Provider Resources WA

12/13/23 Health Advisory: Test for tuberculosis people who were incarcerated

TB skin test

A large outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) in the state prison system may affect more than 800 people who were incarcerated. Requested actions Ask patients about risk factors for TB exposure: Test people with risk factors unless they have a known history of TB infection or TB disease. Evaluate people who test positive to rule out 12/13/23 Health Advisory: Test for tuberculosis people who were incarcerated

12/07/23 Health Advisory: Test perinatally exposed children for hepatitis C.

Hands cradling a pregnant belly

Action requested Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you test children born to people with: Test children for HCV RNA at 2–6 months old, up to 17 months old. Give untested children older than 18 months an HCV antibody test with reflex to HCV RNA. Report hepatitis C cases in pregnant people and the 12/07/23 Health Advisory: Test perinatally exposed children for hepatitis C.

11/22/23 Health Advisory: Nirsevimab supplies are short.

Provider standing and pregnant person sitting on exam table.

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) RSV preventive antibodies for infants is in short supply. Encourage Abrysvo vaccine for pregnant people to protect babies from RSV.  Washington will receive 7,700 50 mg and 600 100 mg nirsevimab doses for the remainder of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Health Alert that 11/22/23 Health Advisory: Nirsevimab supplies are short.

10/02/23 Health Advisory: 2023–2024 Respiratory Illness Season

Adult holding a child. A nurse is listening to the child's lungs.

This 2023–2024 respiratory illness season, we’re monitoring 3 common causes of respiratory illness that circulate in Island County: influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. Please review the information below and resources posted on the Island County Public Health Seasonal Respiratory Illnesses webpage. Influenza Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the 10/02/23 Health Advisory: 2023–2024 Respiratory Illness Season

09/20/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized

syringe in medicine vial

On Sept. 11, 2023, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized for emergency use new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. FDA deauthorized previous bivalent COVID-19 vaccines. On Sept. 11, 2023, FDA deauthorized previous bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. CDC recommends new, updated (2023–2024) COVID-19 vaccines. CDC’s new, updated (2023–2014) COVID-19 09/20/23 Health Advisory: New COVID-19 Vaccines Authorized, Previous Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccines Deauthorized

07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington

Holding hands from hospital bed.

A Pierce County man was diagnosed July 13 with colonization due to Candida auris (C. auris), a multidrug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. This is believed to be the first locally acquired case in Washington. C. auris is a type of yeast that can cause severe illness, especially in those suffering from serious medical conditions who have 07/19/23: The first case of Candida auris diagnosed in Washington

07/06/23 Health Advisory: Syphilis Treatment Impacted by Bicillin L-A Shortage

Mother holds her child.

Penicillin G benzathine (Bicillin L-A) is in short supply due to increased demand. Syphilis is increasing in all groups, especially in heterosexual people. Reserve Bicillin L-A for pregnant people with or exposed to syphilis, or babies with congenital syphilis. Read on for syphilis: Treatment. Testing with reverse algorithm. Reserve Bicillin L-A for pregnant people. Reserve 07/06/23 Health Advisory: Syphilis Treatment Impacted by Bicillin L-A Shortage

03/14/23 Health Advisory: Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis

Handwashing over stainless steel sink.

Requested actions Background Shigellosis is an acute enteric infection. It is an important cause of domestically acquired and travel-associated bacterial diarrhea in the United States. A low infectious dose makes Shigella bacteria easily transmitted from person to person. Consider shigellosis in the differential diagnosis of acute diarrhea, especially in people who: Shigellosis can be a mild, 03/14/23 Health Advisory: Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis

02/22/23 Health Advisory: Increase COVID-19 Treatment Access, Prescribing and Uptake

COVID-19 treatment is shown to reduce hospitalization. Yet it is under-used for high-risk patients with acute COVID-19. High-risk patients are: COVID-19 continues to cause 2,000 to 3,000 deaths each week in the United States. On Feb. 6, Washington State Department of Health (DOH) relaunched its free telehealth program. The program, in partnership with Color Health, 02/22/23 Health Advisory: Increase COVID-19 Treatment Access, Prescribing and Uptake

Hepatitis A Fact Sheet

Gloved hand squeeze bicep while giving a shot.

Overview Transmission: Fecal-oral. Incubation Period: Average 28-30 days (range 15-50 days). Symptoms: Anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, followed by jaundice. Severity of illness increases with age. Infectious Period: 14 days prior to onset of jaundice to seven days after onset of jaundice. Infants can excrete virus in the stool for longer periods of time. Epidemiology: Hepatitis A Fact Sheet