Resource Articles

Parvovirus B-19 infection is also known as Fifth Disease. Fifth Disease is usually a mild illness that resolves without medical treatment among children and adults who are otherwise healthy. However, pregnant women who are infected with Parvovirus during early pregnancy have a 5% risk of miscarriage. (Also see article Parvovirus B19 Exposure in Pregnancy.)

VRE (Vancomycin Resistant Enterocci) and MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) are common in hospitals. Staph is a normal bacteria on human skin and Enterocci are normal bacteria in the human bowel. Patients who have been hospitalized for long periods develop resistant bacteria as a result of exposure to many antibiotics or the hospital environment. In recent years resistant organisms have become very common in the community and patients often bring them into the hospital.

Because healthcare workers must wash their hands frequently they sometimes get dry, cracked or red skin that can also be painful. Some Causes of Hand Dermatitis:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires noise in the workplace to be below 90 decibels over an 8 hour shift (a method called time weighted average is used for this measurement).

Anyone who is at risk for contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials is strongly encouraged to receive the hepatitis B vaccine series.

The page will directly link you to the work injury reporting system owned by Risk Management.

It's normal to be concerned about exposure to chemicals while being pregnant. There's an exposure control plan to protect all workers while at work.

Health care workers may encounter patients who have diseases that are spread through close contact. Exposures can occur during the initial evaluation of a patient prior to diagnosis. The use of protective gear can prevent exposures when instituted early. Some of the most common infections include:


 
 Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is a herpes virus that most women of child-bearing age have already acquired.