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Meningococcal disease is a sudden, severe illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The disease manifests most commonly as meningitis and/or meningococcemia, but may also cause pneumonia, arthritis or pericarditis. The symptoms include sudden high fever, chills, severe headache, stiff neck and back, nausea, vomiting, purpural rash, decreased level of consciousness, difficulty breathing and seizures. … Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet
Learn why public health is essential in American Public Health Association’s “What Is Public Health?” article. Read article
This article is excerpted from CDC’s 2015 STD Treatment Guidelines. The preferred drug for all stages of syphilis treatment is Penicillin G administered parenterally. Preparation, dosage, and length of treatment depend on the stage and clinical manifestations of the disease. Selection of the appropriate penicillin preparation is important. T. pallidum can reside in sequestered sites … Adult Syphilis Treatment Guidelines
Worried about the flu? Influenza is widespread and at epidemic levels. The best way to protect yourself and your family is still getting a flu vaccine. Frequent hand washing and avoiding others who are sick also helps. Flu vaccines can take up to two weeks to take effect. What if, despite your best efforts, you … Flu Patient Information
Always ask the 3 Questions, and consider testing: Were you born or have spent time in a high-endemic country for TB? Immunosuppression? (Current or planned) Previous close contact to a person with TB disease? Person traveling in TB endemic areas. Migrant workers. Person experiencing homelessness. Contact to a tuberculosis case. Foreign-born person from tuberculosis-endemic area. … Tuberculosis Testing
Requested Actions Test all pregnant women for syphilis at the first prenatal encounter. Repeat syphilis testing during the third trimester among women at risk for STD (e.g., recent history of bacterial STD, multiple partners, homelessness; methamphetamine, opioid, or cocaine use; exchanging sex for money, drugs, etc.; having a sex partner who is a man who … Health Advisory: Syphilis Increase and Prevention of Congenital Syphilis
Healthcare Worker Immunization Pre-exposure evaluation for healthcare personnel previously vaccinated with complete, ≥ three dose hepatitis B vaccine series who have not had post-vaccination serologic testing* Source: CDC—MMWR December 20, 2013. * Should be performed one to two months after the last dose of vaccine using a quantitative method that allows detection of the protective … Hepatitis B Immunization and Healthcare Workers
High-Priority Candidates for Latent Treatment Infection (LTBI) Treatment Positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) (>0.35 IU) Tuberculosis Skin Test (TST) ≥5 mm HIV-positive people. Recent contacts of person with infectious tuberculosis (TB). People with fibrotic changes on chest x-ray (CXR) suggestive of previous TB; or inadequate treatment. People with organ transplants or immunosuppression therapy. TST ≥10 mm … Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Guidelines
Standard Precaution When to Use Standard Precautions During all patient encounters—prevents the spread of bloodborne pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Reason to Use Standard Precautions Protects the healthcare worker from patient’s potentially contaminated body fluids and prevents the spread of disease to others. Components of Standard Precautions Wash hands before and … Infection Control Guidelines
You may hear norovirus called “the stomach flu.” Some viral illnesses that cause vomiting and diarrhea are caused by norovirus. You can become infected with norovirus many times in your life. Norovirus Is very contagious. Norovirus can spread quickly in places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, restaurants and cruise ships. Causes diarrhea and vomiting, … Controlling Norovirus
