CDC Expert Commentary

Testing for Lyme Disease: Follow the Steps When faced with a patient with potential Lyme disease, following the correct testing procedures will avoid false-negative and false-positive results.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2012
Listeria: Food Poisoning's Rare but Deadly Germ Refresh your knowledge of the high risk patients, and the high risk foods associated with listeriosis, in this update from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2012
Don't Do It: Sharing Insulin Pens Jeopardizes Patients CDC's Dr. Melissa Schaefer puts to rest the myth that insulin pens can be shared as long as the needle is changed.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2012
The Prescription for Wintertime Asthma Control A few minutes of counseling can help keep your asthma patients healthy all winter.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2012
Variant H3N2 Influenza Virus: What You Should Know Find out when you should be considering infection with this novel influenza virus in your patients.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2012
Influenza: It's Not Too Late to Vaccinate! A recommendation from you is the most important factor in a patient's decision to have a flu shot.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2012
Clarifying Meningococcal Booster Dose Recommendations Dr. Amanda Cohn clears up confusion about when to give the meningococcal booster vaccine and which product to use.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2012
Screening for Sexually Transmitted Disease: Who, When, and How Gail Bolan, MD outlines CDC's guidelines for screening and testing men, women, and adolescents for STDs.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2012
Increasing HPV Vaccine Coverage Providers can take steps to ensure that cervical cancer does not develop in this generation of girls at the rates of their mothers and grandmothers.
CDC Expert Commentary, December 2011
NSAIDs and Chronic Kidney Disease The CDC explains why you should be asking all your patients about NSAID use.
CDC Expert Commentary, December 2011
Preserving Vision in Patients With Diabetes The rising prevalence of diabetes will contribute to huge numbers of patients with diabetic retinopathy. Find out how best to preserve vision in these patients.
CDC Expert Commentary, December 2011
Hey Doc, When Can I Return to Play? Managing sports-related concussion involves more than acute care; a step-wise progression must be followed to get the athlete safely back on the field.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2011
Herpes Zoster: Who's at Risk and Who Should be Vaccinated Who should, and who should not, receive the zoster vaccine is clarified in this brief update from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2011
Stopping the Hospital Spread of Gram-Negative Bacilli With the bottom of the beta-lactam barrel clearly visible, these strategies to halt transmission are imperative.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2011
When to Consider Cholera This most severe form of diarrheal illness has been imported to the United States. Make sure you know how to respond if you suspect cholera.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2011
Pharmacogenomics and Your Practice: Abacavir Pharmacogenomic tests, to predict patients' response to drugs, are slowly becoming available for use in clinical practice.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2011
CDC's Epi Info 7: A Useful Application for Clinicians, Too! Don't think Epi Info offers value to your clinical practice? Think again. Learn about how this tool's usefulness goes beyond its application to outbreak investigations and disease surveillance.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2011
Tdap: Now for Pregnant Women and 65 Plus The latest recommendations aim to cocoon young infants with protection from pertussis by vaccinating parents and grandparents.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2011
Protect Outpatient Oncology Patients From Infections One thing 1 million patients undergoing treatment for cancer don't need is an avoidable infection.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2011
Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: BRCA and Your Patient This information will help you identify which patients are at increased risk for breast or ovarian cancer, and those who may benefit from genetic counseling and testing.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2011
Mucormycosis: When to Think Fungal Infection An outbreak of mucormycosis occurred after the recent tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri. Would you have diagnosed these infections?
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2011
Influenza Vaccination 2011-2012: Recommendations The 2011-2012 influenza season is upon us, and the recommendations have changed. Are you up-to-date?
CDC Expert Commentary, September 2011
The Risk for Congenital Heart Defects Knowing who is at risk, counseling appropriately, and screening newborns could go a long way toward reducing the morbidity and mortality of congenital heart defects.
CDC Expert Commentary, September 2011
Hold the Raw Sprouts, Please Here are the facts that you need to know -- and tell your patients -- about the dangers of eating raw sprouts.
CDC Expert Commentary, September 2011
Teen Pregnancy and Reproductive Health Make it easy for young men and women to discuss sexual health and reproductive issues with you.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2011
Pets Can Make People Sick Which furry (and not furry) friends are most likely to transmit infection to humans? Share these precautions with your pet-loving patients.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2011
Special Health Needs of Pregnant Women Planning Travel Abroad How would you advise your pregnant patients on safer international travel, especially to developing countries?
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2011
Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use New guidelines from the CDC will help providers counsel patients on appropriate contraceptive method choices.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2011
The 15-Minute Asthma Visit You can reduce impairment and risk and provide evidence-based care for your asthma patients in a 15-minute office visit.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2011
Savvy About Salmonella? Protect your patients from foodborne illness with this timely information from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2011
Talk to Patients About Recreational Water Health Risks Recreational water health risks are serious and they are increasing. Clinicians must advise patients on healthy swimming practices.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2011
New Infection Prevention Guidance for Outpatient Settings Hot off the presses. What should you be doing if you take care of patients in any outpatient setting, from clinic to surgery center?
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2011
Five Things You Need to Know About PrEP Pre-exposure prophylaxis is available for the prevention of HIV infection in very specific circumstances. Get up to speed with this quick summary from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2011
Vaccine Administration, Storage, and Handling Make sure that your vaccine procedures are error proof with this concise summary from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2011
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding? How to Spot von Willebrand Disease If you know that a patient has the serious bleeding disorder known as von Willebrand disease, find out how to test and treat in this update from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2011
Taking An Adolescent's Sexual History Never miss an opportunity to take an adolescent's sexual history and conduct appropriate sexually transmitted infection screening and prevention counseling.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2011
JAMA Study on Salt: The CDC Response An interview with Peter Briss, Medical Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Heath Promotion, CDC, responds to the JAMA study suggesting that too little salt can be harmful.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2011
Overcoming Vaccine Concerns and Refusals Tips for having conversations with parents who are reticent to vaccinate their children are offered by Anne Schuchat of CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2011
Here Come the Bugs: Protection From Insect and Tick Bites Share these helpful tips on safe and effective protection against bug and tick bites with your patients.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2011
Got Milk? Don't Get Raw Milk! A Cautionary Tale. In this expert commentary from the CDC, Dr. Robert Tauxe explains why buying underpasteurized milk could be a raw deal.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2011
Preventing Norovirus Transmission: New Guidelines Released New recommendations from the CDC help healthcare providers get up to speed on preventing norovirus gastroenteritis.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2011
A Home Run Against ALS A new national ALS registry is intended to help advance the understanding and management of this challenging disease, for which there is no known cure.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2011
Asthma Control During Travel The CDC's Dr. David Callahan outlines how clinicians can prepare patients with asthma for symptom-free travel.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2011
Measles: What You Might Not Know A cough, a runny nose, and red eyes? Think measles if these symptoms are in travelers returning to the United States.
CDC Expert Commentary, April 2011
Putting a Stop to MRSA: Active Detection and Isolation Dr. John Jernigan reviews the latest evidence that ending MRSA infection in hospitals is achievable.
CDC Expert Commentary, April 2011
Neglected Infections of Poverty - Toxocariasis In this CDC Expert Commentary, LCDR Paul T. Cantey describes toxocariasis, a common, yet little known parasitic disease associated with pet ownership.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2011
What's New in Blood Testing for TB Infection? In this commentary from the CDC, Dr. Castro updates clinicians on using blood tests to diagnose Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and what these tests offer over tuberculin skin tests.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2011
Medication Use in Pregnancy Responsibilities of healthcare providers to counsel pregnant patients about medication use are outlined in this CDC commentary.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2011
Preventing Bloodstream Infection During Hemodialysis The most important practices to prevent central line-associated bloodstream infection in patients on hemodialysis are outlined in this commentary from CDC expert Dr. Priti Patel.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2011
Pertussis Diagnosis: Avoid the Pitfalls of PCR Follow these tips to get the most accurate results when testing patients with signs and symptoms of pertussis.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2011
Changes to Rabies Vaccine Recommendations Important new changes to guidelines for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, and the reasons for these changes, are highlighted in this commentary from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2011
Make Every Injection Safe! In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Joseph Perz clears up myths and misperceptions that could be putting your patients at risk.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2011
Genetic Testing for Lynch Syndrome in Colorectal Cancer In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. David Dotson outlines the use of genetic testing for patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer and others.
CDC Expert Commentary, February 2011
New Sickle Cell Public Health Initiative In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Grant encourages healthcare provider participation in a new program of surveillance for sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011
Foodborne Illness: A Handy Overview In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Mahon reminds us of the serious and widespread nature of foodborne illness.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011
Antiviral Treatment of Influenza: The Latest Guidelines In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Alicia Fry shares pearls for practice from the CDC's Influenza Division on when early treatment with antivirals is particularly important.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011
Get Up to Date on Rapid Influenza Testing In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Dan Jernigan describes new rapid diagnostic tests that will help providers, particularly when a positive test result would change management.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011
Clearing Up Confusion About Cervical Cancer Screening In this video commentary from CDC, Dr. Mona Saraiya explains why CDC believes that women are being overscreened for cervical cancer.
CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011
The Latest STD Treatment Guidelines In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Workowski introduces new STD treatment guidelines.
CDC Expert Commentary, December 2010
Updated Guidelines for Prevention of Perinatal Group B Strep Disease This video commentary from the CDC highlights the key changes to the new 2010 guidelines for preventing group B strep disease in the neonate.
CDC Expert Commentary, December 2010
Carbapenem Resistance in the United States: What Should Clinicians Do? Two experts from CDC discuss the steps that every clinician and hospital should take to prevent the spread of these highly resistant pathogens.
CDC Expert Commentary, December 2010
Diabetes and Influenza: A Dangerous Mix In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Ann Albright outlines what healthcare providers should do -- and what patients with diabetes should do -- as the flu season gets underway.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
It's a First: Universal Flu Vaccination In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Daniel Jernigan explains the change to "universal influenza vaccination" for the 2010-2011 season.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
Healthcare Workers Must Be Vaccinated Against Influenza Studies show fewer than 50% of healthcare workers typically get the flu vaccine.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
Three Steps to Antibiotic Stewardship In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Srinivasan offers 3 easy ways for busy clinicians to practice antimicrobial stewardship.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
Influenza Vaccination for Children: A Quick Reference Guide Who gets 1 dose? Who gets 2? In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Eric Kasowski outlines the latest recommendations for influenza vaccination in children, which depend on both age and vaccine history.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
CDC Commentary: Don't Give In and Give Those Antibiotics! In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Lauri Hicks provides hints for busy practitioners on how to avoid overprescribing antibiotics.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
CDC Commentary: Health of the Internationally Adopted Child In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Sharmila Shetty outlines important health screenings and preventive care for children adopted outside of, and returning to, the United States.
CDC Expert Commentary, November 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: Help Your Pregnant Patients Avoid CMV Infection In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Mike Cannon provides tips for counseling childbearing women about CMV and indications for CMV testing in pregnancy.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2010
CDC Commentary: Four Critical Questions to Ask in the Evaluation of Adult Traumatic Brain Injury In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Vik Kapil reviews new guidelines for evaluation and management of mild traumatic brain injury in adults.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: Staying Healthy on Medical Missions In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky offers advice to health professionals preparing for humanitarian missions.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: Screening Asian Patients for Chronic Hepatitis B In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. John Ward urges primary care providers to screen Asian patients -- who may not have been vaccinated at birth -- for chronic HBV infection.
CDC Expert Commentary, October 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: What to Tell Your Patients About Medication Safety In this video commentary from the CDC, Dan Budnitz addresses one of the most common causes of serious harm in children.
CDC Expert Commentary, September 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: Familial Hypercholesterolemia In this video commentary from the CDC, Renée M. Ned explains how to identify and treat patients with FH, and how to proceed with cascade testing of biologic relatives.
CDC Expert Commentary, September 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: New Influenza Vaccine Guidelines for 2010-2011 In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Andrew Kroger alerts clinicians to changes in the flu vaccine recommendations: what is covered; vaccinating children; and new vaccine products.
CDC Expert Commentary, September 2010
CDC Commentary: The Critical Importance of Newborn Screening and Follow-up In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Shapira explains how newborn screening and recommended follow-up can help to answer whether congenital hypothyroidism is increasing in the United States.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: Shaken Baby Syndrome: Making the Diagnosis In this video commentary from the CDC, Sandra P. Alexander describes clues that suggest that an infant might have been shaken.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2010
CDC Commentary: Testing for Clostridium difficile Infection In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Carolyn Gould talks about which patients should be tested for C difficile, which testing methods are appropriate, and one thing you should not do.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2010
Could You Treat 270 Patients in Two and a Half Hours? In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Richard Hunt describes blast injuries and their typical presentations in victims of a terrorist bombing.
CDC Expert Commentary, August 2010
CDC Commentary: Personal Genomic Testing: Information for Healthcare Providers In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Muin Khoury explains what healthcare providers should know about personal genomic tests that are being sold directly to consumers.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2010
CDC Commentary: Consider Dengue Fever in Patients Returning From the Tropics In this CDC video commentary, Dr. Kay Tomashek describes the symptoms of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever, which should be part of the differential diagnosis in febrile patients who have traveled to the tropics.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2010
CDC Expert Commentary: Prescribing the Correct Antibiotic for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Can Be Lifesaving In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Joanna Regan explains the rationale for treating children with doxycycline for this potentially deadly tick-borne infection.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2010
CDC Commentary: With Pertussis on the Rise, Who Needs a Tdap Vaccination? In this video commentary from the CDC, Stacey Martin explains who should get a Tdap vaccination or booster to protect against pertussis.
CDC Expert Commentary, July 2010
CDC Commentary: Preventing Chlamydia In this video commentary from the CDC, Catherine Satterwhite offers valuable hints to busy practitioners about how to manage chlamydia screening.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2010
CDC Commentary: Clues to Diagnosis in the Patient With Posttravel Illness In this CDC video commentary, Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky outlines key illnesses that should be in the differential diagnosis of an ill patient following travel, and how to take a thorough travel history.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2010
CDC Commentary: New Safety Data on the HPV Vaccine -- Reassure Your Patients In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Claudia Velozzi reviews the most recent, and reassuring, safety data for Gardasil, the vaccine for HPV.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2010
CDC Commentary: The Pre-Travel Consultation -- What Providers Should Know In this video commentary from the CDC, Phyllis Kozarsky, MD, informs providers of the crucial elements of a pre-travel consultation for patients who are planning to travel abroad.
CDC Expert Commentary, June 2010
CDC Commentary: Identifying Hearing Loss in Newborns In this video commentary from the CDC, John Eichwald gives healthcare providers a detailed list of their responsibilities in the identification and management of infant hearing loss.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2010
CDC Commentary: Pneumococcal Disease in Children -- New Immunization Recommendations In this CDC video commentary, Matthew R. Moore, MD, MPH, describes the new vaccine recommendations and explains what to do during the transition period from PCV7 to PCV13.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2010
CDC Commentary: The Three Faces of Autism Spectrum Disorder -- Learn to Recognize Them Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, MD, gives us an overview of the 3 types of autism spectrum disorder and what to look for in young children.
CDC Expert Commentary, May 2010
CDC Commentary: Screening for Autism and Developmental Delays -- Learn the Signs Georgina Peacock, MD, MPH, reminds us that autism spectrum disorder can be diagnosed at 18 months or younger and gives some tips on how to screen for developmental delays.
CDC Expert Commentary, April 2010
CDC Commentary: Reducing Healthcare-Associated Urinary Tract Infections Learn about quality improvement programs focused on the use of urinary catheters, in this video commentary from the CDC.
CDC Expert Commentary, April 2010
CDC Commentary: Diabetes in Pregnancy In this video commentary from the CDC, Jennifer Williams, FNP, reviews the importance of screening and management of diabetes during pregnancy.
CDC Expert Commentary, April 2010
CDC Commentary: Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes In this video commentary, Edward Gregg, PhD, describes what has been learned from the TRIAD study, offering both clinicians and policy makers valuable insights into caring for people with diabetes.
CDC Expert Commentary, April 2010
CDC Commentary: Rabies Transmission, Identification, Diagnosis, and Safety In this video commentary from the CDC, Brett W. Petersen, MD, MPH, offers clinicians guidance on rabies diagnosis and management.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010
Antimicrobial Stewardship Is Vital to Avoid a Return to the Preantibiotic Era In this video commentary, Neil O. Fishman, MD, from SHEA, explains why antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest challenges that healthcare providers will confront during the coming decade.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010
Prevention of Device-Related Infections: A Global Call to Action In this video commentary, Cathryn L. Murphy, from APIC, emphasizes how building standard practices and empowering clinicians can reduce infections related to medical devices.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases -- Roll Up Your Sleeves! In this video commentary, William Schaffner, MD, of IDSA, reviews why we need to educate adults about immunization and the benefit of getting vaccinated ourselves.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010
CDC Commentary: Meningococcal Disease: Prevention, Diagnosis and Management Henry M. Wu, MD, comments on meningococcal disease, including signs, symptoms, and treatment, and reviews the latest vaccine recommendations.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010
CDC Commentary: Healthcare-Associated Infections: Ongoing Public Health Threat In this video commentary from the CDC, Denise Cardo, MD, describes how evidence-based guidelines must be translated into practice to eliminate HAIs.
CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010

CDC Mission

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and the development of public health policies, tools, and information. CDC offers expertise, leadership, and training on topics ranging from common diseases and conditions, emergency preparedness, environmental health and safety, healthy living, traveler's health, and workplace safety and health.