Profession

Doctors, nurses getting A(H1N1)

The CDC stresses heightened awareness of transmission possibilities and strict adherence to infection control procedures.

By Susan J. Landers — Posted July 9, 2009

Print  |   Email  |   Respond  |   Reprints  |   Like Facebook  |   Share Twitter  |   Tweet Linkedin

More than 80 physicians, nurses and other health care workers had contracted influenza A(H1N1) by late June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An agency report on some of the infected workers revealed that about half were infected at work, and none had followed all of the CDC's recommended protective practices, which include the use of respirators, gloves and eye protection. There is no vaccine.

The report in the June 19 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report focuses on infected health care personnel detected through May 13 (link). Among them were four physicians, five registered nurses and four nursing assistants.

"This is a snapshot of what we knew up until that time," said Michael Bell, MD, associate director for infection control at the CDC, who spoke at a June 18 briefing.

Since May 13, the number of infected individuals with some relationship to health care delivery has grown, and detailed information on these workers will be released later, Dr. Bell said.

The report also found that health care facilities are not promptly identifying potentially infectious patients to allow workers the opportunity to protect themselves, Dr. Bell said. "Probably the single most important thing is that infectious patients be identified at the front door," he said.

It's important that people stay home if they're ill. "This means that health care facilities need to have appropriate leave policies in place, and health care personnel need to understand they won't be penalized for using sick leave appropriately," Dr. Bell said. Contracted employees also need to have sick-leave policies, he said.

During a June 26 CDC briefing, Anne Schuchat, MD, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said the agency estimates that at least 1 million people in the nation have been infected with the H1N1 virus, more than 3,000 have been hospitalized and 127 have died.

The disease is not going away, she said. The number of lab-confirmed cases reported to the CDC rose to nearly 28,000 by June 26, up from about 18,000 the week before -- the largest increase since numbers have been collected, Dr. Schuchat said.

H1N1 transmissions appear to be highest primarily in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. She said flu activity is expected throughout the summer and could increase in the fall.

The virus continues to have the greatest impact on young people, Dr. Schuchat said, and summer camps are being affected. The CDC has posted new online guidance for camps (link).

Back to top


ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISE HERE


Featured
Read story

Confronting bias against obese patients

Medical educators are starting to raise awareness about how weight-related stigma can impair patient-physician communication and the treatment of obesity. Read story


Read story

Goodbye

American Medical News is ceasing publication after 55 years of serving physicians by keeping them informed of their rapidly changing profession. Read story


Read story

Policing medical practice employees after work

Doctors can try to regulate staff actions outside the office, but they must watch what they try to stamp out and how they do it. Read story


Read story

Diabetes prevention: Set on a course for lifestyle change

The YMCA's evidence-based program is helping prediabetic patients eat right, get active and lose weight. Read story


Read story

Medicaid's muddled preventive care picture

The health system reform law promises no-cost coverage of a lengthy list of screenings and other prevention services, but some beneficiaries still might miss out. Read story


Read story

How to get tax breaks for your medical practice

Federal, state and local governments offer doctors incentives because practices are recognized as economic engines. But physicians must know how and where to find them. Read story


Read story

Advance pay ACOs: A down payment on Medicare's future

Accountable care organizations that pay doctors up-front bring practice improvements, but it's unclear yet if program actuaries will see a return on investment. Read story


Read story

Physician liability: Your team, your legal risk

When health care team members drop the ball, it's often doctors who end up in court. How can physicians improve such care and avoid risks? Read story

  • Stay informed
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • LinkedIn