From compassionate connections to infection prevention: Addressing the xylazine crisis
To address the xylazine crisis in Philadelphia, Penn Medicine employees are offering support within the health system and in the community.
2 min. read
In 2020, Philadelphia emerged as the epicenter of the xylazine crisis. By the end of 2023, this drug was found in more than 90% of illicit fentanyl samples in the city. Xylazine, which is not intended for human use, is linked to fatal overdoses and can result in distinct soft tissue wounds on the body that can become deep and difficult to heal; untreated wounds are more susceptible to infection.
Penn Medicine staff in Philadelphia are working to support people with xylazine-related wounds, both within hospitals and through volunteer efforts in the community.
Pattie Lamoreaux, a medical/surgical resource float pool nurse, helps patients care for themselves and manage wounds outside of clinical settings by offering wound care kits. A 2023 Penn Medicine CAREs grant funded the materials for wound care kits, including gauze, bandages, printed directions for wound care, and a tote bag. Lamoreaux collaborated with wound care specialists and pharmacy staff for guidance on appropriate items for the bags. They also include rinse-free soap, which patients are particularly happy to receive, says Lamoreaux. “Many patients who are experiencing housing insecurity may not have access to running water to wash the wounds. Rinse-free soap is a safe solution to properly clean bacteria.”
James Sherman and Emily Seeburger spend their Saturday afternoons in Kensington, serving the more than 300 individuals who arrive each weekend seeking care through the Everywhere Project, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that provides harm reduction services to those experiencing substance use. Together, they organize a team of fellow volunteers to staff wound care and harm reduction.
Sherman, a clinical research coordinator at Penn Medicine’s Center for Addiction Medicine and Policy, was inspired to volunteer with the Everywhere Project after his own experiences overcoming addiction. “Being on the receiving end of [the Everywhere Project] meant a lot to me,” he says. “When I entered recovery, I wanted to be a part of it and help others.”
On the move: Water quality and antimicrobial resistance testing goes mobile
Penn researchers have developed a mobile field laboratory allowing them to test water quality and track antimicrobial resistance in and around San Cristóbal in the Galápagos.
Penn researchers Vanessa and Alexis North are studying one of the largest collections of Egyptian blue objects ever found in the ancient Near East, shedding new light on how the world’s first synthetic pigment may have traveled far beyond Egypt.
A new role for dental providers? Rethinking where vaccines are given
Vaccinations have traditionally been administered in primary care settings or pharmacies. However, for about a decade, some states have authorized dentists to administer vaccines, and many others did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of this approach has led some countries and states to expand or consider expanding the role of dental providers in delivering routine vaccines, including those against COVID-19 and the human papillomavirus (HPV), and in providing vaccine education.
Penn student develops a way for computer chips to run more efficiently
Fluid Silicon, a platform from President’s Sustainability Prize winner Nhlanhla Mavuso, allows computer chips to continuously monitor their health and self-tune as their characteristics change. The technology has the potential to reduce energy usage in data centers and improve reliability in mission-critical applications.
