Medically reviewed by Samantha Dowell, CPNP Rates of strep throat are highest between December and April of each year. Right now, we are in the peak of the season. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said unpublished data from its national surveillance program show that visits for regular strep infections reached a five-year […]
It’s that time of year again where the flu, stomach bugs, allergies, germs and other illness are kicking it into high gear. However, we want to help you prevent sickness before it happens! Use our handy checklist below for better health this season. Infection Prevention Checklist #1 – Clean your hands. Clean your hands frequently using […]
700 deaths a day. That’s what sepsis causes in the United States. It’s shocking. However, survival rates increase dramatically when patients get the right treatment, right away. What Is Sepsis? Sepsis is the body’s abnormal response to infection. The body essentially attacks itself, which can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death. Any […]
Bacterial Infections Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections. Some surgeons prescribe antibiotics to people before or after surgery to help prevent a bacterial infection. Antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor and you can only get them from a pharmacist at the pharmacy counter. Using antibiotics when they are not needed can cause harmful side […]
We asked Dr. Mark Piehl, medical director of the WakeMed Children’s Hospital, what parents need to know about Human Enterovirus 68, a respiratory virus affecting children in the Midwest. He shared the following information with us and several reporters including Time Warner News. Human Enterovirus 68 is rare, but has been known to cause outbreaks […]
Frequent hand washing is the very best way to prevent the spread of germs. Washing your hands is also the best way to make sure that any bacteria living on raw turkey does not make its way to other surfaces where it may be subsequently introduced into your family’s gastrointestinal systems. Additionally, the proper handling and […]
Predicting the pattern for an upcoming flu season can be challenging. While this fall showed promise for a mild season, the number of patients in our emergency departments with flu or flu-like illness is now increasing rapidly, suggesting that perhaps the worst is yet to come. Beginning the first of December and climbing within the […]
Robin Carver, RN, is WakeMed‘s director of infection prevention & control. Salmonella infection generally does not cause serious illness, but it does cause uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms and can occasionally be fatal in infants, people with compromised immune systems and the elderly primarily due to dehydration. To date, 11 salmonella cases have been reported in North Carolina, but […]
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