HPR volume 14 issue 2: news (28 and 29 January)
Updated 23 December 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-report-volume-14-2020/hpr-volume-14-issue-2-news-28-and-29-january
Novel coronavirus information available on GOV.UK
Details of the UK public health response to the novel coronavirus outbreak originating in Wuhan, China, are being regularly updated and can be accessed via the Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV) collection page.
Information for the public includes that on travel to and from the affected areas, and links to Public Health England (PHE) updates and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) statements.
Information for healthcare professionals who may be involved in preparedness, in case of further spread, includes guidance for primary care on initial clinical management of possible cases and on related infection, prevention and control precuations.
PHE Health Protection Teams (HPTs) are responsible for advising on patient assessment, for receiving requests for CoV testing of potential cases (and of contacts of known cases), and for providing infection control advice. Any healthcare provider who identifies a contact of a known case of WN-CoV, in China or elsewhere, should immediately notify their nearest PHE HPT, even if the contact is currently well.
Details of special arrangements for the requesting of a laboratory test for the novel coronavirus have been disseminated to all NHS Trusts, primary care providers and the independent healthcare sector. Laboratory testing of hospital patients who meet the criteria for a possible case of WN-CoV should be discussed with the relevant PHE regional duty virologist/microbiologist.
Draft updated guidance on detection, management and control of CPE
PHE has published, for consultation, draft, updated guidance on the detection, management and control of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE, previously known as carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae) in acute and on-acute healthcare settings [1].
Increasing levels of carbapenem resistance amongst Gram-negative bacteria have been recorded in recent years in the UK and globally. CPE are of particular concern because carbapenem resistance is conferred through the acquisition of plasmid-encoded carbapenemases that have the ability to transfer within and between bacterial species and genera. PHE has received and confirmed an increasing number of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacterial colonisations and infections each year since 2006 and in some health and social care organisations in England, CPE are now endemic.
Further spread of CPE is an increasing threat to public health and medical treatment pathways in the UK because they can spread rapidly in healthcare settings, leading to poor clinical outcomes, because of limited therapeutic options, and because they have significant cost and operational implications for healthcare organisations.
The draft guidance, Framework of Actions to Contain Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacterales [1], would update information contained in two existing documents: the toolkit on CPE detection, management and control for Acute Trusts (2013), and that for non-Acute Trusts (2015). Comments on the draft are invited until 11:45pm on 14 February 2020 via a pro forma response form [1].
References
- PHE (January 2020). Draft framework of actions to contain carbapenemase producing Enterobacterales.
Public Health Research and Science Conference 2020, Manchester
The full programme of PHE’s annual Research and Science Conference 2020, taking place in Manchester on 31 March and 1 April, has been published, covering latest developments in scientific research on protection and improvement of public health.
The conference aims to strengthen scientific activity and facilitate the development of collaborations between PHE and academia. The programme comprises 5 parallel streams of scientific presentations, running through both days, with plenary sessions at the beginning and end of each day, and e-poster presentation sessions each lunchtime. Late breaker paper abstracts can be submitted until the 14 February.
Venue: University of Manchester (Renold Building), Altrincham St, Manchester M1 7JA.
Conference website: www.phe-events.org.uk/phrsc20.
Health protection surveillance reports in this issue of HPR
Infection reports
HPV in sexually active young females in England, to end 2018.
Laboratory reports of hepatitis A infections in England and Wales, July to September 2019.
Laboratory reports of hepatitis C in England and Wales, July to September 2019.
Acute hepatitis B: national enhanced surveillance report January to September 2019.