Articles –  Measles
 

1. Measles: the role of health protection teams and primary care
Jane de Burgh.
Primary Health Care [RCN Journal]. Published online: 13 November 2019
doi: 10.7748/phc.2019.e1609
Measles is a highly infectious, vaccine-preventable viral disease that causes rash, fever, cough, cold symptoms and conjunctivitis. More common complications include pneumonitis, sometimes with pneumonia as a secondary bacterial infection, and ear infections, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms. Rarer complications include encephalitis and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, both of which can be fatal
(Public Health England (PHE) 2017).

2. Confidence in the safety of standard childhood vaccinations among New Zealand health professionals
Carol Lee., Isabelle Duck & Chris G Sibley
New Zealand Medical Journal, 4th May 2018, 131(1474), 60-68
Scepticism about the safety of childhood vaccinations is an issue of pressing concern.1 Despite the abundance of comprehensive and reliable scientific evidence on the safety and effectiveness of standard vaccinations,2–4 many parents continue to express fear and mistrust of vaccinations.1 Such scepticism may be fostered or enabled by the increased accessibility of pseudo-scientific anti-vaccination information online and previous fraudulent studies on vaccinations.

Articles - Journal of Infection Prevention, Vol. 20 Issue 6, November 2019

3. Cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce the risk of healthcare-acquired infections in middle-income countries: A systematic review
Pushpa Udayangani Gamalathge, Sanjeewa Kularatna, Hannah E Carter, Sameera Senanayake & Nicholous Graves
Journal of Infection Prevention, 20(6), November 2019, 266–273.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1757177419852662
Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) contribute to prolonged hospital stays and account for a substantial economic burden to healthcare systems. Middle-income countries (MICs) experience a greater burden of HAI than developed countries. Evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce HAI is required to inform decision-making in these settings.

4. Lessons learned from a rapid implementation of a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle
Elyse Ladbrook., Stéphane L. Bouchoucha & Ana Hutchinson
Journal of Infection Prevention, 20(6), November 2019, 274–280
https://doi.org/10.1177/1757177419846588
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common avoidable healthcare associated infection in ventilated critical care patients that can have a detrimental impact on patient recovery. To increase uptake at a local level, care bundles should be designed and implemented in collaboration with the end-users who will implement the bundle into practice.

5. Using debate to educate young people in schools about antibiotic use and resistance: A before and after evaluation using a questionnaire survey
Vicki L Young., Mark Berry., Neville Q Verlander., Andy Ridgway & Cliodna AM McNulty
Journal of Infection Prevention, 20(6), November 2019, 281–288
The use of debating as an educational tool is increasing in popularity. Students who take part in debates can develop a range of skills such as confidence and communication as well as gaining a greater understanding of the topic discussed. Within this study we have evaluated an antibiotic-resistant debate kit, assessing the ability of the debate lesson to improve student knowledge and awareness around antibiotics.

6. Healthcare-associated infections and compliance of hand hygiene among healthcare workers in a tertiary health facility, southwest Nigeria
Emmanuel O Irek., Alhaji A Aliyu., Tukur Dahiru., Temitope O Obadare & Aaron O Aboderin
Journal of Infection Prevention, 20(6), November 2019, 289-296
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are threats in healthcare settings contributing to increased morbidity, mortality and antimicrobial resistance worldwide. Hand hygiene (HH) is the simplest and most important single intervention to reduce HAIs.

Articles – Maori Health/Wellbeing
 

7. A culturally derived framework of values-driven transformation in Māori economies of well-being (Ngā hono ōhanga oranga)
Rachel Wolfgramm
AlterNative, First published November 25, 2019
https://doi.org/10.1177/1177180119885663
This article is based on current research investigating Māori economies of well-being. A primary question is “what constitutes transformative and prosperous Māori economies of well-being?”
The article contributes to a comprehensive, multilevel and interdisciplinary review of Māori economies and well-being literature. In addition, it offers a distinctive culturally derived framework: Ngā hono ōhanga oranga (Māori relational economies of well-being).

8. Equity by 2030: achieving equity in survival for Māori cancer patients.
Gurney J, Campbell S, Jackson C & Sarfati D.
NZ Medical Journal, (2019, Nov 29). 132(1505), 66-76.
Māori diagnosed with cancer are more likely to die—and to die sooner—than non-Māori with cancer. New Zealand stands at the junction of a crucial philosophical choice: whether, in good conscience, to accept the existence of this inequity for our indigenous population, or to do whatever we need to do to close the gap. In this article, we talk about a new goal to achieve equity in cancer survival for Maori by 2030, give some recommendations for how we can achieve this goal and then talk about some of its likely criticisms.
https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/read-the-journal/all-issues/2010-2019/2019/vol-132-no-1506-29-november-2019/8061

9. New Zealand health system: universalism struggles with persisting inequities
Felicity Goodyear-Smith & Toni Ashton
Lancet (2019, August 3), 394, 432–42
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31238-3
The so-called universal orientation of the health system, along with a strong commitment to social service provision, have contributed to New Zealand's favourable health statistics. However, despite a long-standing commitment to reducing health inequities, problems with access to care persist and the system is not delivering the promise of equitable health outcomes for all population groups.

Articles – Fatigue and Nurses
 

10. National Code of Practice For Managing Nurses’ Fatigue and Shift Work in District Health Board Hospitals
First Edition, October 2019
Advances in science, information technology, and safety management have enabled new data-driven systems to improve the management of fatigue and shift work [4]1. These systems go beyond the traditional focus on limiting maximum work hours and minimum breaks. This Code of Practice describes how to set up a system for managing fatigue and shift work for hospital-based nurses
Access the report here: https://www.safernursing24-7.co.nz/
    

Journal Table of Contents
– New Zealand College of Midwives Midwifery News, Issue 95, December 2019
 

11A. Time to get political…… again! [Alison Eddy Chief Executive]; From the President: ‘I walk backwards into my future, with my eyes fixed on my past’
11B. Non-invasive pre-natal screening (NIPS) in New Zealand
11C. Equity of access key theme in reports on perinatal and maternal outcomes and quality of care
11D. Continuing Education: Celebrating practice through education
11E. MERAs update: Health professionals and unions focus on climate change
11F. Now it’s like working in a factory [Jill Owens MERAs Co-Leader (Industrial) reports on the recent meeting where midwives told of the crisis conditions they were facing at Hutt Hospital]
11G. How we built our own primary birthing unit
11H. Practice makes perfect [Profile: Midwifery Centre in Napier. Julie Kinloch, a founder member of the practice, explains how she and her colleagues work together]
11I. Breastfeeding connection – Breastfeeding and immunity
11J. Celebrating two decades promoting breastfeeding; Positive birth movement launched in New Zealand
11K. 9th biennial Joan Donley Midwifery Research Forum 12-13 September 2019
11L. Annual Educators’ Forum 2019
11M. Pasifika Midwives Aotearoa update [Tish Taihia, Clinical Midwife Manager at the Nga Hau Mangere Birth Centre, South Auckland explains the background to the building of the centre]
11N. Research briefs: Maternal and perinatal outcomes by planned place of birth in Australia 2000-2012; Health care experiences and birth outcomes: Results of an Aboriginal birth cohort; Supporting rural midwifery practice using a mobile health (mHealth) intervention
11O. Bulletin: Tribute to Lizzie Tamepo; No more faxes, use Birth Notices Online now; Midwifery Standards Reviewers Ballot finalised; Zonta awards for midwives; Foundation members – a clarification; Award for Yvonne Hiskemuller; College thanks long-serving midwifery leaders

Seminars/Forums
 

12. NZNO Medico-Legal Forums
Scope of Practice’ - what is that exactly and why as regulated health professionals do we have or need a scope of practice?
Dates: February and March 2020
Venue: Various centres around New Zealand
Register Online: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=489871&

13. Goodfellow Symposium
“Skills for next Monday”
Date: March 28-29 2020
Venue: Vodafone Events Centre
More Information: https://www.goodfellowunit.org/symposium

News – National
 

14. Family of mother with dementia furious over care home's assessment
Radio New Zealand – 19 December 2019
The family of a woman with dementia are furious her care home arranged an assessment for her without them knowing and then said she had two weeks to move out.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/405834/family-of-mother-with-dementia-furious-over-care-home-s-assessment

15. Pharmac knew of epilepsy deaths for weeks but stayed silent
Radio New Zealand – 17 December 2019
Pharmac knew for more than two weeks that three deaths had been linked to its epilepsy drug brand switch but didn't tell patients or the public. The drug buying agency continued with the cost-saving brand switch after being told on 29 October that three deaths had been reported to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM) over suspicions they were linked to the change.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/405633/pharmac-knew-of-epilepsy-deaths-for-weeks-but-stayed-silent

News – International
 

16. Fears as the number of gastro superbug cases soars
The Age – 19 December 2019
A drug-resistant strain of a highly contagious sexually-transmitted bowel infection that commonly causes gastro is circulating in Victoria. The superbug strain of shigella bacteria, identified by researchers at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne, has been found to be resistant to all oral antibiotics with the vast majority of cases being suffered by men who have sex with men.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/fears-as-the-number-of-gastro-superbug-cases-soars-20191218-p53l4b.html