Top Story

• Hospitals join patient safety initiative
  More than 20 hospitals and hospital groups have committed to actions that will increase patient safety, while nine medical device firms will make patient information more accessible, according to the Patient Safety, Science & Technology Movement. The action plans include goals linked to the prevention of catheter line-associated bloodstream infections, as well as pledges involving education about blood transfusions and proper blood management. BeckersHospitalReview.com (2/15)     

Science & Health

• CDC: Flu activity continues downward trend
  CDC data from the week ending Feb. 9 showed that flu activity in many states continued to drop. Eleven states and New York City reported high levels of flu activity, and 10 states reported moderate activity. Adults aged 65 and older account for more than half of total flu-related hospitalizations, and 64 children have died so far this flu season, the CDC said. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News (2/15)     

• Avian influenza strikes half a million birds in Mexico
  Officials in Mexico are awaiting identification of the avian influenza strain that appears to have affected more than half a million chickens in central Mexico. An H7N3 outbreak led the government to cull some 22 million birds in western Mexico last year. Officials have said the current strain has not affected humans in the area. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (2/15)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AABB SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Blood bank reports broader access to rare blood types (San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration))

• PRP linked to benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis (Healio)

• Study: Blood stem cells can eliminate leukemia stem cells (Oncology Nurse Advisor online)

• Bio-scaffold may allow for regrowth of broken bones (Medical News Today)

• Team in Japan clears hurdle on way to trial of iPS cells (The Japan Daily Press)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Emerging Trends

• Students see potential for vaccine-delivering mosquitoes
  Provita, a company operated by science- and business-oriented high school students, is developing a "flying syringe" approach to managing mosquito-born diseases. The company hopes to develop mosquitoes that can produce a West Nile virus vaccine. The company also is working on a product called Coagula intended to reduce the need for injections to treat von Willebrand disease and hemophilia. FastCoExist (2/15)     

• Ga. university's mobile app offers Q-and-A on HIV care
  A prerecorded mobile application known as the Live Network was designed by Emory University in Atlanta to offer information on care and the importance of antiretroviral therapy adherence to HIV patients. The question-and-answer format is intended to help patients in rural settings. American City Business Journals/Atlanta/A Healthy Conversation blog (2/15)     

Industry News & Practice

• Group issues assessment to gauge hospital safety, quality
  The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has introduced the 2011 ISMP Medication Safety Self Assessment for Hospitals meant to help health care facilities evaluate drug practice safety, pinpoint improvement opportunities and compare outcomes with similar hospitals. BeckersASC.com (2/15)     

Government & Regulatory

• FDA widens OK of Novartis transplant drug
  Novartis' Zortress obtained FDA approval for use in the prevention of liver rejection among patients who receive the transplanted organs. The drug is already approved for kidney transplant patients. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (2/18)     

• FDA accelerates review of ViiV's HIV/AIDS drug dolutegravir
  ViiV Healthcare, a joint venture of GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Shionogi, obtained priority-review status from the FDA for its investigational daily HIV/AIDS treatment dolutegravir. The drug is an integrase inhibitor that keeps HIV out of cells. The FDA is set to decide on the drug's approval by Aug. 17. Yahoo/Reuters (2/16)     

Association News

• (CT) AABB Center for Cellular Therapies to develop directory of training opportunities
  The AABB Center for Cellular Therapies is seeking contributions to develop a directory of training opportunities. Upon completion, the directory will offer members a comprehensive list of education programs related to cellular therapy laboratory practice, quality activities, patient care and clinical programs. All organizations offering such opportunities are encouraged to complete the online submission form.     

Position Title Company Name Location Donor Collections Director Blood Centers of the Pacific US - CA - San Francisco Medical Technologist CLS - Cord Blood Program San Diego Blood Bank US - CA - San Diego

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SmartQuote

You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration." --James Allen, British author