St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Physician Edits Key Resource on Infectious Diseases

New vaccine recommendations were recently published and distributed to pediatricians and family physicians throughout the country. St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children’s Chief of Infectious Diseases, Sarah S. Long, M.D. is an associate editor of the Red Book 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases (American Academy of Pediatrics/2009/ ISBN 13: 978-1-58110-306-9), which includes these recommendations.

Considered the authoritative resource on pediatric vaccines, the Red Book 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases is developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other leading institutions. It features contributions from hundreds of physicians nationwide, detailing the latest findings and clinical recommendations on the manifestations, etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of more than 200 childhood conditions.

The latest edition of the book includes updated sections and chapters on key developments in combination vaccines, 2009 AAP standards for child and adolescent immunization practices, the latest on common misconceptions about immunizations, and vaccine contraindications and precautions.

Other new and updated entries in the book cover the latest on sexually transmitted infections in children and adolescents along with recommendations for use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, updated information on Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B and new guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis from the American Heart Association.

Dr. Long specializes in the care and treatment of children with infectious diseases and is a national opinion leader in pediatric infectious diseases. She received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and completed her pediatric residency and fellowship in infectious diseases at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. In addition to serving as associate editor of the Red Book Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, Dr. Long serves as chief editor of “Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,” an essential guide for both pediatric generalists and specialists in pediatric infectious diseases. Dr. Long is also an associate editor of The Journal of Pediatrics, a prestigious primary science pediatric journal.

Since 1875, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children has been providing exceptional patient care and advancing new pediatric treatments through research and innovation. Through affiliations with Drexel University College of Medicine and Temple University School of Medicine, St. Christopher’s is a teaching hospital helping to train the next generation of professionals in pediatric medicine.

The 189-bed hospital is committed to delivering high quality family- and patient-centered care to children from throughout the Philadelphia area and around the world. Its highly acclaimed programs include its Cystic Fibrosis Center, Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), as well as its Burn Center, which is the only dedicated pediatric burn center in the area. In 2009 St. Christopher’s achieved Magnet status, which is one of the nation's highest forms of recognition for nursing excellence.

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children is part of the Tenet Health System. To learn more about St. Christopher’s, visit www.stchristophershospital.com.

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