ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – All children should have flu shots, even if they have an egg allergy, and it's now safe to get them without special precautions. This finding is from the latest update on the safety of the flu vaccine for allergic patients, published in the October issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the official journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

The current recommendation from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is to observe children allergic to eggs for 30 minutes after a flu shot. Also to have the shot under the care of a primary care provider, if the reaction to eating eggs is only hives, or an allergist, if the reaction to eating eggs is more serious.

However, "In a large number of research studies published over the last several years, thousands of egg allergic children, including those with a severe life-threatening reaction to eating eggs, have received injectable influenza vaccine (IIV) as a single dose without a reaction" said allergist John Kelso, MD, fellow of the ACAAI.

This update, endorsed by the AAAAI/ACAAI Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, concludes that based upon the available data, "Special precautions regarding medical setting and waiting periods after administration of IIV to egg-allergic recipients beyond those recommended for any vaccine are not warranted. For IIV, language that describes egg-allergic recipients as being at increased risk compared with non-egg-allergic recipients or requiring special precautions should be removed from guidelines and product labeling."

"The benefits of the flu vaccination far outweigh any risk," said Dr. Kelso. "As with any vaccine, all personnel and facilities administering flu shots should have procedures in place for the rare instance of anaphylaxis, a severe life-threatening allergic reaction. If you have questions or concerns, contact your allergist."

Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in children. By age 16, about 70 percent of children outgrow their egg allergy. Most allergic reactions to egg involve the skin. In fact, egg allergy is the most common food allergy in babies and young children with eczema.

Further, the flu is responsible for the hospitalization of more than 21,100 children under the age of five annually, yet only two thirds of children receive the vaccination each year. Some go unvaccinated because of egg allergy.

ACAAI also advises the more than 25.7 million Americans with asthma to receive the flu vaccination. Because the flu and asthma are both respiratory conditions, asthmatics may experience more frequent and severe asthma attacks while they have the flu.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires all employees who have potential occupational exposure to chemicals to receive training on the new hazard communication (hazcom) guidelines. This should be done by December 1.

Click here to read the full article on OSHA's Web site.

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Recent breaches, including the first documented patient-to-patient transmission of hepatitis C in a U.S. dental practice, underscore the importance of understanding and complying with safe infection control practices. Dental professionals will obtain a solid foundation in just three days by attending the CORE Infection Prevention and Safety Conference presented by the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP). Mark your calendars now to attend the course in Tampa, FL, January 6-8, 2014, at the Wyndham Tampa Westshore.

“The CORE Infection Prevention and Safety Conference is considered essential training for dental professionals,” said Therese Long, OSAP executive director. “It’s rigorous and delivers 24 hours of continuing education credits, a comprehensive resource binder, checklists, tools and more in three days…that’s why it’s a ‘boot camp.’ Attendees will receive the right information delivered by national experts in a convenient and cost-effective package. Plus, we are offering an optional exam so attendees can demonstrate their competency in this critical function to ensure the safe and infection-free delivery of oral healthcare.”

As part of OSAP’s 30^th anniversary, members and federal employees are eligible for a special discounted rate of $300. The non-member rate is $450. Registration is open, and the deadline to register is December 20, 2013. Space is limited. OSAP has negotiated a special rate at the Wyndham Tampa Westshore.

The course is designed for infection control coordinators, educators responsible for infection prevention and safety instruction, state compliance officers, risk managers, federal service employees responsible for infection control duties, and consultants and sales representatives who want to demonstrate a CORE level of infection control competency.

For more information and to register, visit https://www.osap.org/?page=CoreICMain.

For the latest infection control information, guidelines and resources, visit www.OSAP.org.

DARIEN, IL – A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) links too little sleep (six hours or less) and too much sleep (10 or more hours) with chronic diseases – including coronary heart disease, diabetes, anxiety and obesity – in adults age 45 and older. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) encourages patients suffering from these common chronic conditions to speak with a sleep medicine physician who can evaluate their sleep patterns.

“It’s critical that adults aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night to receive the health benefits of sleep, but this is especially true for those battling a chronic condition,” said Dr. M. Safwan Badr, president of the AASM. “Common sleep illnesses – including sleep apnea and insomnia – occur frequently in people with a chronic disease and can hinder your ability to sleep soundly. So if you’re waking up exhausted, speak with a sleep physician to see if there’s a problem. If you are diagnosed with a sleep illness, treating it could significantly improve disease symptoms and your quality of life.”

“Some of the relationships between unhealthy sleep durations and chronic diseases were partially explained by frequent mental distress and obesity,” said study co-author Janet B. Croft, PhD, senior chronic disease epidemiologist in CDC’s Division of Population Health. “This suggests that physicians should consider monitoring mental health and body weight in addition to sleep health for patients with chronic diseases.”

In the study, published in the October issue of the Journal SLEEP, short sleepers reported a higher prevalence of coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, in addition to obesity and frequent mental distress, compared with optimal sleepers who reported sleeping seven to nine hours on average in a 24-hour period. The same was true for long sleepers, and the associations with coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes were even more pronounced with more sleep.

“Sleeping longer doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sleeping well. It is important to understand that both the quality and quantity of sleep impact your health,” said Badr. “A healthy, balanced lifestyle is not limited to diet and fitness; when and how you sleep is just as important as what you eat or how you exercise.”

The study involved more than 54,000 participants age 45 or older in 14 states. Nearly one third of participants (31 percent) were identified as short sleepers, meaning they reported sleeping six hours or less on average. More than 64 percent were classified as optimal sleepers, and only 4 percent of participants were long sleepers.

For more information, or to find a local sleep specialist at an AASM accredited sleep center, visit www.sleepeducation.com. 

About the American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Established in 1975, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) is the leader in setting standards and promoting excellence in sleep medicine. With nearly 10,000 members, the AASM improves sleep health and promotes high quality patient centered care through advocacy, education, strategic research, and practice standards. For more information, visit www.aasmnet.org.

Alexandria, Va. – Swedish researchers have discovered that drinking fluoridated water does not increase the risk for hip fractures, This week, the International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) published a paper titled “Estimated Drinking Water Fluoride Exposure and Risk of Hip Fracture: A Cohort Study.” In this study a team of researchers, led by Peggy Näsman, Karolinska Institute, Department of Dental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden, investigated possible adverse health effects on bone tissue from drinking fluoridated water. The study included a large cohort of Swedish residents chronically exposed to various fluoride levels, with the hypothesis of a possible association between fluoride level in the drinking water and the risk of hip fracture. With nearly half a million individuals participating in this study, this is believed to be one of the largest studies of its kind. The complete study is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research. 

The cariostatic benefit from water fluoridation is indisputable, but there has been debate over the past 60 years on possible adverse effects from fluoride on human health. The study assessed the association between long-term (chronic) drinking water fluoride exposure and hip fracture (ICD-7-9: ‘820’ and ICD-10: ‘S72.0-S72.2’) in Sweden using nationwide registers. 

All individuals born in Sweden between January 1, 1900 and December 31, 1919, alive and living in their municipality of birth at the time of start of follow up were eligible for this study. The information on the eligible study subjects (n=473,277) was linked among the Swedish National In-patient Register (IPR), the Swedish Cause of Death Register, and the Register of Population and Population Changes. Estimated individual drinking water fluoride exposure was stratified into four categories: very low <0.3mg/L, low 0.3 - 0.69mg/L, medium 0.7 - 1.49mg/L and high ≥1.5mg/L. 

Näsman and her team of researchers found no association between chronic fluoride exposure and the risk of hip fracture. The risk estimates did not change in analyses restricted to only low trauma osteoporotic hip fractures. This research suggests that chronic fluoride exposure from drinking water does not seem to have any important effects on the risk of hip fracture, in the investigated exposure range. 

“Though research continues to prove the health benefits associated with drinking fluoridated water, the potential for health risks should continue to be studied,” said IADR President Helen Whelton. “It is promising to know that this cohort study, performed in Sweden, doesn’t find an association between drinking fluoridated water and hip fractures.” 

AUPPAUGE, NY— Mydent International is raising breast cancer awareness through its website, “Defend Yourself with Pink.” The program, available through Mydent’s distribution network, will feature a selection of pink Defend products including face masks, lab coats, jackets, tray covers and more. Healthcare professionals will get access to 4+1 specials on these products through December 31, 2013.

Mydent International will be donating a portion of proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation to help support education, breast health services and other programs provided by the foundation. In addition to this donation, Mydent International proudly supports Autism Speaks, the nation's largest and most effective autism science and advocacy organization. 

To learn more about Mydent’s “Defend Yourself with Pink” program, call 800-275-0020 or visit www.defendyourselfwithpink.com. 

On CDC’s Safe Healthcare blog, Karen Morrow, a patient who contracted hepatitis C at the hands of clinicians’ unsafe injection practices, discusses her experience throughout the process of patient notification and disease treatment.   Karen’s story, one among many patient stories, is a must-read for every healthcare provider who gives injections regularly to consider in the course of their daily work. Click here to read Karen's story.

WASHINGTON,PRNewswire/ -- OralHygenix announced this week development of its Freedom Oral Care System (FOCS), the world's first mobile, hands-free oral hygiene platform designed to meet daily care needs of disabled, elderly, convalescent and chronically infirm populations. Introduced at AdvaMed 2013: The MedTech Conference in a company presentation, OralHygenix is seeking funding to support commercial launch in 2015.

"Although numerous studies have demonstrated the impact of dental hygiene on overall wellbeing, there is no product on the market aimed at helping America's growing elderly and disabled population improve and maintain their oral health," said Dr. Stephen H. Wolpo, DDS, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OralHygenix. "With 80 percent of nursing home residents having fair to poor oral health and the incidence rate of acute care conditions and health complications associated with poor oral hygiene on the rise among our most vulnerable patient populations, the need to improve the efficacy of daily care as well as lower downstream costs and risk is clear. FOCS was developed to address this need."

The patented device uses three synergistic modalities (mechanical (brushing); iontophoretic (ionic charges); and irrigation (anti-microbial and fluoride rinses)) to deliver daily oral care for multiple patients using individualized mouthpieces. The hands-free system cleans the surfaces of teeth and gums (i.e. dislodge debris, remove plaque and tartar) and irrigates, disinfects and applies protective elements to teeth. 

The system also tracks and monitors utilization and provides real-time compliance documentation to all stakeholders and wirelessly integrates with eMARs (Electronic Medication Administration Record and Scheduling).

OralHygenix will focus initially on the 16,100 nursing homes in the U.S., which are mandated to provide daily oral care per the 1987 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA). In 2016, the company plans to launch next generation products, including an in-home system and a portable, battery-operated mass-market device.

"Improving oral health among disabled, elderly, convalescent and chronically infirm populations, offers significant benefits. For patients it means less cavities, gum infections and extractions as well as a reduction in the occurrence of aspiration pneumonia – a leading cause of death among the convalescent which costs the health care system in excess of $300M per year," added Wolpo. "From our perspective, enabling and ensuring compliance provides a direct cost-savings benefit to the larger healthcare system."

The company is seeking financing to support its clinical trial program with New York University College of Dentistry, refine the prototype system and prepare for commercial scale-up.

About OralHygenix:

OralHygenix is a pioneer in mobile, hands-free oral care technologies. The company's Freedom Oral Care System (FOCS) will address the growing dental care problem among aging and disabled populations.  For further information about OralHygenix, please visit www.oralhygenix.com.

OXNARD, CALIF. – DUX Dental has introduced a new, value-priced dental alginate that will help dental and orthodontic practices realize a 50 percent savings on impression material while producing excellent results. IMAGE Dust-Free Alginate is a high-quality impression material that creates a smooth, glass-like surface to ensure precision impressions and molds.

E Dust-Free Alginate delivers impeccable, detailed impressions that are easy to read at a cost that helps keep overhead down,” said Stacey Williams, director of marketing and sales at DUX Dental. “Dentists and orthodontists can produce quality impressions that have silicone-like readability and appease the patient with quick setting times and a pleasant scent.”

The alginate is dust-free, green-colored, mint-scented and 100 percent biodegradable. Fast Set IMAGE Alginate sets in two minutes, while the Regular Set sets in three minutes. Both provide 100 hours of dimensional stability when sealed in a plastic bag so the impression pour can be delayed.

The following IMAGE Dust-Free Alginate product packages are available now through dental dealers in U.S. and Canada:

• IMAGE Dust-Free Alginate: One 500-gram pouch of alginate. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $9.00

• IMAGE Dust-Free Alginate Fast Set Starter Pack: Includes one 500-gram pouch of alginate and one mixing canister, powder scoop and water vial. MSRP: $10.10 

About DUX Dental

DUX Dental has been manufacturing and distributing the highest level of dental products worldwide for more than 50 years. Based in the coastal city of Oxnard, Calif., with additional manufacturing and distribution facilities in Europe, DUX Dental is home to a world-class team of innovators who produce and service a portfolio of hundreds of dental products and supplies. DUX Dental is well known for its series of industry firsts including Zone Temporary Cement, IdenticTM Alginate and Bib-Eze disposable bib holders, as well as its award-winning PeelVue+ sterilization pouches. Visit www.duxdental.com or contact duxoffice@duxdental.com for more information about DUX Dental products.