# 3780
Maryn McKenna, who (when she isn’t writing books) pens the superb Superbug Blog and is a staff writer for CIDRAP news, brings us some new details about bacterial co-infections among pandemic flu fatalities.
Last night, in a piece for CIDRAP news, Maryn wrote of a conference call for clinicians held by the CDC yesterday. This is a detail rich story, so follow the link to read it in its entirety.
CDC cites bacterial infections in some H1N1 deaths
Maryn McKenna
Contributing Writer
Sep 28, 2009 (CIDRAP News) – Almost one third of a group of patients who died in the past 4 months from H1N1 influenza had bacterial infections that complicated their illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in a conference call with healthcare providers. But the agency cautioned against applying that ratio to all cases of H1N1, saying the death records it reviewed were submitted by hospitals and medical examiners and did not represent a statistically valid sample.
Nevertheless, the 22 cases (among 77 deaths confirmed to be from H1N1) emphasize that bacterial co-infections are playing a role in the ongoing pandemic, something that was not clear at first, the CDC's Dr. Matthew Moore said on the call.
See also:
CDC recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination for adults
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/provisional/downloads/pneumo-Oct-2008-508.pdfCDC recommendation for pneumococcal vaccination for children
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr4909.pdf
In a follow up to this piece, Maryn provides details of other similar studies on her Superbug blog, in a piece called:
More evidence of MRSA involvement in H1N1 flu
Once again, Maryn provides a good deal of detail, and draws on some of what she gleaned from the recent ICAAC meeting.
The CDC is urging those who are at high risk of pneumonia to avail themselves of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV). Incredibly, only about 16% of the target population in the US has taken this protective shot.
Although I don’t offer medical advice in this blog, I have long suggested that people consult with their primary care provider about the advisability of taking the Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) – even if you aren’t sure you fall into a recommended category.
A few past blogs where I’ve discussed this option include:
Referral: Effect Measure On Pneumococcal Vaccines
CDC Issues Pneumococcal Vaccine Recommendations
Seven Steps You Can Take Now To Prepare For A Pandemic
It Doesn't Have To Be Pandemic Flu
With Flu Season Upon Us
If you’ve not talked to your doctor about the Pneumonia Vaccine, now is a very good time to do so.
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