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Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge
| September / October 2008 Issue | healthcarejournalbr.com
say that clinical studies indicate that antipsychotic drugs of both
types are associated with an increased risk of death when used in
elderly patients treated for dementia-related psychosis.
Manufacturers of these drugs are required to submit new language
to the FDA within 30 days of notification, or to provide a reason why
they do not believe such labeling changes are necessary. The
medications involved in this action are:
Conventional Antipsychotic Drugs
Atypical Antipsychotics
Compazine (prochlorperazine)
Abilify (aripiprazole)
Haldol (haloperidol)
Clozaril (clozapine)
Loxitane (loxapine)
FazaClo (clozapine)
Mellaril (thioridazine)
Geodon (ziprasidone)
Moban (molindrone)
Invega (paliperidone)
Navane (thithixene)
Risperdal (risperidone)
Orap (pimozide)
Seroquel (quetiapine)
Prolixin (fluphenazine)
Zyprexa (olanzapine)
Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
Stelazine
(trifluoperazine)
Trilafon(perphenazine)
Symbyax (olanzapine
and fluoxetine)
First Realistic Neonatal Simulators Arrive In Hospitals
The SimNewB, a new neonatal patient simulator developed
through a strategic alliance between the
American Academy
of
Pediatrics
(AAP) and
Laerdal Medical
, features realistic newborn
traits and lifelike clinical feedback that will help healthcare profes-
sionals learn to resuscitate their most vulnerable patients. The
SimNewB will play a vital role in the redesign of neonatal resusci-
tation training programs to a more interactive model, said
Jay
Goldsmith, MD
, FAAP, co-chair of the AAP's Neonatal
Resuscitation Program Steering Committee. Rather than lecture-
intensive courses, programs are shifting to emphasize hands-on,
interactive training. To support this new approach, the AAP issued
a request for proposals for a newborn simulator that would align
with medical guidelines for neonatal resuscitation. Laerdal, a
Norway-based manufacturer, delivered the SimNewB, a 7-pound,
21-inch female newborn mannequin. Laerdal engineers worked
closely with the AAP to design a simulator that mimics a newborn's
complex physiological responses to a wide range of variables. The
SimNewB is fully integrated with the AAP's guidelines for neonatal
resuscitation, creating an effective learning tool.
Measles Making Comeback?
From January 1 through April 25, 2008,
CDC
received a total of 64
reports of confirmed measles cases in the U.S. This is the highest
number reported for the same time period since 2001. Cases have
been reported from nine states and outbreaks were ongoing in
four: Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan, and New York. Of the 64
cases, 59 occurred among U.S. residents and 54 were associated
with importation of measles from other countries. Most (63) case-
patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status;
one had received two doses of vaccine. Of the 59 U.S. patients:
• 13 were < 12 months old–Too young to be vaccinated routinely
• 7 were 12-15 months old–Not yet vaccinated
• 21 were 16 months to 19 years old
• 14 (67%) claimed vaccination exemptions due to religious or per-
sonal beliefs
• 7 (all < 5 years of age) were unvaccinated due to delay or missed
opportunities
• 18 were > 20 years old
• 14 had unknown or undocumented vaccination status
• 2 (who acquired measles in Europe) claimed personal belief or
religious exemptions
• 1 had evidence of immunity through birth before 1957
• 1 had documentation of receiving two doses of MMR vaccine.
Ongoing measles virus transmission was declared eliminated in
the U.S. in 2000, but the risk of cases and outbreaks from import-
ed disease remains. Increases in the proportion of the population
declining vaccination for themselves or their children might lead to
large-scale outbreaks in the U.S. Before the measles vaccination
program, about 3-4 million persons in the U.S. were infected each