Emily Gaddam's Infection Control Advice and Consulting

This was a talk I recently gave to long-term care/skilled nursing. Hope our #IPC community finds it helpful! #longtermcare #skillednursing #snf #ltc #ltac #nursing #infectionprevention #infectioncontrol

Keep up-to-date on H5N1: Q: What is the current situation with H5N1 avian flu in cows in Colorado? A: Colorado officials are investigating the source of H5N1 in dairy cows as the USDA confirms more infected mammals. The affected herd's source of the virus is still unclear, and whole-genome sequencing is underway to help trace the origins and prevent further spread. Q: How many states have reported H5N1 in cows? A: With the recent detection in Colorado, the number of affected states has risen to nine. Q: What measures are being taken to control the spread of the virus? A: Colorado's agricultural commission and the CDA agriculture commissioner approved an emergency rule on May 1 to limit the virus's spread. Q: Is there a risk to humans from H5N1 in cows? A: According to Colorado health officials, the overall risk to humans remains low. About 70 farm workers have been monitored, and none have shown symptoms. Wastewater monitoring has not indicated an increase in flu markers. Q: Have there been any other mammal infections reported? A: Yes, APHIS has reported additional detections in other mammals, including red foxes and opossums in Michigan and a red fox in New York. Q: What research is being conducted on H5N1 infectivity in mammals? A: Researchers are studying the infectivity of different strains of H5N1 in mammals. A recent study by Kansas State University scientists found that pigs are highly susceptible to an H5N1 strain that infected minks in Spain. Q: Are there any concerns about the virus becoming more adapted to mammals?@ A: Yes, there is concern that the virus is becoming more adapted to mammals, as evidenced by mink-to-mink transmission and low frequencies of mammalian-like mutations found in the virus. https://lnkd.in/duEjhzUe

??Hope everyone will find this update on decolonization in long term care helpful. Have a great weekend! ?? A link to the PDF in the comments... #infectionprevention #infectioncontrol #longtermcare #skillednursing #snf #ltc #ltac #decolonization #ipc #publixhealth

H5N1 Avian Flu: Key Points and Safety Measures What is H5N1 Bird Flu? H5N1 bird flu is widespread in wild birds globally and has caused outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. Nine states have reported outbreaks in cattle. Human Risk and Monitoring: The risk to humans is currently low, but close monitoring is essential. CDC is actively working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. Recommendations for Safety: Avoid direct contact with wild birds and handle infected animals cautiously. Ensure proper food preparation: Cook poultry and eggs thoroughly to eliminate any potential risk. Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw poultry, meat, or eggs. Separate poultry, meat, eggs, and egg products from other food items to prevent cross-contamination. Avoid consuming raw milk from animals with suspected or confirmed HPAI A (H5N1) virus infection. Pasteurization is crucial for milk safety. Raw-milk cheeses are made from unpasteurized milk. Types of raw-milk cheeses include: Blue Cheeses: Examples include Great Hill Blue, Maytag Blue, and Roquefort. Washed-Rind Cheeses: Develop a distinctive rind during aging. Bloomy Rind and Soft Cheeses: Think of Brie and Camembert. Semi-Hard and Hard Cheeses: Gruyère, Manchego, and Fontina are some examples. #infectionprevention #infectioncontrol #specialpathogens #birdflu #avianflu

Thank you to our public health professsionals!

Are you or someone you know an infection preventionist (IP) interested in participating in a qualitative research study? ??????I am Lerenza Howard, a student at the University of Indianapolis pursuing my Doctorate in Health Science (DHSc). I am conducting a qualitative research study for my dissertation focusing on the perceived experiences of infection preventionists working in acute care hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. I invite you to participate in my research study. I want to interview YOU if the following applies to you: ??Infection preventionists who worked full-time in an acute care hospital in the United States as an IP for at least one year before June 2020 and have remained working as an IP until now. ??Check out the attached flyer for more information on the study. Please like and share this post to spread the word and reach potential volunteers. Please share this with anyone interested in volunteering for the study. ?? Contact me at [email protected] if you're interested in participating. #infectionprevention #dissertation #infectionpreventionandcontrol #COVID19 #interview #acutecare #qualitativeresearch

Check out these brand new Beyond Clean episodes with Jill Holdsworth, CIC,FAPIC,NREMT,CRCST! #infectionprevention #infectioncontrol #sterileprocessing