Ongoing Transmission of Candida auris in Health Care Facilities

CDC has just released an MMWR update on Candida auris (C. auris) cases identified in U.S. health care facilities through May 2017.

Potential for Falsely Low Blood Lead Test Results from LeadCare® Analyzers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety communication warning about the use of Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers (LeadCare, LeadCare II, LeadCare Ultra and LeadCare Plus) with venous blood samples because they might result in falsely low test results. FDA is now advising that Magellan Diagnostics’ LeadCare® analyzers should no longer be used with venous blood samples. The safety alert does not apply to capillary blood lead test results collected by fingerstick or heelstick. The purpose of this Health Advisory is to notify state and local health departments, healthcare providers, and laboratories about CDC’s re-testing guidance in light of the safety alert.

Prolonged IgM Antibody Response in People Infected with Zika Virus: Implications for Interpreting Serologic Testing Results for Pregnant Women

In July 2016, CDC issued Interim Guidance for Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant Women with Possible Zika Virus Exposure – United States, July 2016 (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6529e1.htm) that includes Zika virus immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing of pregnant women.

U.S.-licensed yellow fever vaccine supply to be depleted by mid-2017

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines a plan to ensure a continuous yellow fever vaccine supply in the United States following the anticipated depletion of the U.S.-licensed YF-VAX® yellow fever vaccine in mid-2017, according to a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published April 28, 2017.

FDA approves two hepatitis C drugs for pediatric patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved supplemental applications for Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and Harvoni (ledipasvir and sofosbuvir) to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children ages 12 to 17. Harvoni and Sovaldi were previously approved to treat HCV in adults.

CDC: About 1 in 10 U.S. pregnant women with confirmed Zika infection had a fetus or baby with birth defects in 2016

Of the 250 pregnant women who had confirmed Zika infection in 2016, 24 – or about 1 in 10 of them – had a fetus or baby with Zika-related birth defects, according to a new Vital Signs report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This report is the first to provide the analysis of a subgroup of pregnant women in the U.S. with clear, confirmed test results of Zika virus infection.

CDC Updates Specimen Collection, Shipping, and Testing Guidance for Suspected Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Cases

Despite extensive pathogen-specific testing of many specimens since 2014, CDC and others have not identified an etiology for the AFM cases. Therefore, CDC will no longer perform clinical diagnostics for enteroviruses or metagenomic sequencing on specimens collected from suspect cases of AFM.

Information for Healthcare Personnel Potentially Exposed to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Recommended Testing and Follow-up

Exposure to viral hepatitis has long been recognized as an occupational risk for healthcare personnel, with recommendations previously established for the management of occupational exposures to hepatitis C virus (HCV).