Unusual Rotavirus Season May Be Due to Newly Introduced Vaccine

Rotavirus activity in the ongoing 2007-2008 season appears to have started later than usual and have been less severe than during any of the previous seasons for which data are available, according to an interim report issued in today's early release edition of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea) in infants and young children, annually causing about 410,000 physician office visits, 205,000-272,000 emergency department visits, 55,000-70,000 hospitalizations, and between 20 and 60 deaths among US children less than 5 years of age. Worldwide, rotavirus causes approximately 1,600 deaths each day among children less than 5 years of age.

Data from around the United States indicate that during the ongoing season, rotavirus activity was delayed by about three months compared with the start time for the previous 15 years. The season began at the end of February instead of November, the usual start time, and the season peaked at the end of April instead of March, the usual peak time.

Hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and physician visits were also substantially reduced at some network of medical centers conducting prospective rotavirus surveillance. The number of laboratory tests performed for rotavirus from Jan. 1 to May 3, 2008, was 37 percent lower than usual, and the percent of all tests conducted for gastroenteritis that were positive for rotavirus was 79 percent lower than usual.

The report indicates that marked changes in rotavirus activity may be due to a newly introduced rotavirus vaccine for infants. In 2006, a new rotavirus vaccine, RotaTeq (Merck & Co. Inc.), was recommended for routine immunization of U.S. infants at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Clinical trial results indicated that this live, oral vaccine prevented 74 percent of all rotavirus cases, about 98 percent of severe cases, and about 96 percent of hospitalizations due to rotavirus.

"The changes appear to be greater than expected based on the protective effects of the vaccine alone," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC. "It is also possible that current levels of vaccination may be helping to decrease the spread of rotavirus to unvaccinated individuals in the community. Ongoing monitoring is needed to confirm the impact of vaccination this year and to monitor the impact of the vaccine on rotavirus disease and its epidemiology over time."

The data used in the new report were obtained from the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) and from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN). NREVSS is a voluntary network of U.S. laboratories that provide CDC with weekly reports of the number of tests performed and positive results obtained for a variety of
pathogens, including rotavirus.

Rotavirus is highly contagious. Large amounts of the virus are shed in the stool of infected persons and can be spread by contaminated hands and objects. Children can spread rotavirus both before and after they become sick with diarrhea, and they can pass the virus to household
members and other close contacts.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Encourages the Community to Catch More Zzz’s

The standard 8-hour business day is no longer the norm in America, according to the National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 2008 Sleep in America poll. The poll reports the average American’s work day is now nine hours and 28 minutes, while the average time spent in bed is six hours and 55 minutes – with six hours and 40 minutes spent actually sleeping. NSF recommends getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. May is Better Sleep Month, and Piedmont Fayette Hospital encourages anyone concerned about their sleep habits to contact their physician.

There are more than 80 different forms of sleep disorders affecting people of all ages, and more than 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder. NSF found that sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are estimated to cost Americans more than $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, and property and environmental damage. Common symptoms of sleep disorders to be aware of are daytime fatigue, inability to sleep for long periods of time, and breathing difficulties during sleep.

“Everyone’s sleep needs are different, so when patients ask me how many hours of sleep they should get each night, I tell them sleep needs are individual and not only do different age groups need different amounts of sleep, but the amount of sleep one person needs to function best may be different than for someone else who is the same age and gender,” said Connie White-Daniel, RPSGT, clinical manager of the Piedmont Fayette Hospital Sleep Center.

According to NSF some of the biggest “sleep stealers” are stress, jet lag, shift work, lifestyle stressors, such as drinking alcohol and exercising close to bedtime, environmental interferences such as temperature or noise, physical factors, such as arthritis or back pain, and medications. Some tips for getting good sleep include:

· Avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol in the late afternoon and evening.
· Exercising regularly, at least three hours before bedtime.
· Only using the bed for sleep.
· Establishing a regular, relaxing bedtime routine to “signal” the brain it is time to sleep.
· Avoiding napping during the day if having trouble sleeping at night.

Some of the more common sleep disorders are insomnia, sleep apnea and snoring. Insomnia is an experience of inadequate or poor quality sleep as characterized by one or more of the following sleep complaints: difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep and waking too early in the morning. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is briefly and repeatedly interrupted during sleep and can cause fragmented sleep and low blood oxygen levels. Snoring is defined as “breathing during sleep with hoarse or harsh sounds as caused by the vibrating of the soft palate.” Snoring can be a marker of sleep apnea, a risk factor for vascular complications such as hypertension, and it may lead to daytime dysfunction due to the fragmented sleep resulting from snoring.

The Piedmont Fayette Hospital Sleep Center is currently a four-bed sleep center expanding to six beds in late June and is the only hospital-based sleep center in the county that provides full-service diagnostic capabilities for people with sleep disorders. An experienced, multidisciplinary team of doctors, sleep technologists and other sleep disorder specialists provide total and comprehensive care for adults and children who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, snoring, sleep apnea and other sleep-related conditions. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing problems related to sleep or for more information call the Sleep Center at 770-719-6031 or visit www.fayettehospital.org.

Piedmont Hospital Offers Free Skin Cancer and Stroke Screenings

Piedmont Hospital invites the community to a skin cancer and stroke screening event on Saturday, May 17 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cancer Center, 77 Building, 5th Floor, Piedmont Hospital, 1968 Peachtree Road, N.W., Atlanta, 30309. In honor of Melanoma Awareness Month in May, Piedmont dermatologists and physicians assistants will offer free skin cancer screenings to the community.

In observance of Stroke Awareness Month, there will also be an opportunity to assess the risk of stroke by Piedmont’s Neuroscience Services. No registration is required, but appointments are recommended for the five-minute skin cancer screening.

The event is free and open to the general public. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1-866-900-4321 or visit www.piedmonthospital.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Newnan Hospital Celebrate American Heart Month With Free Dessert and Discussion Events

Cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, are the nation’s No. 1 killer, according to the American Heart Association. Join Piedmont Fayette Hospital and Piedmont Newnan Hospital for two dessert and discussion events featuring local cardiologists.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital will host a discussion on "Congestive Heart Failure," led by cardiologist Bukola Olubi, M.D., on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Conference Room C in the hospital’s 1279 building. To make reservations call 770-719-6060.

Piedmont Newnan Hospital will host a discussion on "Living Heart Healthy," on Thursday Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m., led by cardiologist George J. Vellanikaran, M.D., in the Special Events Center at 299 Bullsboro Drive in Newnan. To make reservations call 678-854-2471.

Registration for both programs is free and refreshments and door prizes will be provided. For more information on Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s and Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s cardiology services, please visit www.fayettehospital.org or www.piedmontnewnan.org.

Piedmont Fayette Hospital Hosts Community Healthy Heart Fair

February is Heart Health Month

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death in the state, accounted for 34 percent of deaths in Georgia in 2005. Georgia's CVD rate was 13 percent higher than the national rate according to Georgia's Department of Human Resources (2004). February is Heart Health Month, and to educate the community on the risks of heart disease, Piedmont Fayette Hospital will host a free Healthy Heart Fair on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the hospital's west entrance.

"Piedmont Fayette Hospital is urging the community to get the facts on one of Georgia's leading killers--heart disease," said Darrell Cutts, president and CEO at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. "The Healthy Heart Fair is the ideal time for residents to receive free health screenings and learn how to lower their risk of the chronic disease."

The Healthy Heart Fair will offer a variety of health screenings, including blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, ABI, body mass index and EKG. Free educational materials covering all aspects of a healthy heart also will be provided.

Hospital staff from all areas including the Fitness Center will be on hand to educate attendees on disease prevention, rehabilitation of injuries and maintenance of optimal health and fitness wellness

"Physicians will also be available to answer heart health questions," said George Leslie, director of cardiopulmonary services at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. "The ultimate goal is to alert residents about the importance of getting regular physical activity, eating healthy, quitting smoking and undergoing routine check-ups to lower their risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases."

Throughout the year, PFH also offers smoking cessation classes to help smokers quit their addiction. Led by a Piedmont Fayette Hospital respiratory staff member, who is an American Lung Association trained facilitator, the class promises to be both informative and enlightening. Smoking cessation classes will be held throughout the year beginning in January. For more information on the class, call 770-719-6258.

PFH offers a range of advanced, comprehensive diagnostic and rehabilitative cardiology services, including echocardiograms, electrocardiograms (EKG), holter and event monitoring, cardiac monitoring, stress-testing and cardiac rehabilitation. The cardiology care team includes physicians, nurses, cath lab technologists, therapists, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals and offers innovative heart care - in and out of the hospital. For a physician referral, call 1-866-900-4321, or for more information about Piedmont Fayette Hospital’s cardiology services, please visit http://www.fayettehospital.org/.