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most, U.S. hospitals are stretched beyond capacity. APIC asks the public to take the #Prevent- TheSpread pledge to continue masking and social distancing — even after being vacci- nated. Until enough people have received the required vaccine doses, we cannot risk spreading COVID-19 in our communities.”
Global scientists double down on SARS-CoV-2 variants research Global scientists are intensifying research into COVID-19, as the World Health Organization (WHO) moves to expand its scientific collaboration and monitoring of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, reported WHO. A virtual meeting of scientists from around the globe brought together more than 1,750 experts from 124 countries to dis- cuss critical knowledge gaps and research priorities for emerging variants of the virus. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “Science and research have played a vital role in respond- ing to the pandemic since day one and will continue to be the heartbeat of everything WHO does.”
The consultation was structured around six thematic areas covering epidemiology and mathematical modelling, evolution- ary biology, animal models, assays and diagnostics, clinical management and therapeutics and vaccines. Scientists noted the importance of research to detect and understand early on the potential impact of emerging variants on diagnostics, treat- ments and vaccines. There was a consensus on the importance of integrating the new SARS-CoV-2 variants research into the global research and innovation agenda while enhancing coordination across dis- ciplines. “Our collective goal is to get ahead of the game and have a global mechanism to quickly identify and study variants of concern and understand their implications for disease control efforts,” said Dr. Ana Maria Henao Restrepo, Head of WHO’s R&D Blueprint.
It is normal for viruses to mutate, but the
more the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change. High levels of transmission mean that we should expect more variants to emerge. Of the variants reported so far, some are associated with increases in transmissibility but not disease severity. Research is ongo- ing to address whether the changes impact public health tools and measures. Genomic sequencing has been critical in identifying and responding to new variants. “So far an astounding 350,000 sequences have been publicly shared, but most come
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from just a handful of countries. Improving the geographic coverage of sequencing is critical for the world to have eyes and ears on changes to the virus,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO Technical Lead on COVID-19. Increasing sequencing capacity across the world is a priority research area for WHO. Better surveillance and laboratory capac- ity to monitor strains of concern needs to be accompanied by prompt sharing of virus and serum samples via globally agreed mechanisms so that critical research can be promptly initiated each time. Scientists highlighted the importance of national data platforms to document critical clini- cal, epidemiological and virus data that facilitates the detection and assessment of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
STERIS announces agreement to acquire Cantel Medical STERIS and Cantel Medical Corp announced that STERIS has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Cantel, through a US subsidiary. Cantel is a global provider of infection prevention products and services primarily to endoscopy and dental customers.
“We have long appreciated Cantel, which is a natural complement and extension to STERIS’ product and service offerings, global reach and Customers,” said Walt Rosebrough, President and Chief Executive Officer of STIS. Combined, we will offer a broader set of Customers a more diversified selection of infection prevention and procedural products and services.” Cantel’s largest business, its medical port- folio, will strengthen and expand STERIS’ endoscopy offerings, adding a full suite of high-level disinfection consumables, capital equipment and services, as well as additional single-use accessories. Cantel’s dental business extends STERIS into a new customer segment where there is an increasing focus on infection prevention protocols and processes.
Hospital ISM Report On Business shows seven months of continued growth Economic activity in the hospital subsector grew in December for the seventh consecu- tive month, say the nation’s hospital supply executives in the latest Hospital ISM Report On Business, announced the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). In the report issued by Nancy LeMaster,
MBA, Chair of the ISM Hospital Busi- ness Survey Committee, “The Hospital PMI registered 62.6 percent in December, unchanged from November,” the report stated. This was the seventh month of
February 2021 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS •
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growth following two months of contrac- tion.
The Business Activity, New Orders,
and Backlog of Orders indexes grew in December, while the Employment Index contracted. The Case Mix Index decreased to 62 percent, down 0.5 percentage point compared to the November reading of 62.5 percent. The Days Payable Outstanding Index increased to 52.5 percent, up 1.5 per- centage points from the November reading of 51 percent. The Technology Spend Index registered 52 percent, a decrease of 6 per- centage points from the November reading of 58 percent. “December comments from Business
Survey Committee panelists echoed and reinforced the same issues highlighted in November. COVID-19 spikes account for most of patient volumes, and elective pro- cedures are once again being delayed due to lack of capacity. Availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) continues to be a challenge, but staffing has become an even bigger issue. Such comments as, Having a difficult time finding employees, especially environmental services depart- ment (EVS) and other support staff’ and ‘COVID-19 burnout is causing vacancies across the system’ were typical,” said LeMaster.
HHS launches locator for COVID-19 treatment sites with monoclonal antibodies A web-based COVID-19 outpatient treat- ment locator maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is now available to assist healthcare providers and patients in finding potential locations for treatment with monoclonal antibody therapeutics, reports HHS. These medicines are authorized for emergency use in treating patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of developing severe symptoms and requiring hospitalization. The COVID-19 therapeutics distribu-
tion page shows locations where these monoclonal antibody therapeutics have been delivered, including the facility name and address and which monoclonal antibody therapeutic has been delivered to the site. Only facilities that are open to the general public are listed. The locator does not include facilities that receive the monoclonal antibody therapeutics for out- patient treatment of specific groups, such as for patients in long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric facili- ties, or prisons.
For the locator, visit https://protect-
public.hhs.gov/pages/therapeutics- distribution #distribution-locations. HPN
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