FDA Suggests It Favors Controls on Accutane
GAITHERSBURG, MD - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suggested that they are in favor of strong controls on the acne drug Accutane, which can cause severe birth defects when taken by pregnant women. Babies born to women using Accutane while pregnant have a 20% to 25% chance of having severe abnormalities in their brains, hearts, and other organs. During the first of two meetings, the FDA presented plans to prevent pregnant women from using the drug.
The first initiative calls for doctors and patients to register in order to gain access to the drug. Physicians would perform pregnancy tests before prescribing it, and the patient would have to report any contraceptives she was using. A pharmacist would also have to confirm that there was a negative pregnancy test before dispensing the prescription. The second scenario would add to these restrictions a requirement that pharmacies supplying the drug be specially trained, registered, and authorized.
The FDA approved Accutane in 1982. Since then, 1,995 pregnancies have been reported by women on the medication. 70% of these pregnancies occurred after the drug's manufacturer, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, NJ, put in place an extensive pregnancy-prevention program, that included repeated warnings and recommendations for pregnancy test prior to prescribing the drug. For more information visit www.wsj.com.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
