E. coli in Romaine Lettuce

CDC has urged everyone to avoid all Romaine Lettuce until further notice, as it is the leading suspect in a multi-state outbreak of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections, and a specific source has not been identified.  CDC recommends that drawers and shelves that held Romaine be sanitized.  They also recommend that antibiotics NOT be used for this type of infection, as the combination can result in kidney failure, and no benefits have been demonstrated.  For detailed instructions, see https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-11-18/index.html.

NW16 10/4+ NWRD Conference, NWCRN News

NWRD Conference

Northwest Renal Dietitians have announced their 2019 Annual Conference, to be held March 7-8, 2019 in Portland OR.  Topics intended so far include cardiac dysfunction, change motivation, diabetes management, and an evening networking event.  For details see https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/412302_a994fa9b56104e058440b04e5eeab527.pdf.

• Online-only registration will be January 15-February 15, 2019, with a late fee after February 15; see https://www.nwrdonline.org/registration.
• Until December 31, 2018:
  • Abstracts for poster presentations can be submitted to https://www.nwrdonline.org/abstracts
  • Sponsors and exhibitors can apply at https://www.nwrdonline.org/sponsor-exhibitor
  • Aspiring attendees can apply for scholarships after November 15, 2018 at https://www.nwrdonline.org/scholarships
• Room discounts at the Conference venue will be available until February 15, 2019; see https://www.nwrdonline.org/accommodations for details.

To follow all Conference details as they develop, see https://www.nwrdonline.org/conference-overview.  Volunteers are welcome and appreciated.  NWRD includes renal dietitians from British Columbia, as well as the five Network 16 states.  There is no NWRD membership fee.

NKF Council on Renal Nutrition News

The Washington State Council on Renal Nutrition and the Oregon Council on Renal Nutrition, regional affiliates of the NKF Council on Renal Nutrition, are merging by January 1, 2019 to become the Northwest Council on Renal Nutrition, NWCRN.  NWCRN will be open to all renal dietitians in Network 16 – Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.  The Oregon Council has closed, and until the new NWCRN website is available, any Network 16 dietitian may join the Washington State Council, at https://sites.google.com/site/washrenalnutrition/home/membership.

The Washington State Council holds bimonthly meetings, the last two of which in 2018 will be held in Seattle or by webinar on:

• October 4, 2018 – Alkali Treatment in CKD
• December 5, 2018 – Research for Dietitians

For more information see https://sites.google.com/site/washrenalnutrition/home, or email washcrn@gmail.com.  Volunteers are welcome and appreciated.  Handouts and minutes from past meetings are available at https://sites.google.com/site/washrenalnutrition/past-meetings.

HDC Fluid Restriction Calculator

Home Dialysis Central has published a Dialysis Fluid Restriction Calculator to answer the question, “How much can I drink between dialysis sessions?” individualized for each patient.  For the Calculator and discussion, see https://homedialysis.org/news-and-research/blog/265-a-new-dialysis-fluid-restriction-calculator.

6/22 AKF Phosphorus Webinar

The American Kidney Fund will present a free June 22, 2018 webinar on Phosphorus in the Kidney Disease Diet.  The webinar is open to everyone, including patients, family, friends, and professionals.  For details and registration, see http://www.kidneyfund.org/training/webinars/phosphorus-in-the-kidney.html.

2/15+ NWRD Conference Spokane

The payment deadline for discounted registration to the 2018 NWRD Annual Conference is February 15, 2018.  The Conference will be held March 8-9, 2018 in Spokane WA.  Register at http://www.nwrdonline.org/registration-2018.  Find the agenda, with includes Native American diets and disparities, disaster relief, vegetarian and vegan diets, transplant, diabetes, home hemo, new medications, EOL, and mentoring, at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/NWRD/NWRD.0318.pdf.

2/15+ NWRD Conference Spokane

The 2018 NWRD Annual Conference will be held March 8-9, 2018 in Spokane WA.  Payment received by February 15, 2018 will be discounted $50.  Register at http://www.nwrdonline.org/registration-2018.  The agenda includes CKD, disparities, and diet among Native American patients, hurricane relief, vegetarian and vegan diets, transplantation, diabetes, home hemo, new medications, EOL, mentoring, and a “3K Walk and Talk” along the Spokane River featuring best practices to “Renew, Refocus, and Refresh.”  Fourteen CPEUs are available.  Find the agenda at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/NWRD/NWRD.0318.pdf.

The Conference also includes an evening networking opportunity, cooking class, and renal diet workshop called Cultivate your CKD Culinary Skills led by NKF chef instructor Duane Sunwold of the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy.  Chef Sunwold, an experienced chef, culinary arts instructor, and former kidney patient, was able to put his kidney disease in remission, in part by changing his lifestyle and diet.  He will share professional techniques for teaching patients how to improve their diet.  Two additional CPEUs are offered for the evening.  Find more information at https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/nwrn.org/files/N/NWRD/NWRD.0318.Networking.pdf.

There is also space available for a few more poster sessions on your special project, teaching method, idea, or research; find details at http://www.nwrdonline.org/registration-2018.

Recall: Behring AlbuRx Albumin

The FDA has announced a warning that labels may fade on CSL Behring AlbuRx-25 brand Albumin Human 25 Percent Solution, in 50 and 100 mL vial sizes.  See https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm587337.htm for details and instructions.