Management of gonococcal infection among adults and youth: New key recommendations.

Objective: To provide recommendations on the management of gonococcal infection among adults and youth.

Quality Of Evidence: Treatment recommendations in the Canadian guidelines on sexually transmitted infections are based on review of the literature, as well as the grades of recommendations and the levels of evidence quality determined by a minimum of 2 reviewers. The recommendations are peer-reviewed and require approval by the expert working group.

Behavioral change in rural practice: improving patient motivation in primary care.

As the disparities in rural healthcare have become better understood, the need to adjust and compensate for these unique challenges becomes a priority. This manuscript suggests three constructs that can be readily integrated into rural care providers' daily work to improve treatment outcomes. Autonomy support, relational support, and competence support are among the motivational constructs discussed with a special consideration for the unique cultural and environmental influences of rural West Virginia residents.

A review of depression prevention in primary care.

The treatment of depression in primary care has become a pressing clinical topic in recent years. Research has detailed the chronic, common, and costly nature of the disease. In an effort to meet the proactive preventive challenge of physicians, this review integrates current research and suggestions for practice across the spectrum of preventive medicine.

Impact of the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic on Canadian health care workers: a survey on vaccination, illness, absenteeism, and personal protective equipment.

Background: Data are limited on the impact of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic on health care worker (HCW) vaccination, illness, absenteeism, and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.

Methods: A survey was completed by HCWs from 14 hospitals participating in the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program who provided direct care to patients with pH1N1 influenza in high-risk units between September and December 2009.

Results: Surveys were returned from 986 HCWs (80% nurses, 14% respiratory therapists, and 6% physicians).

How reliable are national surveillance data? Findings from an audit of Canadian methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus surveillance data.

Background: The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP) has conducted surveillance for incident cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in sentinel hospitals since 1995. In 2007, a reliability audit of the 2005 data was conducted.

Methods: In 2005, 5,652 cases were submitted to the CNISP from 43 hospitals.

Acinetobacter baumannii in casualties returning from Afghanistan.

Military personnel returning from Afghanistan and entering Canadian hospitals may be infected with multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The Public Health Agency of Canada, in conjunction with the Canadian Forces, have developed an alert to inform hospitals of the potential for importation of Acinetobacter baumannii, and the appropriate precautionary measures that should be taken to prevent secondary spread within hospitals.