Rates of herpes zoster have nearly doubled among veterans seeking care through the VA since 2000. The disease, also known as shingles, creates significant morbidity, especially when herpetic neuralgia, a painful complication, is involved. Yet, use of the vaccine, introduced in 2007, remains low at about 2% in both the VA and general populations.

WASHINGTON, DC—With a decline in the number of central line associate bloodstream infections in intensive care units, the focus is turning to an area where such infections are burgeoning – kidney dialysis clinics.

WASHINGTON, DC—With two-fifths of the world’s population at risk for dengue fever, a severe flu-like illness which sometimes leads to fatal complications, the development of a vaccine has long been an important, albeit elusive, goal in managing the disease.

DAYTON, OH—In the latest VA infection control lapse to come under public scrutiny, Ohio-based legislators are pushing for both U.S. House and Senate investigations into practices at a Dayton VAMC dental clinic that may have resulted in nine cases of hepatitis.

BLUE BELL, PA—Rapid vaccination of military forces may be necessary with emerging infectious disease and pandemic threats, but injecting combination vaccines that are formulated together can sometimes result in immune interference.

WASHINGTON, DC—Diarrheal illnesses are among the most common nonbattle-related illnesses that troops experience when they go overseas, yet there is no vaccine against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a common cause of bacterial diarrhea.

WASHINGTON, DC—Preventing the spread of infection from multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) is a battle being fought, not just in civilian healthcare settings worldwide, but in the military healthcare system as well.

WASHINGTON, DC—Hospitalized children in the US are becoming infected with the bacteria Clostridium difficile (CDI) more frequently, according to researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

WASHINGTON, DC—The government of Djibouti recently honored Navy medicine’s efforts to help the country improve its public health system.

WASHINGTON, DC—Progress has been made in increasing the number of Americans tested for HIV.