MCN Healthcare: Policy Management and Compliance Tools

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued Guidance for Vaccinating Children during the 2013 Pentacel, Daptacel and Pediarix Shortages. in response to SanofiPasteur's Pentacel® (DTaP-IPV/Hib) and Daptacel® shortages and the reduced allocation of GlaxoSmithKline's Pediarix® vaccine. The shortages are expected to last throughout the summer of 2013.

The guidance encourages vaccine providers to:

• Continue to follow the recommended immunization schedule and ensure patient receive all recommended doses of DTaP, Hib, and polio vaccines.

• Search for alternative vaccines during the shortage (including single component DTaP, IPV, HepB, and Hib vaccines and other licensed combination vaccines which should be readily available).

• Contact your state and local immunization program for guidance about ordering vaccine if you participate in the VFC program.

See the Guidance Document, including possible scheduling scenarios and additional further information about vaccine shortages by following the link below.

Abbott Diabetes Care has initiated a voluntary Class I recall of FreeStyle lnsulinx Blood Glucose Meters in the United States. At extremely high blood glucose levels of 1024 mg/dL and above, the FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Meter will display and store in memory an incorrect test result that is 1024 mg/dL below the measured result. 

For example, at a blood glucose value of 1066 mg/dL, the meter will display and store a value of 42 mg/dL (1066 mg/dL - 1024 mg/dL = 42 mg/dL

Blood glucose levels at 1024 mg/dL and above are very rare. However, if high blood glucose levels of 1024 mg/dL and above occur, they are a serious health risk that requires immediate medical attention.

The FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Meter measures glucose in blood drawn from the fingertips of people with diabetes to monitor blood sugar levels. On April 15, 2013, Abbott Diabetes Care sent an Urgent Product Recall letter to all its affected customers. The FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Meters were distributed from April 18, 2012 through April 1, 2013.

 Consumers who are using the FreeStyle InsuLinx Meter should immediately take one of the following actions to address this issue:

• Access a software update to install on your meter to resolve the issue at: www.freestyleinsulinx.com/swupdate. The software update will allow you to maintain settings and historical data on your meter.

• Contact Abbott Diabetes Care Customer Service at 1-866-723-2697 to expedite return and replacement of your FreeStyle InsuLinx meter at no charge. Replacements are available, and Abbott will send a meter to you immediately upon request.

Healthcare professionals who have FreeStyle InsuLinx Blood Glucose Monitoring Kits are advised to immediately discontinue dispensing them to your patients, and to arrange for product return and replacement, call Abbott Diabetes Care customer service at 1-866-723-2697.

Read the MedWatch alert, including a link to the Recall Notice, by following the link below.

This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released results of its Dialysis Bloodstream Infection Prevention Collaborative showing a 32 percent decrease in overall bloodstream infections and a 54 percent decrease in vascular access-related bloodstream infections after CDC prevention guidelines were used.

Vascular access-related bloodstream infections are those related to devices used to access the bloodstream for hemodialysis. With approximately 37,000 bloodstream infections occurring each year among dialysis patients with central lines, at an estimated cost of $23,000 per hospitalization, the CDC believes that wider implementation of the practices in this study could help save lives and reduce excess health care spending.

In April 2009, the CDC launched a collaborative project to prevent bloodstream infections among dialysis patients and invited outpatient dialysis centers to participate. CDC and the participating dialysis centers worked together to develop and implement the package of interventions to prevent bloodstream infections.

Core interventions:

• Surveillance and feedback using National Healthcare Safety Network
• Performing hand hygiene observations
• Performing catheter/vascular access care observations
• Conducting staff education and competency
• Patient education/engagement
• Catheter use reduction
• Use of Chlorhexidine for skin antisepsis
• Appropriate antiseptic for catheter hub disinfection
• Antimicrobial ointment application to catheter exit sites during dressing change

Dialysis facilities can implement many of CDC's recommendations by using a series of checklists and performing observations using audit tools that are currently available on CDC's website. Additionally, CDC has released a free infection prevention course for dialysis nurses and technicians that reviews CDC recommended practices in a convenient, 1-hour self-guided internet training course that also offers continuing education credits.

Preventing bloodstream infections among dialysis patients has been identified as a national priority by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to the CDC, several initiatives have demonstrated the ability to reduce bloodstream infections in hospital intensive care units, but prior to the CDC Dialysis Bloodstream Infection Prevention Collaborative, there have been few similar initiatives attempted in outpatient settings.

Included with today's notice are policies and procedures related to the CDC core interventions to prevent bloodstream infections.