Infection Control Today Magazine

Influenza-Related Illness

Google Flu Trends is a Powerful Early Warning System for Emergency Departments

Monitoring Internet search traffic about influenza may prove to be a better way for hospital emergency rooms to prepare for a surge in sick patients compared to waiting for outdated government flu case reports. A report on the value of the Internet search tool for emergency ...More
January 9, 2012
Posted in News
Influenza-Like Illnesses in Nursing Homes Requires Implementation of Structured Prevention Programs

Pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections are the second most common infections among nursing home residents and the leading cause of death from infections in the long-term care setting. The reported number of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and ...More
December 1, 2011
Posted in News, Infections & Pathogens
Lack of Adherence to Respiratory PPE Seen During First Wave of H1N1 Pandemic

Many healthcare professionals were exposed to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus during the first wave of the pandemic because they were not using respiratory protection and/or other pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE). David B. Banach MD, MPH, of the Department of ...More
March 8, 2011
Posted in News, PPE & Standard Precautions
FDA Approves Vaccines for the 2010-2011 Influenza Season

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved vaccines for the 2010-2011 influenza season in the United States. ...More
July 30, 2010
Posted in News
Google Flu Trends Estimates Off

Google Flu Trends is not as accurate at estimating rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza as CDC national surveillance programs, according to a new study from the University of Washington. The findings will be reported at the American Thoracic Society 2010 International ...More
May 17, 2010
Posted in News
Handwashing, Mask-Wearing May Limit Transmission of Pandemic Flu

Practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) such as handwashing and mouth covering may help limit the transmission of the pandemic flu, but more research on these measures is critical according to a new study appearing in the May 2010 issue of the American Journal of ...More
April 29, 2010
Posted in News, Hand Hygiene
Preventive Behaviors Limited Household Transmission of H1N1 Influenza During Initial Outbreak

Simple, common sense behaviors, including having a discussion at home about how to prevent influenza, can help limit the spread of H1N1 in a household, according to a study of the initial outbreak in New York City in 2009. Published in the April 1 issue of the Journal of ...More
March 17, 2010
Posted in News
Rapid Flu Tests Work Better in Kids Than Adults

A rapid influenza diagnostic test (RIDT) can provide a diagnosis of flu within 30 minutes – speeding the delivery of antiviral medication if needed – but studies have shown these tests often give false negative results. A new study, “Sensitivity of Rapid ...More
February 15, 2010
Posted in News
Study Finds Face Masks and Hand Hygiene Can Help Limit Influenza’s Spread

Ordinary face masks and hand hygiene can effectively reduce the transmission of influenza-like illness during flu season. The finding comes from a new study, now available online, published in the Feb. 15, 2010 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. In an ...More
January 21, 2010
Posted in News, Hand Hygiene, PPE & Standard Precautions
Early Lessons from the H1N1 Pandemic: Critical Illness in Children Unpredictable but Survivable

Lessons learned from the first 13 children at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center to become critically ill from the H1N1 virus show that although all patients survived, serious complications developed quickly, unpredictably, with great variations from patient to patient ...More
January 7, 2010
Posted in News