Ultrasound Screening for Fetal Microcephaly Following Zika Virus Exposure
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a statement on the use of ultrasound screening for fetal microcephaly following Zika virus exposure.
Microcephaly is a condition in which the size of the head is smaller than expected for age. This condition in fetuses and infants has been associated with the recent outbreak of Zika virus. Due to this association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have suggested ultrasound evaluation to measure the baby's head in pregnant women who have been infected or potentially exposed. Diagnosis of microcephaly by ultrasound is not always straightforward and can be complex. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine provided recommendations on how to interpret the findings, including when to perform follow-up ultrasound, as well as a table of values at each week of pregnancy that would define the lower limit of normal. The goal is to provide the tools to healthcare providers to counsel women who may have been exposed to the Zika virus. The Society for Maternal-Fetal will continue to assist clinicians in tackling this new health threat.
For more information on the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine's recommendations and the Zika virus, CLICK HERE.
Source: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.
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.
