Sanford Guide Treatment Guidelines for Infectious Diseases Now Online at VA Medical Centers

The Sanford Guide, recognized as the essential reference for infectious disease treatment, announces that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration has deployed the Sanford Guide Web Edition to all VA Medical Centers in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Sanford Guide announced the contract today at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). The Sanford Guide Web Edition is now available online at VA Medical Center nationwide, providing focused, up-to-date, evidence-based information on treatment of infectious diseases. There are 152 VA Medical Centers, located in every state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico providing comprehensive care to more than 5.5 million veterans annually.

"With drug-resistant infections on the rise, new strains of influenza emerging each flu season, new treatment options for chronic diseases like Hepatitis C and the continuing specter of bioterrorism, doctors need a guide to antimicrobial therapy more than ever," says Jeb Sanford, managing editor. "The Sanford Guide is one of the most frequently used and widely relied upon references in medicine. Providing a Web-based Sanford Guide for use by medical professionals enhances the VAs ability to access current treatment guidelines at the point of care."

Sanford Guide topics are organized by disease or clinical condition and by organism. Treatment recommendations are linked to comprehensive anti-infective drug information, augmented by guidance for antimicrobial prophylaxis, exposure management and immunizations.

The Sanford Guide Web Edition is powered by a robust search engine that affords quick access to specific topics. Rapid Reference outlines allow the user to browse disease topics by category. Extensive internal links connect related content for logical navigation. Literature references are linked to primary sources. Regular updates assure that content is always current.

The VA manages the largest medical education and health professions training program in the United States. VA Medical Centers serve as teaching hospitals for medical schools across the country. The Sanford Guide Web Edition is utilized as a teaching tool in medical schools, including the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the U.S. military medical school. The Sanford Guide Web Edition is also deployed in U.S. State Department Embassy clinics worldwide.