Last week, the CDC released the National and State Healthcare-associated Infection Data Report for 2015 National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) data. The National Healthcare Safety Network is the nation’s most widely used Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) tracking system and is being used for care improvement by facilities, states, regions, quality groups, and national public health agencies including CDC. [...]
Flu is now widespread in Arizona. As of this week, there have been 2,976 cases of flu reported compared to 347 for the same time period in 2016, which is a 758 percent increase in flu activity. This is the highest number of seasonal cases this early since influenza tests became reportable. During the past [...]
2017 Antibiotic Awareness Week (formerly “Get Smart Week”), November 13 to 19, is an annual one-week observance to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. This week helps to increase awareness of improving appropriate use of antibiotics in communities, in healthcare facilities, and even on the farm! Each [...]
The last week of October every year is dedicated to promoting awareness of lead poisoning by CDC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other partners. This year, the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is teaming up with our new Environmental Public Health Tracking Program to call [...]
September is Sepsis awareness month. Get Ahead of Sepsis is a national effort to protect people from the devastating effects of sepsis. This initiative emphasizes the importance of early recognition and timely treatment of sepsis, as well as the importance of preventing infections that could lead to sepsis. Sepsis is the body’s extreme response to [...]
Heart disease and stroke are among the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In Arizona, heart disease is the leading cause of death. While we applaud the work of the many health care professionals who play a critical role in reducing heart disease and preventing stroke in the United States and [...]
The Arizona Cancer Registry and Office of Cancer Prevention and Control received good news last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – their grant application was approved for a total of $3,930,027 per year for the next five years. This represents a 13.5% increase in funds of $466,909 per year. The [...]
We continue to make steady progress in addressing the statewide opioid epidemic. Last week we expanded blood screening at the State Public Health Lab, announced a $505,104 grant award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and issued emergency rules for licensed healthcare facilities. The State Public Health Lab is now screening blood samples [...]
This World Hepatitis Day, the World Health Organization continues to build upon its strategy to combat viral hepatitis and achieve the final goal of eliminating hepatitis. Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is often caused by a virus. The three most common viruses that cause viral hepatitis in the U.S. are hepatitis A, [...]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report this week in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) about five Arizona children diagnosed with Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM). AFM is a rare but serious condition that affects the nervous system causing a sudden onset of arm and/or leg weakness and loss of muscle [...]
