Report of the Month

REPORT OF THE MONTH, Number 2 - MARCH-APRIL 1997

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from the NC Statewide Infection Control Program

CONTENTS:



A RAPID EIA HIV SCREENING TEST FOR OCCUPATIONAL POST-EXPOSURE MANAGEMENT


Recently the CDC published provisional recommendations that chemoprophylaxis should begin preferably within one to two hours after occupational exposure to HIV (MMWR 1996;45:468-472). Thus a highly reliable rapid screening test of the source would be desirable to avoid unnecessary treatment of exposed individuals. Other benefits of a rapid HIV screening test would include cost savings of the medication, emotional support in not having to wait for test results, and elimination of concerns over effects of post-exposure drug regimens. Tests could be completed immediately on site, reducing need for reference labs or batch testing. One test currently available is the Single-Use Diagnostic System (SUDS HIV-1), made by Murex Diagnostics, Inc., Norcross, GA (800-448-5661). It uses a standard enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method and is condensed into a compact kit that does not require instrumentation. This test takes 10 minutes to complete on serum or plasma samples. A total of 13 published papers/abstracts representing a wide range of laboratory settings (i.e., large and small medical centers, public health department, emergency room, reference lab, teaching hospital and government Navy and VA hospitals) were involved in the evaluation of the SUDS HIV-1 test. The results were 100% sensitivity proven in all studies (no false negatives), and 99.6% specificity (in comparison with the Western Blot). Should the SUDS HIV-1 test results indicate the presence of antibodies to HIV-1 from the source, the company recommends therapy and counseling be initiated and a confirmatory Western blot be performed. (KK Hoffmann)

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS


"North Carolina Guidelines for Control of Antibiotic Resistant Organisms, Specifically Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)" have been completed. The guidelines will be distributed by professional associations such as APIC-NC and are NOT available at this time from the Statewide Infection Control Program office. In response to the CDC directive for each state to develop guidelines for the prevention and control of antibiotic resistant organisms, the Statewide Infection Control Program, in collaboration with Dr. Newt MacCormack, Chief of the Communicable Disease Section of the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, and with the assistance of a statewide advisory group, developed the guidelines.

With an increasing population of Spanish-speaking people in the state, hospitals have inquired about a supplier of isolation signs in Spanish. Bilingual (Spanish and English) isolation signs (consistent with latest CDC guidelines) are available from United Ad Label Co (AL) at 1-800-423-8488, and may also be available from other sign companies.

Recent publications in infection control by the program staff include these chapters in Wenzel RP, ed. Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections, 3rd ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1997.

Hoffmann KK. The Modern Infection Control Practitioner, 33-46.
Weber DJ, Rutala WA, Environmental Issues and Nosocomial Infections, 491-514.
Rutala WA, Disinfection, Sterilization and Waste Disposal, 539-606.
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Report of the Month is also available on the home page of the Statewide Infection Control Program at http://www.unc.edu/depts/spice/

The Statewide Infection Control Program (SICP) is funded by the General Assembly of North Carolina to serve the State. The SICP is not a regulatory agency but provides education and consultation to North Carolina healthcare facilities.

Copyright 1997 Statewide Infection Control Program

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