MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Breastfeeding-Related Maternity Practices at Hospitals and Birth Centers – United States, 2007

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

• Press Release

This study shows that maternity practices in U.S. hospitals and birth centers must be changed to improve breastfeeding, thereby helping to improve maternal and child health. This report summarizes results from the first national Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) Survey. To characterize maternity practices supportive of breastfeeding, in 2007, CDC conducted the survey of U.S. birthing facilities with registered maternity beds (3,143 hospitals and 138 birth centers). The average score was 63 out of 100, indicating that many hospitals and birth centers in the United States. have maternity practices that are not supportive of breastfeeding. Examples of such practices are supplementing healthy, full-term breastfed newborns with things other than breast milk, separating mothers and newborns for routine procedures, and giving pacifiers during the hospital stay. These are maternity care practices that are known to interfere with the establishment and continuation of breastfeeding. It is important for hospitals and birth centers to provide breastfeeding assistance during the facility stay and to provide critical follow-up support after discharge.

Escherichia coli 0157:H7 Infections in Children Associated with Raw Milk – California, 2006

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

To reduce the risk of E. coli O157 and other infections, consumers should not drink raw milk or raw milk products. On September 2006, the California Department of Public Health was notified of two children hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome. One of the patients had culture-confirmed Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection, and both patients had consumed raw (unpasteurized) cow milk in the week before onset of illness. Four additional cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in children who had consumed raw cow milk or raw cow colostrum produced by the same dairy were identified in the following three weeks. Because illnesses associated with raw milk products continue to occur, additional efforts are needed to educate consumers and dairy farmers about illnesses associated with their consumption. To reduce the risk of E. coli O157 and other infections, consumers should not drink raw milk or raw milk products.

Cutaneous Anthrax Associated with Drum-Making Using Goat Hides from West Africa – Connecticut, 2007

PRESS CONTACT: CDC
Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

The findings underscore the potential hazard of working with untreated animal hides from areas with epizootic anthrax and the potential for secondary cases from environmental contamination. Until a process for certifying that imported hides from West Africa are free of anthrax exists, drum-makers should follow current disinfection guidelines to reduce the risk for disease. This report summarizes results of the joint epidemiologic and environmental investigation lead conducted by public health officials, environmental agencies, and law enforcement authorities. Last August, the Connecticut Department of Public Health was notified by a physician of two suspect cutaneous anthrax cases involving a drum-maker working with untreated goat hides from Guinea and his child. The individuals recovered and the investigation indicated the exposures were unintentional.

Electronic Record Linkage to Identify Deaths Among Persons with AIDS – District of Columbia, 2000-2005

PRESS CONTACT: National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention
(404) 639-8895

An electronic record linkage determined that 54 percent of deaths among persons with AIDS during 2000-2005 had previously not been reported to the DC HIV/AIDS Reporting System (HARS) through manual methods of death ascertainment. Results underscore the importance of electronic linkage for complete ascertainment of deaths among persons with HIV/AIDS. The linkage project, conducted by the HIV/AIDS Administration of the DC Department of Health, with assistance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides the most thorough comparison to date of electronic linkage with manual methods of AIDS death ascertainment in the U.S. The authors note that these data may not be generalizable to the rest of the nation because of DC’s unique geographic location, which exacerbates problems with manual search methods. Specifically, the city’s close proximity to other states can increase the frequency of out-of-state deaths that are not reported to the District’s vital records office. According to CDC, data suggest that the majority of states are already implementing this type of electronic record linkage at least annually, in accordance with recommendations by CDC and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE).

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES