 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
|
|
|
 |
Synopsis for January 7, 2000
MMWR articles are embargoed until 4 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday.
- Staphylococcus aureus with Reduced Susceptibility to Vancomycin Illinois, 1999
- Laboratory Capacity to Detect Antimicrobial Resistance, 1998
- Abortion Surveillance: Preliminary Analysis United States, 1997
Synopsis for January 7, 2000
Staphylococcus aureus with Reduced Susceptibility to Vancomycin Illinois, 1999
Some strains of Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus) are showing signs of becoming resistant to the vancomycin.
PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations
CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 6393286 |
Although reports of these cases have been few (This is the fourth confirmed report in the U.S.), the difficulties in detecting these strains in
the laboratory may allow some infections to remain undetected. As a result of widespread antimicrobial use, resistance to common antibiotics has
emerged in the United States and abroad as a major public health challenge both in community and hospital settings. Decreasing the likelihood of
further emergence of vancomycin resistant strains of staphylococci in the United States depends, in part, on actions taken now to prevent the
spread of these strains in health-care facilities. These include, prudent vancomycin use, excellent infection-control precautions such as
health-care worker handwashing, and heightened awareness of proper Staph aureus testing protocol among clinical microbiology
laboratories. Prompt recognition and reporting of these strains to State Health Departments and CDC will facilitate appropriate treatment of
infected patients and prevention of spread to others.
Laboratory Capacity to Detect Antimicrobial Resistance, 1998
There is a need to increase awareness among laboratory and related personnel about evolving practices of testing for antibiotic resistant
bacteria.
PRESS CONTACT:
Division of Media Relations
CDC, Office of Communication
(404) 6393286 |
The development of antibiotic resistance makes treating infections difficult since there are fewer effective antibiotics available. Combating
resistant infections begins in the laboratory where drug-resistant bacteria are identified. The most common pathogens associated with
hospital-acquired infections, Staphylococcus aureus ( "Staph") and Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., E. coli ) have
developed novel mechanisms of drug resistance. This survey found that despite the capacity for proper testing in a majority of laboratories,
only 59% of laboratories reported that they did routine confirmatory testing for vancomycin resistance in Staph infections (last uniformly
effective drug for these infections). Only 31.7% of laboratories were testing for an important type of resistance to cephalosporins and
related antibiotics in gram negative bacteria.
Abortion Surveillance: Preliminary Analysis United States, 1997
The number of legal induced abortions in 1997 continues to decline; and the national abortion rate and abortion ratios continue to be at an
all-time low.
PRESS CONTACT:
Lisa Koonin, M.N., M.P.H.
CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 4885188 |
As in 1996, the 1997 national abortion rate of 20 per 1,000 women of reproductive age (aged 15-44 years) continues to be the lowest rate
recorded since 1975. The national abortion ratio (number of legal abortions per 1000 live births) decreased from 314 in 1996 to 305 in 1997 and
is at the lowest recorded level since 1975. CDC receives data on legal induced abortions from the 50 states, New York City and the District of
Columbia. Women who obtained legal abortions in 1997, as in previous years, were predominantly white and unmarried. As in 1996, most women
obtaining a legal induced abortion in 1997 were 20 years and older; about one-fifth of women who obtained abortions were aged 19 years or
younger. For the first time, this report includes medical (nonsurgical) induced abortion procedures. In 1997, almost 3,000 medical abortions
were reported from 16 states.
| Fact Sheets |
Facts about Abortion Surveillance
January 7, 2000
CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
- Many states emphasize the prevention of unintended pregnancy, particularly among teenagers. To assist efforts to prevent unintended
pregnancy, each state needs an accurate assessment of abortion on an ongoing basis, including the number and characteristics of women
obtaining abortions.
- This report includes the preliminary analysis of national abortion surveillance data for the latest year of available data--1997.
The report presents national data for 1997 on legal induced abortions compiled from the 50 states, New York City, and the District of
Columbia.
- In 1997, 1,184,758 legal, induced abortions were reported to CDC, representing a decrease of 3% from the number reported in 1996. As
in 1996, the 1997 national abortion rate of 20 per 1,000 women of reproductive age (aged 15-44 years) continues to be the lowest rate
recorded since 1975. The national abortion ratio (number of legal abortions per 1000 live births) decreased from 314 in 1996 to 305 in
1997, and was lower than for any year since 1975.
- Since 1990 (the year in which the number of abortions was highest), the annual number of legal induced abortions in the United
States has steadily declined. The number of abortions reported to CDC for 1997 showed a decline from the previous year and is the
lowest recorded number since 1978.
- Women who obtained legal abortions in 1997, as in previous years, were predominantly white and unmarried. About one-fifth of women
who obtained abortions were aged 19 years or younger.
- Curettage (suction and sharp) remained the primary procedure, accounting for 98% of all legal abortion procedures.
- Most abortions are performed early in pregnancyas in previous years, more than half (55%) of legal abortions were performed
during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy; approximately 88% were performed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- Factors that may have contributed to the decrease in the proportion of pregnancies that ended in abortion since 1990 include a
decrease in the number of unintended pregnancies, changes in contraceptive practices, including an increased use of condoms among
young women and men, reduced access to abortion services, and possible changes in attitudes concerning abortion.
|
|
