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Attendees at the 52nd Congress were able to choose from a wide variety of topics for their continuing education needs. Following are brief synopses of just a few of the sessions presented.

EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Carolyn L. Twomey, RN, BSN, began her session "Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Blood Supply" by showing a drawing of a "plague doctor," a sinister-looking figure wearing a full gown and full head mask in which the eye holes were covered with glass, and the breathing spaces were packed with herbs. Although today, people might assume he was wearing this garb to protect himself from disease, he actually was dressed this way to scare off the evil spirits that once were thought to cause the bubonic plague.

We now know much more about the causes of disease, but 15 million people worldwide still die of infectious diseases every year. Infectious agents can enter the blood supply through blood donations made by individuals who are asymptomatic for an infection. It also is conceivable that bioterrorist acts could be directed toward infecting the blood supply. Infectious agents in the blood supply include not only viruses (eg, HIV) but also bacteria, protozoa, and prions, and current tools may not be sufficient to detect them all.

In modern times, diseases can spread rapidly because of the ease of global travel and antibiotic and antiviral resistance. In addition, infectious agents evolve as society, technology, and the environment change. For example, evidence indicates that the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 may have been caused by a form of avian flu.

Infectious diseases that currently are of concern include HIV; hepatitis B, C, and G; West Nile virus; rabies; variant Creuztfeldt-Jakob disease; and avian flu. Infections also can be transferred to organ recipients through organ donations from individuals with infections.

It is very important for perioperative nurses to protect themselves and their patients from infectious diseases, and Twomey offered a number of ways to help accomplish this.

* If there is a vaccine, get it.

* Maintain a keen sense of where sharps are during surgery.

* Use a surgical scrub that works with your surgical gloves.

* Use the best possible barrier protection, including double gloves and eye protection.

* Know your products, and use products that have cumulative and persistent effects.

# posted by Medical Information : 11:24 PM