Synopsis for March 25, 2005

The MMWR is embargoed until Thursday, 12 PM EDT.

1. Pseudomonas Bloodstream Infections Associated with a Heparin/ Saline Flush ― Missouri, New York, Texas, and Michigan, 2004-2005
2. Varicella-Related Deaths ― United States, January 2003-June 2004
3. Varicella Surveillance in Public Elementary Schools ― Multnomah County, Oregon, 2002-2004
4. Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication ― Afghanistan and Pakistan, January 2004-February 2005

Pseudomonas Bloodstream Infections Associated with a Heparin/Saline Flush ― Missouri, New York, Texas, and Michigan, 2004-2005

Healthcare providers who see cases of Pseudomonas infection in patients with intravenous catheters are urged to determine if their patients received the recalled heparin/saline flush solution.

A large outbreak of Pseudomonas infections was caused by exposure to a contaminated heparin/saline flush syringe that is used in the maintenance of intravenous catheters. Reportedly, the prepared syringes were not tested for the presence of bacteria as recommended by the Good Manufacturing Practices established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The syringes have been recalled by the FDA. Healthcare providers who see cases of Pseudomonas infection in patients with intravenous catheters are urged to determine if their patients received the recalled heparin/saline flush solution. Companies that manufacture products that are intended for injection should follow FDA regulations intended to assure the sterility of these products.

Varicella-Related Deaths ― United States, January 2003-June 2004

Varicella can be a fatal disease. The vaccine is >95 percent effective against preventing severe disease. Therefore, timely vaccination in children 12-18 months of age and vaccination of susceptible older children and adolescents is important to preventing deaths due to varicella.

Varicella disease is an infectious disease and can result in death. Varicella can be prevented by vaccination. Despite availability of a safe and effective vaccine, varicella deaths continue to occur. During 2003 and the first half of 2004, CDC received reports of eight varicella-related deaths. Six out of the eight deaths occurred among children and adolescents aged <20 years and none of them were vaccinated. Three deaths occurred in susceptible, unvaccinated, but otherwise healthy children. The deaths presented in this report highlight the importance of timely routine vaccination of children aged 12-18 months, as well as catch-up vaccination of older susceptible children and adolescents according to current recommendations.

Varicella Surveillance in Public Elementary Schools ― Multnomah County, Oregon, 2002-2004

Varicella vaccination may be reducing chickenpox occurrence in elementary school children.

Varicella vaccination may be reducing the occurrence of chickenpox in Multnomah County public elementary schools: cases reported for the 2003-04 school year were 30 percent lower than the previous school year and the actual numbers were small (86 and 114, respectively). Surveillance for chickenpox is being conducted in Multnomah County public elementary schools by the Oregon Department of Health Services and the Multnomah Education Services District. Reports of chickenpox cases are collected from school nurses.

Progress Toward Poliomyelitis Eradication ― Afghanistan and Pakistan, January 2004- February 2005

Although poliovirus continues to circulate in Pakistan and Afghanistan, considerable progress has been made toward eliminating poliomyelitis from the countries by the end of 2005.

Although poliomyelitis remained endemic in six countries at the end of 2003, progress toward interrupting poliovirus transmission continued during 2004 in Afghanistan, and Pakistan, which with India are the only countries in Asia where poliomyelitis is endemic. From 2003 to 2004, the number of reported polio cases decreased approximately 50 percent in both countries. Although the quality of national and sub-national immunization campaigns is improving, children are still being missed. The achievements to date toward eradicating polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan would not have been possible without continued support from the international polio partnership, especially from political and health leaders at national, provincial, and district levels in both countries. With continued support, elimination of poliomyelitis in both countries can be accomplished by the end of 2005.

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This page last reviewed March 25, 2005
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