« November 2009 | Main

December 05, 2009

recall

Unilever, the maker of SlimFast products, has issued a voluntary recall of all 11-ounce SlimFast Ready-to Drink cans due to possible bacterial contamination. This nationwide recall affects 10 million cans that are packed in paperboard cartons of 4, 6, or 12. All flavors and all lots are included in this recall.

A production issue caused the possibility of  contamination by Bacillus cereus, a micro-organism, which may cause diarrhea and possibly nausea and/or vomiting. The FDA press release stated that probability of serious adverse health consequences after using the product is remote.

Doug

CDIstaffing.com

December 04, 2009

Cell Phones

There has been no substantial change in the number of adult brain tumours since mobile phone usage sharply increased in the mid-1990s, Danish scientists say.

The Danish Cancer Society looked at the rates of brain tumours among 20 to 79 year olds from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

They found that trends in cancer rates had not altered from the period before mobiles were introduced.

doug

CDIstaffing.com

December 03, 2009

Lead

Childhood exposure to lead can cause permanent brain damage, a new study has found.

"What we have found is that no region of the brain is spared from lead exposure. Distinct areas of the brain are affected differently," study author Kim Cecil, an imaging scientist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and a professor of radiology, pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, said in a news release.

Doug

CDIstaffing.com

December 02, 2009

Infections

Nearly half of patients in intensive care units globally contract infections, and 70 percent are being treated with antibiotics, a development that may aid the rise of drug-resistant viruses, researchers announced Tuesday.

Patients who contracted infections were more likely to not survive, specifically if they become septic, a survey of 13,000 patients noted. Still, a major concern that remains is over-prescription of antibiotics in patients without infections, which can lead to antibiotic resistance.

"Importantly, the incidence of sepsis is increasing, as is the number of consequent infection-related deaths," Dr. Jean-Louis Vincent of Erasme University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium and researchers wrote.

Doug

CDIstaffing.com