Shift Workers Beware of Infections Risk!

In todays age, people are working around the clock, literally. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics roughly 7 million Americans work the night shift. With such a large nocturnal population, people should be aware of the additional susceptibility to the risk of infection.
 
A new study published by the University of Cambridge found that the body clock affected the ability of viruses to replicate and speed between cells. Those who are in a resting phase or who have a disrupted body clocks are more likely to be infected with an illness. The findings are important because they may help explain why shift workers, or those who’s body clocks are routinely disrupted are more at risk to health problems including infections and chronic disease.
 
Peoples body clocks are highly regulated by the circadian rhythms and the chemical Bmal1 among other things. The amount of this chemical in our body fluctuates depending on the time of day and activity level, and our body clocks.  Circadian rhythms control many aspects of our physiology and bodily functions including sleep patterns, body temperature, immune systems and hormones. 
 
Shift workers whose body clocks are disrupted are known to have a lower level of Bmal1. The lack of this chemical makes them more susceptible to acquire an infection vs. people who work “nine to five”.
 
These findings are significant because it could lead to better prevention efforts. for example shift workers could become prime candidate for reviving annual flu vaccines.
 
To read more details about this topic, view the original article here.

Equipping the EVS toolbox September 16, 2016

In the past decade, the number of multi-drug resistant pathogens have increased, yet many environmental service professionals methods of cleaning have remained stagnant. EVS professionals are well aware of the risk of

How to save 37,000 lives over five years.

The White House has backed a plan to fight superbugs — via the tracking of infections, faster tests and new drugs — and has asked Congress for $1.2 billion over five years to implement the program. If successful, the CDCs efforts...

Back to School: Outbreaks! August 19, 2016

As students and staff head into back to school season, it’s not just the curriculum that’s on their mind. In the past year, it seems like the number of outbreaks has increased greatly, especially those linked to Norovirus and other dangerous pathogens.

Medicare's Readmission Penalties Hit New High

Medicare measures the readmission rates of seven conditions: heart attacks, heart failure, pneumonia, chronic lung disease, hip and knee replacements and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Fines are determined by comparing current rates to...

Readmission Penalties Approaching for Skilled Nursing Facilities - August 5, 2016

One of the most challenging transitions a patient will face is being discharged from the hospital and going to a skilled nursing facility. One fifth of the patients discharged from acute care hospitals are sent to one of the nations 15,000 skilled nursing facilities. According to a new report, skilled nursing facilities will need to address the “Protecting Access to Medicare Act” that starts to take effect in 2018.

MRSA: The Fight Continues

The largest epidemic going on inside hospitals and other health care facilities is controlling the infection MRSA. The staph bug causing these infections resists treatment and because it attacks so many people with weakened immune systems, hospital-acquired MRSA accounts for the vast majority of fatal MRSA infections.

Norovirus strikes at the RNC in Cleveland OH

The Ohio department of health was notified on Monday 7/18/16 about the outbreak of Norovirus among staffers at the Republican National Convention. All of those affected are staying at the Kalahari resort in Sandusky, Oh, about 60 miles away from...
Page: 1234567 - All