Accreditation

• Genetic data from the bacteria causing these infections – think CSI for E. coli – tells another story: Most health care-associated infections are caused by previously harmless bacteria that patients already had on their bodies before they even entered the hospital.
• We show that many surgical site infections after spinal surgery are caused by microbes that are already on the patient’s skin.

Surgical infections are a persistent problem

• Among the different types of heath care-associated infections, surgical site infections stand out as particularly problematic.
• A 2013 study found that surgical site infections contribute the most to the annual costs of hospital-acquired infections, totaling over 33% of the US$9.8 billion spent annually.

• Still, surgical site infections occur following about 1 in 30 procedures, typically with no explanation.
• While rates of many other medical complications have shown steady improvement over time, data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the problem of surgical site infection is not getting better.

BYOB (Bring your own bacteria)

• Prior studies on surgical site infection have been limited to a single species of bacteria and used older genetic analysis methods.
• But new technologies have opened the door to studying all types of bacteria and testing their antibiotic resistance genes simultaneously.
• Over a one-year period, we sampled the bacteria living in the nose, skin and stool of over 200 patients before surgery.

• In fact, 86% of the bacteria causing infections after spine surgery were genetically matched to bacteria a patient carried before surgery.
• That number is remarkably close to estimates from earlier studies using older genetic techniques focused on Staphylococcus aureus.
• They likely acquired these antibiotic-resistant microbes through prior antibiotic exposure, consumer products or routine community contact.

Preventing surgical infections

• At face value, our results may seem intuitive – surgical wound infections come from bacteria that hang out around that part of the body.
• If the most likely source of surgical infection – the patient’s microbiome – is known in advance, this presents medical teams with an opportunity to protect against it prior to a scheduled procedure.
• The fact that most infections don’t actually start with sources in the hospital is probably a testament to the efficacy of these protocols.

Dustin Long receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. Dr Bryson-Cahn receives funding from the Gordon and Berry Moore Foundation and is the co-medical director for Alaska Airlines.

• Provides a holistic breast health solution, including breast cancer screening focused on quality, safety and efficiency, breast cancer detection, breast density assessment, and risk evaluation
  NASHUA, N.H. and HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iCAD, Inc .
• (NASDAQ: ICAD), a global leader in clinically proven AI-powered cancer detection solutions, announced a strategic partnership with Densitas, Inc ., a global leader in operational AI solutions for breast cancer screening.
• The partnership enables breast imaging centers and radiologists to provide end-to-end breast health care that ensures every aspect of a woman’s breast health journey is addressed, starting from the first step of quality screening mammograms and extending through breast cancer detection, breast density assessment, and a comprehensive evaluation of breast cancer risk.
• IntelliMammo® densityAI™ breast density has been clinically validated to have a strong association with breast cancer risk, providing a practical automated method for risk stratification.vi

• This accreditation underscores IPC’s commitment to providing high-quality, relevant, and effective training that meets the needs of professionals in the electronics industry.
• It signifies that IPC’s programs have met rigorous standards for industry alignment, content, instructor qualification, and instructional design, ensuring they deliver valuable knowledge and skills to participants.
• It assures employers, professionals, and stakeholders in the electronics industry that IPC’s training courses are among the best available, providing essential skills and knowledge to advance careers and enhance organizational performance.
• For more information about IPC’s ANSI/ANAB accredited training programs and how they can benefit professionals and organizations in the electronics industry, visit https://education.ipc.org .

• This milestone marks a transformative advancement in telecom networks, accommodating billions of new devices and addressing the evolving threat landscape with unparalleled security measures.
• In an era where telecommunications networks form the critical infrastructure for digital transformation, the importance of robust security measures able to provide essential services across numerous sectors cannot be overstated.
• The emergence of 5G technology brings a transformative leap in telecom networks, introducing billions of new devices and significantly evolving the threat landscape.
• By ensuring the integrity and security of devices and communications within 5G networks, WISeKey's Root of Trust serves as a foundational component in the broader strategy to mitigate risks and safeguard critical telecommunications infrastructure in the era of 5G.