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While your medical practice continues to focus on treating patients during the pandemic, cyber criminals are trying to take advantage of this hectic time to access your computers.
The post Weathering Cyber Threats in Healthcare appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
As many healthcare organizations seek to have their billing and coding staffs work remotely, active attempts to compromise their organization’s data, via phishing and malware, are being perpetrated by foreign actors. While many organizations seek to keep some continuity by allowing their team to continue performing services from home, they have left themselves open to severe security risks. Google has announced that in the past month, these malicious attacks have dramatically increased.
Is your organization adequately prepared from a security perspective to have your coders continue working remotely? If you have not validated that your existing security protocols are up to legal and best practices standards, then perhaps now is the time to rethink your current coding setup.
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Google warns of government-backed cyber groups targeting healthcare organizations | TheHill
The post Are Your Remote Coders Secure? Google Warns of Covid-19 Cyber Threats appeared first on The Coding Network.
Here’s how to fight back. Most of us are concerned about being personally attacked by cybercriminals, and we must have that same increased awareness within our medical practices. Cybercriminals consider medical practices ripe for the picking. Security policies and continuous education work like pesticides. Are you protected from a HIPAA breach? The Name of the […]
The post Cyber Threats to Physician Practices Are Growing appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.
Such tape worms in question are: the dwarf tapeworm, the dog tapeworm and Echinococcus multilocularis. Such names sound so scary huh? What are their effects?
Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm)
Hymenolepis nana is found worldwide, commonly in the tropics. Multilocular Hydratid disease occurs primarily in hunters and is endemic in northern Europe, siberia, and the western provinces of Canada. Unilocular Hydratid Cyst Disease is found primarily in shepherds living in the Mediterranean region, the Middle East and Australia.
It is only 2-3cm in length. Scolex has round form and contains suckers and hooks. Its neck is very long and thick. Strobila has 200 proglottides. the uterus has an excretory ostium. Eggs are released from it into the feces. Transmission is through the fecal-oral (by the ingestion of eggs from contaminated food or water) route.
H.nana is different from other tapeworms, because its eggs are directly infectious for humans; i.e ingested eggs can develop into adult worms without an intermediate host. Within the duodenum, the eggs hatch and differentiate into cysticercoid larvae and then into adult worms. Gravid proglottids detach, disintegrate, and release fetilized eggs. The eggs either pass in the stool or can reinfect the small intestine (autoinfection). In contrast to infection by other tapeworms, where only one adult worm is present, many H.nana worms (sometimes hundreds) are found.
It is asymptomatic, but diarrhea and abdominal cramps may be present. Diagnosis can be proven by observing eggs in stool. The characteristic feature of H.nana eggs is the 8-10 polar filaments lying between the membrane of the 6-hooked larva and the outer shell. There are so many suggestions to the treatment therapy of Hymenolepsis nana. One suggestions recommends Acranil drug in tablets taken orally (depending on doctor’s prescription) while others recommend three drugs which are: Praziquantel, niclosamide and paromomycin. Nitrazoxamide has been recently discovered as another treatment option. Prevention consists of good personal hygiene and avoidance of fecal contamination of food and water.
Echinococcus granulosus (dog tapeworm)
It is found primarily in shepherds living in the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, Australia and USA (western states). The worm is up to 3-5mm. Scolex has suckers and hooks. Its neck is short, strobila has 3-5 proglottids. Posterior segment (mature) is the largest and contains uterus with the haustrums, genital pore situated in the back of the proglottid. Transmission is through the fecal oral route by the ingestion of eggs from contaminated food or water.
Dogs are the most important definitive hosts. The intermediate hosts are usually sheep. Humans are almost always dead-end intermediate hosts. Worms in the dog’s intestine liberate thousands of eggs, which are ingested by sheep (or humans). The oncosphere embryos emerge in the small intestine and migrate primarily to the liver but also to the lungs, bones, and brain. The embryos develop into large fluid-filled hydatid cysts, the inner germinal layer of which generates many protoscoleces within “brood capsules”. The outer layer of the cyst is thick, fibrous tissue produce by the host. The life cycle is completed when the entrails (for example liver containing hydatid cysts) of slaughtered sheep are eaten by dogs.
Many individuals with hydatic cysts are asymptomatic, but liver may cause hepatic dysfunction. Cysts in the lungs can erode into a bronchus, causing bloody sputum, and cerebral cysts can cause headache and focal neurologic stings. If the cysts ruptures spontaneously or during trauma or surgical removal, life-threatening anaphylaxis can occur (the cyst fluid contains parasite antigens, which can sensitize the host). Diagnosis may be done by X-ray, observation of eosinophilia and serologic tests. Prevention of human disease involves not feeding the entrails of slaughtered sheep to dogs.
Echinococcus multilocularis
It is found in northern Europe, siberia, Canada (western provinces), the USA (North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Alaska). Many of the features of this organism are the same as those of E.granulosus, but the definitive hosts are mainly foxes and the intermediate hosts are various rodents. Humans are infected by accidental ingestion of food contaminated with fox feces. The disease occurs primarily in hunters and trappers. Within the human liver, the larvae form multiloculated cysts with few protoscoleces. No outer fibrous capsule forms, so the cysts continue to proliferate, producing a honeycomb effect of hundreds of small vesicles (without fluid). The clinical picture usually involves jaundice and weight loss. The prognosis is poor and hence surgical removal may be feasible.
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Mosquitoes are annoying, swarming, hitting pests, and some are carriers of malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, filariasis, and encephalomyelitis. Mosquitoes can be distinguished from other Diptera by their fragile, small appearance. Females have elongated mouth parts and a distinct proboscis well suited for piercing and sucking blood. Scales are present along the wing veins and along the lower wing margins.
The sexes can be distinguished by the antennae: in females they are long and slender with a few short hairs; in the male they are feathery and plumose. Close examination shows the antennae to be composed of 14 to 15 segments. The venation of the wings is also characteristic for mosquitoes and is helpful in species identification. Mosquitoes are particularly attracted to man and animals, especially to bright light and dark-colored clothing. The females are the blood suckers and cannot produce fertile eggs without ingesting blood. It is postulated that the blood supplies the serotonin and epinephrine necessary for production of gonadotropic hormone by the mosquito, required for ovulation. The eggs are laid on the surface of water and hatch into aquatic “wiggletails”. These subsequently metamorphose into adults. Three genera-Anopheles, Aedes, Culex-transmit disease to man.
Mosquito control
1. Mechanical methods
Wire screens for windows and doors. Mosquito nets. Repellants; certain lotions or creams applied to the skin repel mosquitoes from bitting eg, citrignella oil, Indalone. Animal barrier: Placing farm animals between the breeding places and human habitations would deviate mosquitoes (particularly zoophilic) from biting man.
2. Natural or physical methods (ecological interference)
Changing the environment so as to become unsuitable for the mosquitoe eg, filling or drainage of the breeding place. Developing of hade if larvae require sunshine and vice versa. Changing of water level, water current, PH.
3. Biological methods
Introduction of a natural enemy (predator): a fish (Gambusia affinis) feed on larvae and pupae; release of sterilized males (X-ray or chemical agents) which compete with males in nature, mating with females. and resulting in reduction of the forth coming generation.
4. Chemical methods (insecticides)
Used the ones against adults (adulticides). Insecticides act on contact being absorbed through the cuticle (contact poison). These are applied as space spray with an insecticide, which causes immediate knockdown of mosquitoes eg. pyrethrum (active ingredient in Flit), but it has no residual action. And also by residual spray of resting places of adults (walls0 using an insecticide of long action (residual insecticide) eg, hydrocarbons as DDT and Gammaxane, Organophosphorous compounds as Malathion and Diphterex, carbamates as sevin. The dvelopment of resistance is a drawback of insecticides
Specific agents can be applied against aquatic stages. These agents are applied to water surfaces. Anopheline larvae are affected more than culicines, being surface feeders. Pupae are not affected, as they do not feed. Respiratory poison: applying non-volatile oils suffocates larvae and pupae by blocking the respiratory spiracles. Residual insecticides are sprayed on water surface mixed with dust or oil. They exert their effect by contact and ingestion. Practically no single method alone is efficient in control. The combined use of two or more methods (integrated control) would provide a higher and more efficient level of abatement. Insects escaped on method, are killed by other.
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Related Medical Coding Articles
Medical wastes or clinical wastes are unwanted biological products which are highly infectious in nature. It has to be disposed properly otherwise it could pose as a health and environmental danger. Medical wastes are found in hospitals, laboratories, research centers, tattoo parlors etc. Medical wastes are broadly classified into infectious waste and bio-hazardous waste. These medical wastes can easily spread any disease virally and can even pose a danger to life.
Effective medical waste disposal is the first and foremost way to prevent unwanted disease and prevent untoward infection towards human beings from medical wastes. All staffs in any hospitals or laboratories are equally responsible in housekeeping. Good housekeeping can reduce the infection to a great extent. It also cuts down the spreading of micro organism, bacteria, etc. Here you can find the need for proper medical waste disposal techniques and the risks involved with improper handling.
Advantages of proper Medical waste disposal
(a)It creates a healthy atmosphere free from microbes.
(b)Minimizes the risk of infection to staffs, visitors and other people.
(c)Cuts off unpleasant sights and bad odors
(d)Contaminations of water and ground soil are avoided.
(e)Reduces fleas and insects, also cuts off animal coming towards the medical waste.
Anyone who handles medical wastes must deal with it carefully otherwise they will be also easily prone to the infection. Most staff does not know the risks involved while handling medical wastes and the infections related with it. Supervisors have to make sure that they follow the guidelines while handling medical wastes. Sharp objects like used injections and needles pose serious infections like HIV, HBV, etc. It is good to get all the staff vaccinated for Hepatitis B Virus. If medical wastes are not properly disposed by staffs then it may easily spread to patients and other clients who visit hospital and laboratories.
Next important hazard is disposing medical waste in an improper way, for e.g. if a needle goes to the hand of a kid he/she may get easily infected with it unknowingly. Scavengers who handle medical wastes are also at risk, they must use proper equipments and state of the art technique while disposing the medical wastes.
Moreover while disposing the medical waste it must be done cautiously without polluting the environment. Staffs who dispose the medical wastes must be well trained and they must be observed by a supervisor. In addition every hospital must follow the segregation guidelines.
Dennis Tackleberky covers the waste management industry. Specializing in medical waste disposal, Texas medical waste services and waste management for Texas residents.