Newsletter

August 2024

Think Horses First

Lead testing

Lead exposure is toxic even at low levels, especially in young children. During June–August 2023, routine testing for lead identified four children in three unrelated North Carolina homes with blood lead levels ≥5 μg/dL. Investigations identified WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree pouches as the likely source and linked related products to about 500 cases nationwide. The product was voluntarily recalled. Routine testing of young children and environmental investigations can identify emerging sources of lead to prevent ongoing exposures and developmental impairments.

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Don’t Forget Zebras

Nootropic (mushroom) gummies

During September 2023–June 2024, five people required hospital evaluation after ingesting “nootropics” (substances taken to enhance cognitive function) gummies, which listed as ingredients the hallucinogenic mushroom Amanita muscaria or other unnamed mushrooms. Three of five brands analyzed contained unlabeled DEA schedule I substances psilocybin and psilocin. Adults who consume these gummies can experience signs and symptoms that include hallucinations, altered mental status, tachycardia, and gastrointestinal upset.

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Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease that can lead to severe illness in humans. During a canine leptospirosis outbreak, a patient was hospitalized twice with illness consistent with leptospirosis. Despite the patient communicating occupational risk, there were delays in diagnostic testing and treatment. Irrespective of geographic location, leptospirosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with occupational exposure to animals and clinically compatible signs and symptoms, including fever, chills, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, calf pain, and conjunctival suffusion.

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Opportunities to Improve Clinical Outcomes

Smoking cessation

In 2022, most adults who smoked wanted to quit, but fewer than 10% were successful. Only half of adults who smoked and saw a health professional during the past year received advice or assistance to quit smoking. Among those who tried to quit, only 38% used evidence-based treatment (i.e., counseling or medication). Implementing health systems changes, such as adoption of treatment protocols and standardized workflows, could help ensure clinical intervention for all adults who smoke. This could decrease smoking-related disease and death.

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Did you know? Medscape & MMWR have FREE CME activities

Continuing medical education credits are available from Medscape on select MMWRs.

Learn more about FREE CME