MRSA, Staph and Fecal Bacteria Rampant in College Dorms

Thousands of bacteria lurk in college dormitories, but students are not following proper hygiene routines to help protect themselves from serious illness, according to a study released today from the Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community, sponsored by an educational grant from LYSOL® brand products.(1) Despite growing concerns about influenza A (H1N1) on college campuses and recent study results estimating that of the ways influenza infection may be contracted, contact with contaminated surfaces may account for thirty one percent (31%) of the infection risk, only sixty three percent (63%) of students polled had cleaned their dorm room in the past week.(2) Eighty three percent (83%) had never cleaned their light switch and seventy three percent (73%) admitted they had never cleaned their dorm room door handle, one of the most frequently-touched surfaces and a conduit for germ spread.(3)

Such habits expose students to thousands of bacteria, including MRSA, E. coli, fecal organisms, streptococcus and more, just by touching common surfaces in their dorm.(4) Study results show:

– Communal shower floors were the most contaminated surface in the dorm, harboring more than 40 times the number of bacteria found on the toilet seat.(5) Forty three percent (43%) of shower floors were contaminated with bacteria that can indicate fecal contamination and twenty percent (20%) hid streptococci.
– Dorm room refrigerator door handles harbored twice as many bacteria as shared dorm toilet handles. Thirty seven percent (37%) encountered
bacteria that can indicate fecal contamination and thirteen percent (13%) encountered staph.(6)
– Fifty six percent (56%) of students admitted they had never cleaned the interior of their dorm room refrigerator, making it no surprise that thirty percent (30%) of refrigerators harbored fecal indicators.(7)
– While television remote controls and shared bathroom sink handles fare relatively well, both were found to be contaminated with MRSA, the dangerous drug-resistant bacteria, in some dorm rooms studied.(8)

“These findings compound the concerns many parents have about their child’s health when they’re away at college and out of their home,” says Dr. Elizabeth Scott, co-director of the Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Parents can help students stay healthy at college by encouraging them to take small preventative measures every day to help protect themselves from germs.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, universities and parents should encourage students to follow these healthy hygiene routines:(9)

– Practice good hand hygiene. They should wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.(10)
– Practice respiratory etiquette. The main way flu spreads is from person to person in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important that people cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze. If they don’t have a tissue, they should cough or sneeze into their elbow or shoulder, not their hands.(11)
– Stay home if they are sick. Stay home or in their place of residence for at least 24 hours after they no long have a fever.(12)
– Talk to their health care providers about whether they should be vaccinated. More information about priority groups for vaccination is available at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.(13)

In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, families and students can help protect themselves and prevent the spread of influenza virus by keeping surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.(14)

Many LYSOL® Disinfectant products are effective against strains of influenza A virus and specifically the H1N1 strain, including LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray, LYSOL® Disinfecting Wipes, LYSOL® All Purpose Cleaner Pourables and LYSOL® All Purpose Cleaner Triggers.

To find more information and resources to help protect families of all ages, visit:

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – H1N1 Information http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Ounce of Prevention initiative, created in partnership with LYSOL® www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention
– Germ Protection Center via the Visiting Nurse Associations of America http://vnaa.org/vnaa/g/?h=html/germ_protection_center_influenza

Resources

(1) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 3.

(2) “Relative Contributions of Four Exposure Pathways to Influenza Infection Risk.” Risk Analysis, Vol. 29, No. 9, 2009.

(3) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 15.

(4) Reckitt Benckiser, BRT-0008 Research & Development Claim Support Document, February 2009. Page 5.

(5) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 9. Statistic found by comparing mean aerobic count of shower bases vs. toilet seats.

(6) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 9. Statistic found by comparing mean aerobic count of dorm refrigerator handles vs. shared toilet handles.

(7) Reckitt Benckiser, BRT-0008 Research & Development Claim Support Document, February 2009. Page 5.

(8) Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “Report on Dorm Study.” February 2009. Page 9.

(9) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducatio n_toolkit.pdf.

(10) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducatio n_toolkit.pdf.

(11) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducatio n_toolkit.pdf.

(12) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducatio n_toolkit.pdf.

(13) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preparing for the Flu (Including H1N1): A Communication Toolkit for Institutes of Higher Education http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/institutions/toolkit/pdf/InstitutionsHigherEducatio n_toolkit.pdf.

(14) www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.

Source: Reckitt Benckiser, Inc., makers of LYSOL


Patient satisfaction with outpatient services reaches five-year high

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 29,2009

Press Ganey Annual Outpatient Pulse Report Shows Average Wait Time of 24 Minutes

Outpatient service facilities play an instrumental role in the nation’s health care system, and a recent report from Press Ganey illustrates how satisfied U.S. patients are with their treatment. Patient satisfaction with outpatient services has reached a five-year high, according to Press Ganey’s 2009 Outpatient Pulse Report: Patient Perspectives on American Health Care. This report analyzes patients’ satisfaction with outpatient facility care, including insight from 2.3 million patients treated at nearly 1,300 outpatient care facilities nationwide last year.

Outpatient care, which includes laboratory tests, therapy, diagnostic testing and other treatments, continued to meet or exceed patient expectations overall, despite the recession in 2008. Satisfaction has increased gradually every quarter since 2004, reaching a high score of 91.29 in October 2008. According to the report, patients were most satisfied with tests, treatment and the overall care in the outpatient setting, but were least satisfied by the facilities and registration processes.

A key element to high patient satisfaction with outpatient facilities is wait time. The average wait time for outpatient services in 2008 was 24 minutes — a 2 percent decrease versus 2007.

“Both hospital-based and freestanding outpatient centers have grown in number over the past few years, as has the level of competition, which further underscores the importance of achieving and maintaining high customer satisfaction levels,” said Dr. Deirdre Mylod, vice president of acute services at Press Ganey. “It is imperative for outpatient centers to capture and act upon patient satisfaction data in order to stay competitive and profitable.”

There are a number of notable findings in this year’s report:
– Patients between the ages of 65 and 79 report the highest levels of satisfaction, while patients between the ages of 18 and 34 are the least satisfied.
– Patients receiving care on Sundays have the lowest levels of satisfaction, as well as the highest average wait time.
– Patients receiving care in the morning report a higher satisfaction level.

Cancer patients receiving radiation treatments were the most satisfied outpatients in 2008, followed closely by cardiac rehabilitation patients. Press Ganey believes this finding is likely traced to the patients’ familiarity with caregivers during ongoing treatment.

Patient satisfaction with ambulatory surgery — generally non-emergent surgery that does not require a hospital stay — has increased overall since 2004.

The annual Outpatient Pulse Report also identified the top priorities for improvement in areas such as respect, sensitivity and teamwork of the outpatient care providers.

These research findings are part of a series of Press Ganey pulse reports and check-up reports which examine the status of health care quality across different care settings. Findings and observations highlight the progress of health care facilities during today’s challenging health care landscape and help guide improvements to the quality of health care in the U.S.

The 2009 Outpatient Pulse Report: Patient Perspectives on American Health Care is available at http://www.pressganey.com/OutpatientPulseReport09.pdf.


Landmark poll shows that 9 in 10 Americans want to know more about the development of emerging technologies

Nanotechnology and synthetic biology continue to develop as two of the most exciting areas of scientific discovery, but research has shown that the public is almost completely unaware of the science and its applications. A groundbreaking poll of 1,001 American adults conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates and the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) found that 90 percent of Americans think the public should be better informed about the development of cutting-edge technologies.

“Historically, government and industry have done a poor job of informing and engaging the public about scientific developments that could have transformative impacts on society,” said David Rejeski, director of PEN. “The poll showed that better communication is needed and could be beneficial in securing the promise of our investments in science.”

The poll, which was conducted by the same firm that produces the well-known NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls, revealed that the proportion of adults who say they have heard a lot or some about synthetic biology more than doubled in the past year (from 9 percent to 22 percent). Awareness of nanotechnology (30 percent have heard a lot or some) increased slightly since last year, putting it back at the same level measured in 2006. A report which summarizes the findings of the poll can be found at http://www.nanotechproject.org/news/archive/hart4/.

“Public awareness of nanotechnology has barely moved in over four years of our project’s polling, despite billions of dollars of investment in research and a growing number of nano-enabled products in the marketplace,” said Andrew Maynard, chief science advisor for PEN. “Clearly, the message about this new and important technology is not reaching the public.”

The survey showed that the area of application is a decisive factor in shaping public attitudes towards synthetic biology. Over half the respondents supported research in synthetic biology aimed at the development of more efficient biofuels even after being informed of the potential risks and benefits of this application.

However, poll respondents harbored concerns about potential risks associated with the development of synthetic biology. Two-thirds of the participants supported regulation of this emerging technology.

“Regardless of their awareness of synthetic biology, or where they come down on the risk-benefit tradeoff, a strong majority of adults think this research should be regulated by the federal government,” said Geoff Garin, president of Peter D. Hart Research Associates.

Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, see, manipulate and manufacture things usually between 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter; a human hair is roughly 100,000 nanometers wide. In 2007, the global market for goods incorporating nanotechnology totaled $147 billion. Lux Research projects that figure will grow to $3.1 trillion by 2015.

Synthetic biology is the use of advanced science and engineering to make or re-design living organisms, such as bacteria, so that they can carry out specific functions. Synthetic biology involves making new genetic code, also known as DNA, that does not already exist in nature.

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is an initiative launched by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2005. It is dedicated to helping business, government and the public anticipate and manage possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology. For more information about the project, log on to http://www.nanotechproject.org/.

Source: The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies


Adverse drug events: A large burden in pediatric care

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 28,2009

National data indicate more than half a million ambulatory visits per year for side effects, accidental overdoses

An 11-year national analysis at Children’s Hospital Boston shows that side effects or accidental overdoses of medications are a common complication of outpatient care in children, generating more than half a million additional visits per year, particularly in children age 4 and younger. Findings are reported in the October issue of Pediatrics.

While many studies have documented adverse drug events, or ADEs, in adults, information in children has been limited, despite the fact that drugs are prescribed to children in almost 70 percent of outpatient visits (1). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 75 percent of drugs given to children have not undergone pediatric testing (2).

The researchers, led by Florence Bourgeois, MD, MPH, of Children’s Division of Emergency Medicine, analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics on outpatient visits throughout the United States. Focusing on children up to age 18, they tallied an average of 585,922 visits per year for ADEs between 1995 and 2005. Most of these visits were to outpatient clinics, but 22 percent were to emergency rooms.

The authors suggest that clinicians need to be aware of potential adverse effects and provide appropriate anticipatory guidance to parents, especially when children are given a medication for the first time. “We found that there are as many as 13 outpatient visits for adverse drug events per 1,000 children, indicating that they are a common complication of pediatric care,” says Bourgeois.

Children 4 years and younger made the most visits (43 percent), followed by children 15 to 18 years old (23 percent). The most frequent side effects were skin-related or gastrointestinal, present in 45 and 16.5 percent of children, respectively. Fifty-Two percent of the children had symptoms suggesting an allergic reaction.

Antimicrobials (such as penicillin) were the most frequently implicated drugs, accounting for 27.5 percent of visits overall, and as many as 40 percent of visits among children 0-4 years old. They were followed by neurologic/psychotropic medications (6.5 percent) and hormones (6 percent). The last two categories accounted for the most ADE visits among older children, likely reflecting the increase in medication therapy for emotional and behavioral disorders during the adolescent years, and prescriptions of contraceptives for teenage girls.

Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Slone Survey indicate that as many as 56 percent of children have taken at least one medication during the preceding week, with 26 percent using two or more medications and more than 20 percent using a prescription drug.

“One approach to reducing adverse events is to ensure that clinicians have ready access to complete information on the adverse effects and comparative effectiveness of medications,” says Bourgeois. “This information should derive from data on the real-world use of the drugs, not just from the package inserts.”

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively examine ADEs occurring in the outpatient setting. It was funded by an R01 Grant from the National Library of Medicine and a T32 Grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

References:

(1) Cherry DK, Woodwell DA, Rechtsteiner EA. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2005 summary. Adv Data. Jun 29 2007(387):1-39.

(2) American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007

http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/Therapeutics/docs/coalitionbpcaprea.pdf

Source: Children’s Hospital Boston


Survey shows Americans are unprepared for dental emergencies

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 27,2009

Although 72 percent of Americans have fillings, caps or crowns and one in six had a dental emergency during the past 12 months, most are not prepared to deal with a dental emergency, according to a recent survey conducted by Majestic Drug Company, a leading provider of oral care products.

Interestingly, in the national survey of 1,000 Americans, those with a lower income (less then $35,000) were more likely to have had a dental emergency in the past 12 months (vs. 14 percent of those who make $100,000 or more).

Of those who had a dental emergency, 23 percent involved a loose crown or cap, 10 percent involved a lost filling, while 72 percent said their dental emergency involved something else.

Among those who had a dental emergency involving a loose crown/cap or a lost filling, 67 percent immediately went to a dentist, and 14 percent looked for a temporary solution to purchase, while 19 percent did nothing at the time.

“You keep medical supplies on hand for cuts and bruises, but what about your teeth? It’s important to be prepared for a dental emergency in case one happens, especially if the emergency occurs on a weekend when your dentist just isn’t available or you are on the road and cannot seek immediate dental care,” according to Brian Gold, D.D.S., who practices in Monticello, NY.

Dental emergencies can range from a dislodged cap/crown or lost filling to a knocked out tooth to pain or a cracked denture. Majestic Drug Company explains some common dental emergencies and suggestions for treatment.

– Knocked out tooth. If a permanent tooth is dislodged from the socket, try gently replacing it into the tooth socket. Do not scrub the tooth clean–you can damage the fibers needed for reattachment. If that doesn’t work, place the tooth in a glass of milk to keep it moist. Get to a dentist immediately.
– Mouth pain. A throbbing pain from a toothache may indicate an infection and a dentist should be consulted as soon as possible. Tooth sensitivity can be combated by the use of desensitizing toothpaste such as Sensodyne. Irritation from mouth sores can be alleviated by the use of specialized oral pain relief products such as Orajel.
– Lost filling. Rinse out the cavity with warm water. Apply a temporary filling product such as Dentemp O.S. which can be made into a ball and pressed firmly into the cavity.
– Cracked or broken denture. According to Dr. Gold, all denture wearers should have a spare pair to use until the other is repaired. If not, it is good to keep on hand an emergency denture repair kit such as D.O.C. Emergency Denture Repair Kit, available at your local pharmacy.
– Dislodged cap/crown. Apply a temporary dental holding product such as Dentemp O.S. and gently replace the cap onto the tooth. Make sure you get a proper fit.
– Irritation from Braces. Sharp wires can be coated with special dental wax available at your local pharmacy.

Remember, temporary dental solutions are just that–they are temporary. Make sure to seek professional assistance from your dentist as soon as possible.

Source: Majestic Drug


Concealed behind a healthy smile, attacking youth at play, taking them while they sleep, silent. . . until it’s too late. Undetected and unexpected, Sudden Cardiac Arrest is claiming our youth. Cardiovascular disease is the second leading medical cause of death in children and adolescents in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Vital Statistics Report for 2005, published April 2008, Volume 56, Number 10.

In observance of National Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) Awareness Month (October), Parent Heart Watch aims to help protect young lives and educate those who work and live with youth by launching its YOU Make the Difference! poster campaign nationwide. This campaign consists of two 11″ x 17″ posters endorsed by the Parent Heart Watch Medical Advisory Board that informs viewers about the observations and actions that can make the difference between life and death.

Often, the warning signs of a heart condition in youth go undetected; thus the first poster lists the “Warning Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Condition.” If any exist, it advises that they be reported to the youth’s physician immediately. It is imperative that those who work and live with youth be aware of these signs and symptoms.

Most occurrences of SCA in youth occur in public places; thus the second poster, “Cardiac Chain of Survival,” depicts the five critically time-urgent links of the cardiac chain-of-survival. These steps should be performed to help save the life of someone in SCA.

Most deaths of youth due to SCA can be prevented if people are properly educated to take appropriate actions. Parent Heart Watch members and advocates will help educate adults and youths alike by placing these posters in highly visible public areas at schools, recreation centers, public libraries, places of worship and other youth-serving organizations. The public is encouraged to download the 8 ” x 11″ size versions of the posters by visiting the Parent Heart Watch website at www.parentheartwatch.org.

Source: Parent Heart Watch


H1N1 Flu: Are parents underestimating risk to kids?

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 25,2009

C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health finds less than half of parents plan to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, despite higher disease risk; Hispanic parents more likely to vaccinate

With schools back in session, H1N1 flu has become more active across the United States — especially among children. A new vaccine against H1N1 flu — strongly recommended for kids — has been tested and is expected to be available in October. But will parents get their children vaccinated?

The latest C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health finds only 40 percent of parents indicate they will get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu — while 54 percent of parents indicate they will get their children vaccinated against seasonal flu. Among parents who do not plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, 46 percent indicate they are not worried about their children getting H1N1 flu, while 20 percent believe H1N1 flu is not serious.

“This information about parents’ plans to vaccinate their kids against H1N1 flu suggests that parents are much less concerned about H1N1 flu than seasonal flu for their kids. That perception may not match the actual risks,” says Matthew Davis, M.D., director of the poll and associate professor of pediatrics and internal medicine in the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit at the University of Michigan Medical School.

The poll also shows vaccination plans for H1N1 flu differ by racial/ethnic groups. More than half of Hispanic parents plan to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, compared to only 38 percent of white parents and 30 percent of black parents.

Vaccination plans of Hispanic parents may reflect a higher perceived risk in the Hispanic community, given the well publicized outbreak of H1N1 flu in Mexico in early 2009, Davis says.

In describing their perceived risk of H1N1 flu for children, one-third of parents indicate they believe H1N1 flu will be worse than seasonal flu. Nearly half of parents believe H1N1 and seasonal flu will be about the same for children, according to the poll.

These perceptions contrast information from the CDC suggesting that — unlike what is typically seen with seasonal flu — rates of illness and hospitalizations related to H1N1 flu are higher for children than for other age groups.

“It can be difficult to follow all the new information about a fast moving target like H1N1 flu,” says Davis, who is also associate professor of public policy at the U-M Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy. “Health care professionals and public health officials need to help parents and the community at-large understand that children are one of the groups at greatest risk for getting H1N1, and for getting very sick from the disease as well.”

Among parents who do not plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, or who are unsure, about half are worried about possible side effects of the vaccine. Among parents who do plan to get their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu, about 4 in 5 believe that H1N1 is a serious disease and worry about their children getting H1N1 illness. Parents who think H1N1 flu will be worse for children than seasonal flu were much more likely to plan to have their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu.

“This connection between perceived risk and plans to vaccinate against H1N1 flu makes a lot of sense,” says Davis. “What it emphasizes is that to reach parents who are currently unsure about H1N1 vaccination and convince them to go ahead and vaccinate their kids, the health care community needs to focus on communicating key information about the risk of H1N1 flu for children.”

The poll surveyed 1,678 parents from Aug. 13 – 31, 2009 across the U.S. about their plans and perceptions related to getting their children vaccinated against H1N1 flu and seasonal flu.

FULL REPORT: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/092409report.pdf

FIGURES: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/092409figures.pdf

POLL QUESTIONS: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/092409questions.pdf

Resources for parents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

General information about H1N1 influenza: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm

Information about the H1N1 vaccine and vaccine safety: http://cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccine_safety_qa.htm

Methodology: This report presents findings from a nationally representative household survey conducted exclusively by Knowledge Networks, Inc, for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital via a method used in many published studies. The survey was administered in August 2009 to a randomly selected, stratified group of parents aged 18 and older (n=1,678) from the Knowledge Networks standing panel that closely resembles the U.S. population. The sample was subsequently weighted to reflect population figures from the Census Bureau. The survey completion rate was 62 percent among panel members contacted to participate. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 to 5 percentage points for the main analysis. For results based on subgroups, the margin of error is higher.


HIV vaccine study first to show some effectiveness in preventing HIV

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 24,2009

A Phase III clinical trial involving more than 16,000 adult volunteers in Thailand has demonstrated that an investigational HIV vaccine regimen was safe and modestly effective in preventing HIV infection. According to final results released by the trial sponsor, the U.S. Army Surgeon General, the prime boost combination of ALVAC(R) HIV and AIDSVAX(R) B/E lowered the rate of HIV infection by 31.2% compared with placebo.

“This is the first HIV vaccine candidate to successfully reduce the risk of HIV infection in humans. We are very excited and pleased with the outcome of this trial and congratulate all those who participated in it,” said Lieutenant General Eric Schoomaker, Surgeon General, U.S. Army. “In addition, this study is an outstanding example of international and interagency collaboration involving many partners from the Thai and U.S. governments, private companies, non-profit organizations and volunteers.”

In the final analysis, 74 placebo recipients became infected with HIV compared to 51 in the vaccine regimen arm. The efficacy result is statistically significant. The vaccine regimen had no effect on the amount of virus in the blood of volunteers who became HIV-infected during the study. More detailed results of this study will be presented next month at the AIDS Vaccine Conference, October 19 through 22 in Paris, France.

This finding has important implications for the design of future HIV vaccines and how they are tested, however additional research is needed to better understand how this vaccine regimen reduced the risk of HIV infection. Given the significant threat of HIV infection worldwide, an efficacious vaccine is urgently needed, as part of a broader prevention effort to help control the epidemic.

Collaborating partners on this study, referred to as RV144, include the U.S. Army, the Thai Ministry of Public Health, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, sanofi pasteur, and Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases (GSID). The collaborators are already working with external experts to determine the need for additional studies on this vaccine regimen and consider the impact of this study’s findings on other HIV vaccine candidates.

“These results show that development of a safe and effective preventive HIV vaccine is possible, ” said Colonel Nelson Michael, Director, Division of Retrovirology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and Director, U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP). “While these results are very encouraging, we recognize that further study is required to build upon these findings.”

Colonel Jerome Kim, Deputy Director, Science, MHRP and the HIV vaccines product manager for the U.S. Army added that, “knowledge gained through this study will be used to accelerate future study design and testing as researchers continue the search for a safe, globally-effective HIV vaccine.”

The U.S. Army would like to thank the more than 16,000 Thai men and women who consented to participate in this trial and the efforts of the Thai Ministry of Public Health and all collaborators for their hard work in achieving this important milestone.

RV144 Phase III Trial Background

RV144 tested a prime-boost vaccine strategy that combined two vaccines based on strains (subtypes) of HIV that circulate in Thailand. The first, or “prime” vaccine, known as ALVAC HIV, was developed by sanofi pasteur and the booster vaccine, AIDSVAX B/E, was originally developed by VaxGen and is now licensed to Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases.

The proof-of-concept study, which began in 2003, was designed to evaluate the vaccine strategy’s ability to prevent HIV infection, as well as its ability to reduce the amount of HIV in the blood of those who became infected after they enrolled in the study.

More than 16,000 HIV-negative men and women between the ages of 18 to 30 participated in the study; half of these participants received the prime-boost vaccine regimen and half received placebo. Volunteers received vaccinations over the course of six-months and were followed for an additional three-years. Before agreeing to participate, all volunteers were informed of the potential risks associated with receiving the experimental vaccine regimen used in this study and consented to participate in the study. Volunteers continued to receive an HIV test every six-months for three-years following vaccination, in addition to counseling on how to prevent becoming infected with HIV.

Source: U.S. Military HIV Research Program


Heel pain in youth athletes: A warning sign

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 23,2009

Surgeons Urge Prompt Treatment for Growth Plate Injuries

Indoors and outdoors, youth athletes stay active year-round in competitive sports, and for many of them heel pain has become “just another part of the game.” The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons advises that when a child complains of heel pain, it should be diagnosed promptly because it may be a warning sign of a serious foot problem.

Karl Collins, DPM, FACFAS, a St. Louis-area foot and ankle surgeon, says heel pain occurs frequently in children ages 6 to 14 as their feet grow and the heel bone develops. “As children become more active in sports they increase their risk for growth-plate injuries and subsequent heel pain,” says Collins. This is especially true at back-to-school time when surgeons see an increase in middle and high school athletes experiencing heel pain with football and soccer seasons simultaneously underway.

“New bone forms in an area behind the heel, known as the growth plate, and cartilage is vulnerable to severe inflammation from strain or stress. With repeated stresses and strains from overactivity, the heel becomes very painful,” Collins explains.

Even though growth-plate trauma is the leading cause of heel pain in young people, Collins says the condition can be difficult to diagnose. He cautions that parents should be concerned if a child has pain in the back or bottom of the heel, limps, walks on the toes, or seems to have difficulty participating in normal recreational activities. To diagnose the condition, foot and ankle surgeons examine the child’s foot and leg and often take imaging tests to rule out other serious causes of heel pain, such as bursitis, tendonitis and fractures.

In most cases, mild or moderate heel pain can be treated successfully with shoe inserts to soften the impact on the heel, anti-inflammatory medications, stretching and physical therapy. In severe cases, the foot and ankle will be immobilized in a cast and, in some instances, surgery may be necessary.

Heel pain in young people often returns after treatment because the growth plate is still forming until the age of 14 or 15. However, the risk for recurrence can be lowered by choosing well-constructed shoes with good support and restricting use of spiked athletic shoes, especially on hard fields. It also is advised that young athletes avoid competition that exceeds their physical abilities.

For more information on heel pain in children or to find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, visit FootPhysicians.com.

Source: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons


New report highlights proven disease prevention programs in communities

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Sep 22,2009

Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) released a new report today featuring a range of evidence-based disease prevention programs that have shown results for improving health and reducing costs in communities.

The Compendium of Proven Community-Based Prevention Programs report includes a summary and examples from an extensive literature review that NYAM conducted of peer reviewed studies evaluating the effectiveness of community-based disease prevention programs designed to reduce tobacco use, increase physical activity, and/or improve eating habits. NYAM identified 84 articles with evidence showing how community-based prevention programs can directly reduce disease rates or disease progression. The Compendium report also includes examples of evidence-based community prevention programs that have helped reduce rates of asthma, falls among the elderly, and sexually-transmitted diseases.

“Heart disease, stroke, and diabetes account for 36.6 percent of deaths in the United States, but this could be significantly reduced by changing just three risk factors — decreasing smoking, increasing exercise, and improving healthy eating,” said Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, President of NYAM. “Despite the high rates of preventable death, investment in prevention has been historically modest in this country, accounting for only four percent of all health care expenditures. The good news is that community-based prevention programs work. Well-designed community interventions can change behavior. They help people take responsibility for their health and make healthy choices that reduce both the incidence and severity of disease.”

“To really reform health in the United States, we must actively find ways to lower disease rates. The evidence is clear that prevention is the key to better health. Well-designed and well-implemented community-based disease prevention programs, like those called for in the House Tri-Committee and Senate HELP draft health reform bills, could have a major impact on improving the health of millions of Americans,” said Jeff Levi, PhD, Executive Director of TFAH. “A smart National Prevention Strategy coupled with an investment fund for community-based prevention programs would allow millions of additional Americans to benefit from proven prevention programs that could spare people from needless suffering and trips to the doctor’s office.”

Examples of some programs featured in the report include:
– In Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the Pawtucket Heart Health Program conducted an intervention to educate 71,000 people about heart disease through a mass media campaign and community programs. Five years into the intervention, the risks for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease had decreased by 16 percent among members of the randomly selected intervention population.
– Researchers at Ohio State University recruited 60 women in their forties for a 12-week walking program that took place on the college’s campus. At 3 months, the intervention group saw a one percent decrease in body mass index (BMI), a 3.4 percent decrease in hypertension, a 3 percent decrease in cholesterol, and a 5.5 percent decrease in glucose.
– The Rockford Coronary Health Improvement Project in Rockford, Illinois was a community-based lifestyle intervention program aimed at reducing coronary risk, especially in a high risk group. The intervention included a 40-hour educational curriculum delivered over a 30-day period with clinical and nutritional assessments before and after the educational component, in which participants were instructed to optimize their diet, quit smoking, and exercise daily (walking 30 minutes per day). At the end of the 30-day intervention period, stratified analyses of total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, blood glucose, blood pressure and weight showed highly significant reductions with the greatest improvements among those at highest risk.

The Compendium report follows a release this summer by the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Convergence Partnership, which consists of The California Endowment, The Kresge Foundation, Nemours, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente, which highlighted successful community-based disease prevention programs that these major national private foundations have supported and outlined the important health impacts that community prevention efforts can provide.

“As the country is engaged in conversations about how to best structure health systems, we strongly believe that robust provisions for community health must be a centerpiece of reform efforts,” said Marion Standish, MA, JD, Director, Community Health, The California Endowment, one of the groups involved in the Convergence Partnership. “As was stated in the recent announcement by the Convergence Partnership, a focus on community prevention will improve health, save money, reduce demands on our health care system, and most importantly, will lead to a nation of healthier people and healthier places to live.”

In 2008, TFAH released a report that found that an investment of $10 per person per year in proven community-based programs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and prevent smoking and other tobacco use like those featured in the Compendium report could save the country more than $16 billion annually within five years. This is a return of $5.60 for every $1.

The full Compendium report can be found on TFAH’s Web site at: www.healthyamericans.org. TFAH has also released a companion report, Examples of Successful Community-Based Public Health Interventions State-by-States, featuring a number of examples of prevention programs around the country.

Trust for America’s Health is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to saving lives by protecting the health of every community and working to make disease prevention a national priority. www.healthyamericans.org.

Source: Trust for America’s Health


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