Multidisciplinary John A. Boswick, MD Burn and Wound Care Symposium to Take Place in February

       The 2006 John A. Boswick, MD Burn and Wound Care Symposium will take place February 20–24, 2006, at the Maui Prince Hotel, Maui, Hawaii.
This symposium is aimed at physicians, researchers, investigators, nurses, therapists, and others interested in development of techniques, drugs, and devices in the study and management of wound healing, wound management, burn care, and infection control.
       This meeting is a cooperative effort with the American Burn Association, Australia-New Zealand Burn Association, The Japanese Society for Burn Injuries, and The International Society for Burn Injuries.
       The registration fee is $450.00 (US) for each participant. The fee covers the program/abstract book, participation in scientific sessions, continental breakfast, and coffee breaks.
       Visit http://www.jabmauisymposium.com for more information.

Achilles Tendon Surgery Helps Prevent Diabetic Foot Ulcers

       Patients with diabetes frustrated by hard-to-heal, infection-prone ulcers on their feet could benefit from a common, minimally invasive surgical procedure to relieve tightness in their Achilles tendons, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).
       The Achilles is the largest tendon in the human body, connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone. As we age, the tendon naturally tightens. However, diabetes exacerbates the process, as increased blood sugar levels deposit glucose in the collagen of the tendon, greatly reducing its elasticity and making stretching almost impossible.
       “A tight Achilles inhibits ankle movement, forcing diabetic patients to place excessive pressure on the front of the foot,” said J. Christopher Moore, DPM, AACFAS, an Ashville, NC-based foot and ankle surgeon. “Pressure normally absorbed by the ankle has to go somewhere else and the forefoot gets most of it, heightening risk for ulcer development underneath the toe joints.”
       Moore said published research has shown that surgery to lengthen the Achilles tendon in a patient with diabetes can help prevent ulcer recurrence. “Our goal always is to close the wound as quickly as possible to avoid infection, and we’re becoming more aware that preventing ulcer recurrence in patients with advanced diabetes is best achieved by a minimally invasive procedure to lengthen a tight Achilles tendon,” said Moore.
       Lengthening occurs by making 3 small, pinpoint cuts to loosen and stretch the tendon. This helps restore ankle flexibility and relieves forefoot pressure. The procedure allows patients with diabetes (with their blood sugar under control) to walk more normally and may lower their risk for redeveloping foot ulcers.
       Visit http://www.FootPhysicians.com for more information.

Public Health Initiative Leads Battle Against MRSA Burden

       In response to the increasing clinical and economic burdens of the potentially deadly bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an interdisciplinary group of public health, industry, and infectious disease experts has united to form the MRSA Leadership Initiative. The initiative will focus on global prevention and management of the MRSA burden through development of public and professional awareness and education programs, clinical, epidemiological, and outcomes research, and projects targeted toward prevention among high-risk patient populations. Pfizer Inc. is supporting the collaborative effort.
       The MRSA Leadership Initiative includes experts in a variety of fields, including infectious diseases, nursing, long-term care, pharmacy, epidemiology, medical ethics, healthcare purchasers, payors, healthcare administration, public health, and health policy. Government, physician, and patient groups also will be involved in developing and implementing programs.
       Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is resistant to many classes of commonly used antibiotics and can cause several types of infections—the most common are skin, bloodstream, and pneumonia. These infections can be severe or even fatal if not identified early and treated appropriately. Until recently, MRSA infections were mostly confined to hospitals, where patient risk factors included old age, a compromised immune system, recent surgery, or an intensive care unit stay. The estimated cost associated with the treatment of hospitalized patients with MRSA infections is between $3.2 and $4.2 billion annually in the US.
       Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is now increasing not only in the hospital setting but also in communities around the US and the world:
• MRSA incidence rates as a percentage of Staphylococcus aureus infections in many intensive care units have increased from 2% to approximately 60% over the past 30 years
• A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed MRSA infections are now common outside the hospital setting and occur in otherwise healthy people; specifically, 8% to 20% of all MRSA patient samples examined in the study were community strains
• Community outbreaks have been documented in sports teams and prisons and are associated with close skin-to-skin contact, open cuts or wounds, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene. The emergence of MRSA infections within the community among young and otherwise healthy people makes these infections unexpected and sometimes difficult to diagnose.
       The mission of the MRSA Leadership Initiative will be to address the growing burden of MRSA infections and prioritize programs to halt the spread of MRSA.
       Call 212-733-0127 for more information.