You can’t find what you don’t look for…

@CIDRAP says “US hospitals saw declines in HC-associated infections last year”. This begs the question: which HAIs are being reported?

CDC: US hospitals saw declines in healthcare-associated infections last year cidrap.umn.edu/healthcare-ass… The types of infections referenced are tied to Medicare reimbursement. They include central line, urinary catheter and ventilator-associated infections, and MRSA and C diff infections, among other tracked measures.

Two days ago, the CDC sent out this advisory to U.S. clinical labs. It contains instructions for conjunctival swab collection and other symptom-based swab types for suspected H5N1. Specimen collection graphic posted below--

cdc.gov/locs/2024/07-1… cdc.gov/bird-flu/media…

💥 Fit-Test Fun: 3M Aura Smash-Up 💥

Inspired by the question below, I recently decided to test a worn-out Aura to see if it was still protecting me. The results were surprising! See alt text for disclaimers.
⬇️

https://x.com/tincanfire/status/1785759466568212654?s=46

There was just one problem: I didn’t have a totally worn-out Aura. Luckily, after searching the car I found a questionably past-its-prime 3M 9210+ Aura used for recent eclipse travel. ⬇️

📣 Can’t get Pax for Covid infxn? Or worried you won’t be able to? One-stop shop for info here. Bookmark and share!

Paxlovid: U.S. Resources— long 🧵
Bonus: Metformin info at the end-- Many providers are not aware of this updated guidance, but it is important info w issues of false negative RATs/PCRs and + test result delay of up to a week after symptom onset. FDA reference here: 🔽

fda.gov/media/155052/d…

Just did a “what is this rash” curbside consult for a friend. From pics and history, I’m 99.9% sure it’s multidermatomal shingles… in a 13 yr old. This type of shingles involves multiple adjacent dermatomes and is usually seen in patients who are immunocompromised. 🔽 This person is a 13-yr old w past history of varicella vaxx and no known recent illness/comorbids.

In my 20+ yrs of practice, it’s been uncommon to see shingles even in younger adults, much less pediatric zoster— and it should be even less common w history of varicella vaxx. 🔽

🚨 The Kids are not Alright! 🚨

We have a pediatric illness soup, boiling over with school closures and overflowing hospitals in over a dozen states. Why are we allowing the large-scale pain and suffering of innocent children? They’re depending on us to save them. 🧵 Maine—

pressherald.com/2022/10/27/cap…

Let’s support our U.S. and CA mask manufacturers— they’ve been there for us! Order now before the inevitable back-to-school fall and winter surges. Upgrade to a more protective elastomeric respirator like one of these:

⬇️ @flo_mask (adult and kids Flo)

@envomask (Envo)

@Prescientx1 (Nano and Breathe)

@TreborRx (Pro+)

Softseal.com (Softseal 3D)

@DentecSafety (Comfort Air)

gvs.com (GVS Elipse)

@3M (Various, i.e. 7500 series)

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Re-upping this dental mask hack vid: adding comments, fit testing results, ordering and discount/coupon info below. Please RT— we all need 🦷 work! ⬇️

https://twitter.com/findmeabluebird/status/1517896018188197891

Comments on this hack:

- It is not a Readimask-approved use and is not NIOSH-approved for nose-only wear
- This use is a mitigation, not a guarantee (obviously the nose and mouth are connected, and the mouth is open for dental work)
- I have no connection to the company ⬇️