Dr Safety

U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection (As of April 29, 2009, 11:00 AM ET) States # of laboratory confirmed cases Deaths Arizona 1 California 14 Indiana 1 Kansas 2 Massachusetts 2 Michigan 2 Nevada 1 New York City 51 Ohio 1 Texas 16 1 TOTAL COUNTS 91 cases 1 death

Please use the link below to get accurate information about the current influenza cases worldwide. This is not a "pandemic" or "epidemic" at this time. Wash your hands frequently and stay home if you are sick. Avoid sick contacts. From the CDC: "Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection have been identified in the United States. Human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection also have been identified internationally. The current U.S. case count is provided below. An investigation and response effort surrounding the outbreak of swine flu is ongoing. CDC is working very closely with officials in states where human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) have been identified, as well as with health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization. This includes deploying staff domestically and internationally to provide guidance and technical support. CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the agency's respons...

Many patients are harmed every day because they are incorrectly taking their prescribed oral anticoagulation therapy, warfarin. This very important "blood thinner" has an unpredictable reaction in many patients and interacts with many medications creating unsafe situations for patients in which serious bleeding and possibly death may occur. If you are taking warfarin you should take this opportunity to discuss its safe use with your clinician and pharmacist. Please be sure to take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor or healthcare provider. From ISMP: “A recent report by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) notes that some health professionals and patients may not realize that Jantoven is a brand name for the drug warfarin. That could result in inadvertently prescribing and dispensing two warfarin-containing medications for the same patient. ISMP cites the case of a patient who had been taking warfarin at home and continued the drug while in the ...

15 million Americans are harmed each year in our hospitals. Half of these events are related to medication safety. Many people are harmed because they accidentally take their blood thinner medicine incorrectly. Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant medicine, or blood thinner, that is used to treat patients with blood clots or to prevent blood clots from forming in patients with heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Warfarin may also be used after orthopedic surgery to prevent blood clots or in patients with artificial heart valves. Many patients on warfarin may also be taking aspirin or other anti-platelet medications. In a retrospective cohort study published recently in Chest, Johnson, et . al found that 38% of warfarin users were also taking an antiplatelet medicine resulting in a 2.1x greater risk of major hemorrhage [adjusted odds ratio 95% CI 1.01-4.4]. There was no benefit noted in the combination users. [ Johnson, SG, et.al. Outcomes Associated with Combined Antipl...

Flu season is here! It is not too late! Patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu shot, including — “It causes the flu"; "I don’t need it"; "It has side effects"; "It’s not effective"; "I didn’t think about it"; "I don’t like needles!” The fact is that every year in the United States about 36,000 people die from influenza. Greater than 90 percent of these deaths occur in individuals 65 years of age and older. You can help yourself overcome these odds and their personal barriers through education. Protect yourself, your family and friends. Get Your Flu Shot – Not the Flu.

Today's entry is adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Many people are prescribed antibiotics without good reason. This may lead to resistance of bacteria, overgrowth of harmful bacteria in the gut, and possibly even death. Taking medications unnecessarily exposes one to the harmful side effects and drug-drug interactions of these medications without the benefit. The CDC is trying to prevent these problems by educating patients and physicians regarding the proper use of antibiotics. Next time your doctor prescribes an antibiotic ask questions like: What disease/infection are treating me for? Is there a clinical guideline you are following? Is my infection actually bacterial? What can I do to prevent antibiotic associated diarrhea? How do I take this medicine safely? Will it interact with my current medications? What are the side effects I can expect? From CDC: "Upper respiratory infections account for three quarters of all antibiotics prescribed by off...

A moment of silence for those victims of the 9-11 attacks on the USA in 2001. May we never forget the price we pay for our freedom. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families. Take a moment today to remember those who have died in the service of our country in the War on Terror.