World TB Day --- March 24, 2009

World TB Day is observed each year on March 24 to commemorate the datein 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB). Worldwide,TB remains one of the leading causes of death from infectious disease. An estimated 2 billion persons are infected with M. tuberculosis (1).

In 2006, approximately 9.2 million persons became ill from TB, and 1.7 million died from the disease (1). World TB Day provides anopportunity for TB programs, nongovernmental organizations, and other partners to describe problems and solutions related to the TB pandemic and to support worldwide TB control efforts. The U.S. theme for this year's observance is Partnerships for TB Elimination.

Additional information about World TB Day and CDC TB- elimination activities is available at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday.

ref. MMWR March 20, 2009 / 58(10);249

OSHA Resources - Pandemic Influenza

A new Safety and Health Topics Web page on pandemic influenza has been posted to OSHA's Web site. The page is a central repository for OSHA information and resources on helping workplaces prepare for a pandemic. One of the newest resources is a link to a Web page featuring answers to the most frequently asked questions about OSHA's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Guidance for Healthcare Workers and Healthcare Employers.

Put You Hands Together - Handwashing Video

Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands. From doorknobs to animals to food, harmful germs can live on almost everything. Handwashing may be your single most important act to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy.

Check out this great Video from the CDC-
Put Your Hands Together

www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/

Source: National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID) and National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED) Running Time: (3:38)

Hepatitis B Vaccination Declination Form

Q. If an employee who handles blood as part of their job is offered the hepatitis B vaccine, but refuses it... what paper work is required?

A. Below is an example of a declination statement which should be signed/dated by the employee and kept on file in the office.

“ I understand that due to my occupational exposure to blood and/or other potentially infectious body fluids, I may be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. I have been given the opportunity to be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine at no cost to myself. However, I decline the hepatitis B vaccine at this time. I understand that by declining this vaccine, I continue to be at risk of acquiring hepatitis B which is a serious disease. If in the future I continue to have occupational exposure to blood and/or other potentially infectious body fluids and I want to be vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine, I can receive the vaccination at no cost to me.”

safetyDRs is pleased to announce new online continuing education courses for dental professionals administered by the Academy of Dental Learning, an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. A certificate of completion (including CE Credits earned) may be downloaded online.

These online courses offer busy dentists and other dental professionals the opportunity to stay current in their practice and obtain required CE Credits. Featured courses include:

- OSHA/Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Required Annual Review for Dental Office

- OSHA: Hazard Communication Standard

- Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office

The complete catalog of continuing education courses may be viewed at: http://www.safetydrs.com/catalog.php

HHS Issues Action Plan To Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a plan that establishes a set of five-year national prevention targets to reduce and possibly eliminate health care-associated infections (HAIs). Health care-associated infections are infections that patients acquire while undergoing medical treatment or surgical procedures. These infections are largely preventable.

In addition to the tremendous toll on human life, the financial burden attributed to these infections is staggering. HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1.7 million HAIs occurred in U.S. hospitals in 2002 and were associated with 99,000 deaths. CDC also estimates that HAIs add as much as $20 billion to health care costs each year.

HHS intends to update the plan in response to public input and new recommendations for infection prevention. The plan, and instructions for submitting comments on the plan, can be found online at http://www.hhs.gov/ophs"

Ref. Medical News Today (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com)

2009 Adult Immunization Schedule

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) annually reviews the recommended Adult Immunization Schedule to ensure that the schedule reflects current recommendations for the licensed vaccines. In October 2008, ACIP approved the Adult Immunization Schedule for 2009. No new vaccines were added to the schedule; however, several indications were added to the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine footnote, clarifications were made to the footnotes for human papillomavirus, varicella, and meningococcal vaccines, and schedule information was added to the hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccine footnotes.

Additional information is available as follows: schedule (in English and Spanish) at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/adult-schedule.htm; adult vaccination at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/default.htm; ACIP statements for specific vaccines at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccine/pubs/acip-list.htm; and reporting adverse events at http://www.vaers.hhs.gov or by telephone, 800-822-7967.

Ref. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended adult immunization schedule---United States, 2009. MMWR 2008;57(53).