Germ of the Month - December 2005

This month we would like to reintroduce you to Newman (Streptococcus pnemoniae). Newman used to be our wild child, but today he has himself fairly well in check. But, like most children, he can only contain himself so long before a little naughty behavior slips out!

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a normal inhabitant of the human upper respiratory tract. Until 2000, S. pneumoniae infections caused 100,000-135,000 hospitalizations for pneumonia, 6 million cases of otitis media, and 60,000 cases of invasive disease, including 3,300 cases of meningitis.^1,2 Incidence of sterile-site infections showed geographic variation from 21 to 33 cases per 100,000 population. Disease figures are now changing due to conjugate vaccine introduction in the year 2000. In 2002, the rate of invasive disease was 13 cases per 100,000 in the United States.³

Today, death occurs in 14% of hospitalized adults with invasive disease. Neurologic sequelae and/or learning disabilities can occur in meningitis patients. Hearing impairment can result from recurrent otitis media. Persons at higher risk for infection are the elderly, children under 2 years old, African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, children who attend group day care centers, and persons with underlying medical conditions including HIV infection and sickle-cell disease. In the United States, ß-lactam antibiotic resistance is common and prevalence of strains resistant to multiple classes
of drugs is increasing.⁴

Recently, epidemics of disease have reappeared in settings such as chronic care facilities, military camps and day care
centers, a situation not recognized since the pre-antibiotic era.⁵ As always, a key component to the reduction of
transmission of pathogens is good hand hygiene with a product that has good persistence.

We hope you enjoy introducing your staff to Newman this month as you continue your own efforts to educate and maintain awareness about infectious disease in your facility. This information is brought to you by Mölnlycke Health Care, maker of Hibiclens® antiseptic and Hibistat®, convenient antimicrobial towelettes with the persistence of CHG.⁶ Our reason for all that we do is to provide you with the very best in products and support, to help you control infections. We look forward to hearing from you about our Hibigeebie® campaign. Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-843-8497.

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1 Dec 2003 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm
2 http://textbookofbacteriology.net/S.pneumoniae.html
3 Dec 2003 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm
4 Dec 2003 http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/streppneum_t.htm
5 http://textbookofbacteriology.net/S.pneumoniae.html
6 Mölnlycke Health Care urges all users to read the product leaflet closely and use Hibi products only as directed.