Disease rates alone can't measure public health

Article Abstract:

Public health has traditionally been measured by mortality rates from infectious diseases, but more sophisticated criteria are now being employed. Factors such as adequacy of prenatal care, smoking rates, crime rates and economic disparity are considered in analyzing public health. By these new indicators, the US is falling far behind other first-world nations. For example, the US is 28th in low-birth-weight infants, behind Jordan and Costa Rica. The new factors pressure the medical community to find a balance between spending on high-tech treatments for a few, or simple therapies such as prenatal care for millions.

Public health

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TB control guidelines cause coast-to-coast confusion

Article Abstract:

Medical personnel object to heavy-duty respirators recommended by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to guard against transmission of tuberculosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend surgical masks or disposable respirators during patient contact. Guidelines proposed by several state and federal agencies are described. Reports of 200 cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis in health care workers include five that resulted in death.

HEALTH SERVICES, Safety and security measures, Tuberculosis, Control, United States. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

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CDC: no other HIV infection cases to patients besides Fla. dentist

Article Abstract:

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control report that the five persons who contracted HIV infection from Dr. David J. Acer, a Stuart, Florida, dentist, are the only verified cases of HIV infection acquired from health personnel. The mode of transmission has not been discovered, but each of the five received several anesthetic injections. Investigations were pursued for 23 infected health workers and 10,270 patients.

Health aspects, Reports, HIV infection, HIV infections, Disease transmission, United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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