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Prenatal Malaria Exposure Increases Risk Of Malaria And Anemia For Some Children
Some babies who are exposed to malaria before birth develop a tolerant

About 20% Of Surveyed Sex Workers Who Use Drugs In Irish Capital Living With HIV, Report Finds
About one-fifth of commercial sex workers surveyed in Dublin, Ireland, are HIV-positive, while 78% of the surveyed group is living with hepatitis C, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, the Irish Times reports. The report surveyed 35 drug users in the city who are or had been involved in the sex industry. The participants had an average age of 29. The report found that a majority of the sex workers surveyed, or 88%, were receiving methadone treatment but also using other drugs simultaneously. In addition, the report included surveys of health workers, who said that it is becoming increasingly difficult to reach sex workers as they are becoming less visible in the city due to the increased use of mobile technology, such as the Internet and cellular phones, to contact clients (Gartland, Irish Times, 5/13). The researchers made several recommendations to address issues surrounding sex workers, including that the government should continue funding services for the population, the PA/Google.com reports. Teresa Whitaker, a researcher who worked on the report, said, "A dominant theme to emerge from the field work was that drug-using sex workers are vulnerable people with complex and multiple needs that span health, social and legal issues." She added, "For the most part, participants grew up in communities associated with social and economic marginalization and high levels of unemployment. They move more or less continually through drug and alcohol services, homeless hostels, the judicial system and other social care agencies" (PA/Google.com, 5/12).
News of the day
Climate Change And Other Stresses Expected To Affect Entire Populations Of Fish
Entire populations of North American fish already are being affected by several emerging diseases, a problem that threatens to increase in the future with climate change and other stresses on aquatic ecosystems, according to a noted U.S. Geological Survey researcher gave an invited talk on this subject yesterday at the Wildlife Disease Association conference in Blaine, Wash.
Endocrinology

Premier Healthcare Alliance Introduces Foodservice Quality And Safety Standards

To ensure patients receive the highest quality and safest food possible, the Premier healthcare alliance released a set of standards for foodservices delivered to hospitals. All Premier contracted suppliers will be required to adhere to national standards set by government agencies and food safety organizations for entry into the Premier Purchasing Partners foodservice supply chain. Purchasing Partners is the first healthcare group purchasing organization (GPO) to set these types of specific quality and safety guidelines, which take food safety to a new level and beyond what was previously a minimum standard. Standards requirements include the creation of quality systems, such as a product rotation method to ensure that only products with acceptable shelf lives are shipped; the use of reputable carriers and assurance of secured products to ensure goods are protected during the shipping process; safe handling requirements; appropriate labeling and ingredient traceability requirements; and controls to manage food that is damaged during shipping and storage. Foodservice suppliers also must commit to corporate and environmental sustainability and fair labor practices. "Food safety is a major public health concern that is only exacerbated in the hospital setting. Because patients are already vulnerable to illness, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure the food they eat in the hospital meets the highest standards," said Premier Purchasing Partners President Mike Alkire. "We expect that our valued suppliers will not only adhere to the policies outlined in this manual, but will also strive to make continuous improvements. By meeting these expectations, together we will reach our goal of providing safe, high-quality products to the hospitals and healthcare facilities we serve." To enforce standards, suppliers will be subject to: - An approval audit for participation in Purchasing Partners" supply chain. - Annual routine audits. - Annual plant inspections. - Random sampling of products. - Mock recalls to test recovery processes. "Premier developed these standards to provide our suppliers with requirements and expectations for food quality and safety," said Joan Ralph, Premier vice president of Continuum of Care Services. "They reflect general guidelines for developing and improving the quality systems of suppliers that provide raw food materials, food ingredients and manufactured products." The Premier Healthcare Alliance


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