Media Contact:Nettie Casarez [email protected] orMark Mazzone [email protected]312/558-1770
On Site Media Contact:Pam Rwankole, September 7-10: 504/670-7103
NEWS FROM THE INFECTIOUS DISEASES SOCIETY OF AMERICA
NEW ORLEANS -- The latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases are being presented here this week at the 38th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Topics making news at this year's meeting include:
Survey of U.S. Stores Reveals Widespread Availability of Soaps Containing Potentially Harmful Antibacterial Agents. (Embargoed for release Thursday, Sept. 7)
A survey shows that nearly half of all hand soaps -- including 75 percent of liquid soaps available in the U.S. and nearly one-third of all bar soaps -- contain antibacterials (AB) despite growing evidence that the products facilitate the emergence of bacteria with mutations that make them resistant to antibiotics. "The magnitude of antibacterial soap use that we documented in our survey is cause for concern," said Eli Perencevich, M.D., principal author of the study presented at the IDSA The speed with which bacteria develop resistance to antibacterials is likely related to the amount used by the public, he said.
Study Confirms Chickenpox Vaccine Is Effective in Adults; Prevents Serious Illness in Older Population (Embargoed for release Thursday, Sept. 7)
The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine is highly effective in protecting adults from serious disease, and immunization is recommended for all adults who have never had chickenpox. "Older people -- especially adolescents and the elderly -- are more susceptible to complications of chickenpox, such as pneumonia and central nervous system infections (encephalitis)," said Krow Ampofo, M.D., author of the study presented at IDSA. "Yet individuals in this age group are less likely to be vaccinated than children."
Some Unpasteurized and Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice May be Unsafe (Embargoed for released Friday, Sept. 8.)
Two major outbreaks of Salmonella infection resulting from drinking unpasteurized or "fresh squeezed" orange juice and affecting more than 500 patients in 20 or more U.S. states have been documented in less than a year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Pending an investigation by the FDA, consumers who wish to reduce their risk of illness may want to purchase juices that are labeled "pasteurized."
The IDSA meeting is being held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. For more information, call Nettie Casarez at Public Communications, Inc., 312/558-1770, or Pam Rwankole in the IDSA News Room (Sept. 7-10) at 504/670-7103.
# # #
RSS