best study. As... read more

The vaccine study you will never see

CDC and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection

This guideline is intended to provide new and updated evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of SSI and should be incorporated into comprehensive surgical quality improvement programs to improve patient safety.... read more

CDC and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection

Glut of Anesthesia Guidelines a Disservice, Except for Lawyers

Anesthesia practice guidelines are out of control, too many to adopt, too anecdotal to accept and too political to take seriously! Clinicians are already ignoring and pushing back on guidelines. A study presented at the recent... read more

Glut of Anesthesia Guidelines a Disservice, Except for Lawyers

Four ways to reduce dangerous medical errors at your hospital

It's human nature, everyone makes mistakes. But the consequences of those mistakes can range wildly not only according to their severity, but also depending on who commits them. When a marketer makes a typo on a press release,... read more

Four ways to reduce dangerous medical errors at your hospital

Waging War Against CABSIs

Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSIs) are on the decline, according to the 2016 National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections Progress Report. The report, published by the CDC, showed that between 2008... read more

Waging War Against CABSIs

Think Sepsis and Act Fast

New attention to sepsis including revised definitions, updated guidelines, and new CMS reporting requirements aims to save lives through prevention and prompt and effective management of infections. CDC released a new Vital... read more

Think Sepsis and Act Fast

Adherence to guidelines reduces catheter-associated UTIs

Adherence to CDC guidelines for the placement, maintenance and removal of catheters and American College of Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Disease Society of America guidelines for evaluating fever in a critically... read more

Adherence to guidelines reduces catheter-associated UTIs

Acute Flaccid Myelitis Outbreak in Washington

There has been a recent spike of cases reported in five counties in Washington State, in which eight children have been hospitalized for Acute Flaccid Myelitis.... read more

Acute Flaccid Myelitis Outbreak in Washington

What a hospital bed could teach about patient safety

Most hospitalized patients spend the vast majority of their time in a hospital bed. Any body fluids such as blood, feces, urine, stomach contents, etc. that are secreted come in direct contact with that hospital bed.... read more

What a hospital bed could teach about patient safety

Pneumonia Rates Linked to Hospital Ventilators Have Not Dropped, Says Study

Contrary to data published by the CDC, a study led by a UConn Health researcher concluded that ventilator-associated pneumonia is still a significant risk to patients.... read more

Pneumonia Rates Linked to Hospital Ventilators Have Not Dropped, Says Study

CDC estimates preventable deaths from 5 leading causes

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data naming the five leading causes of death among Americans under age 80 for 2014.... read more

CDC estimates preventable deaths from 5 leading causes

New statin guidelines issued for primary CVD prevention

The United States Preventive Services Task Force have issued new recommendations for the use of statins in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.... read more

New statin guidelines issued for primary CVD prevention

Arkansas mumps outbreak continues to grow, cases near 700

Cases of mumps continue to mount in the ongoing mumps outbreak in northwest Arkansas. The count includes both laboratory confirmed cases and cases currently under investigation. The outbreak has affected more than 30 schools... read more

Arkansas mumps outbreak continues to grow, cases near 700