Hcs update

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July, 2006

HOT TOPICS

ACIP Publishes Vaccination Recommendations for 2006 Flu Season
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) has issued its 2006 influenza vaccination recommendations, including updated recommendations
for when and how often some children should be vaccinated, and guidance for healthcare organizations
and others planning organized vaccination campaigns. The guidance for healthcare organizations covers
topics such as increasing vaccination rates, and contingency plans for vaccine timing and prioritization
should the vaccine supply be delayed or reduced. ACIP also reiterated its previous recommendations
that all healthcare workers should be offered free, on-site vaccination and that workers should be
educated about the importance of vaccination for themselves and their families. The recommendations
are available from the
CDC's 60th Anniversary
July marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), which was founded as the Communicable Disease Center on July 1, 1946, in Atlanta, Georgia.
To commemorate this anniversary, theis presenting a
series of commentaries by past directors and the current director of CDC. The directors were invited to
give their personal perspectives on the key public health achievements and challenges that occurred
during their tenures.
First One-Pill, Once-a-Day Treatment for HIV/AIDS Approved
On Wednesday, July 12, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Atripla tablets, a fixed-dose combination of three widely-used antiretroviral drugs (Sustiva, Emtriva, and Viread). The approval of Atripla simplifies the treatment regimen for HIV-1 infected adults and can help patients adhere to treatment, resulting in long-term effective control of HIV-1. It will also afford a more accessible treatment option to patients in developing countries. See thefor more information.
Publication of Surgeon General’s Report
The Surgeon General's report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke,
was released on June 27, 2006. The report is an evaluation and synthesis of evidence regarding the
health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. Findings state that even brief secondhand smoke
exposure can cause immediate harm. This finding is of major public health concern because nearly half
of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. The report is an update
of The Health Consequences of Involuntary Smoking, published in 1986. See thefor more information.


GUIDE TO THE GUIDELINES
Name Changes
The Registered Nurses Association of British Columbia is now the College of Registered Nurses of
British Columbia.
New Content/Updates
Thehas recently published the following policy statements:
 Distinguishing sudden infant death syndrome from child abuse fatalities (update)  Identifying infants and young children with developmental disorders in the medical home: An algorithm for developmental surveillance and screening  Sexuality of children and adolescents with developmental disabilities
Thehas recently published:
Committee Opinions
 Analgesia and cesarean delivery rates (update)  Ethical ways for physicians to market a practice  Mode of term singleton breech delivery (update)  Noncontraceptive uses of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system  Screening for Fragile X syndrome (update)  Tamoxifen and uterine cancer (update)
Practice Bulletins
 Antibiotic prophylaxis for gynecologic procedures  Use of hormonal contraception in women with coexisting medical conditions (update) (practice Thehas released a new position statement on the use of 0.9% sodium chloride injection to maintain patency of peripheral indwelling intermittent infusion devices. Thehas recently published the following oncology-related guidelines:  Bortezomib in multiple myeloma and lymphoma  Dose-intensive chemotherapy with growth factor or autologous bone marrow/stem cell transplant support in the first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic adult soft tissue sarcoma  Ifosfamide-based combination chemotherapy in advanced soft tissue sarcoma  Role of trastuzumab in adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy in women with HER2/neu-  Single-agent interleukin-2 for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma Thehas published the following technology assessment reports:  Cognitive behavioural therapy in addition to antispasmodic therapy for irritable bowel syndrome in primary care: A randomized controlled trial  Diagnostic tests and algorithms used in the investigation of haematuria: Systematic reviews and  Randomised controlled trials of conventional antipsychotic versus new atypical drugs, and new atypical drugs versus clozapine, in people with schizophrenia responding poorly to, or intolerant of, current drug treatment  Systematic review of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of enzyme replacement therapies for Fabry’s disease and mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 The Singapore Ministry of Health has updated theirguidelines. Thehas recently published: Substance abuse: Administrative issues in outpatient treatment.
Windows on Medical Technology™ reports are short-form evidence reports of drugs, devices, and
procedures. ECRI designed these reports to provide a rapid and accurate overview of a specific
application for a specific medical technology. To order a Windows report, please contact Don Cummins
at
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for the Diagnosis and Axillary Lymph Node Staging of
Primary Breast Cancer (June 2006)
This report examines the use of PET for the initial diagnosis and axillary lymph node staging in breast
cancer. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning has been proposed as a noninvasive test for
diagnosis and staging of breast cancer. In PET scanning, a small amount of a radioactive glucose analog
is injected into the bloodstream, and a gamma camera, dedicated breast scanner, or whole-body
scanner is used to generate images that highlight areas of high tracer uptake. Features of this report
include costs and charges, manufacturer listing, and patient safety information.
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