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Researchers assess trends in efficacy of antibiotic prophylaxis regimens for surgical procedures

Antibiotic prophylaxis regimens are becoming less effective at preventing surgical site infections following colorectal surgery, researchers at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy and Princeton University determined through a systematic review of available literature.

27 Nov 2018

Four mild forms of adenovirus cases at Voorhees Pediatric Facility under control and no new cases reported

Voorhees Pediatric Facility, a pediatric special care nursing facility located in Voorhees, New Jersey, has had four patients with chronic lung disease contract a mild form of adenovirus.

2 Nov 2018

Relapses are common in patients with drug-resistant urinary tract infections

Patients with a certain drug-resistant urinary tract infection were more likely to have a relapse of their infection within a week than those with non-resistant infections and were more likely to be prescribed an incorrect antibiotic according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

30 Oct 2018

Study findings may explain sporadic outbreaks of C. difficile infections in hospitals

Washing contaminated hospital bedsheets in a commercial washing machine with industrial detergent at high disinfecting temperatures failed to remove all traces of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), a bacteria that causes infectious diarrhea, suggesting that linens could be a source of infection among patients and even other hospitals, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

16 Oct 2018

Sink traps are unexpected source of drug-resistant bacteria in ICU, study reveals

During a nationwide outbreak of healthcare-associated infections of an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, an Israeli hospital traced repeated infections of patients in its intensive care unit to an unexpected source--sink traps, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

5 Oct 2018

Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots help reduce infection rates at Martin Medical Center

Patient safety is a top priority at Martin Medical Center, which recently announced that it has seen a significant reduction in its Clostridium difficile (C.diff) infection rates since adopting Xenex LightStrike Germ-Zapping Robots as its environmental standard of care.

1 Oct 2018

Study: Privacy curtains in hospitals can become breeding grounds for dangerous germs

Without timely intervention, privacy curtains in hospitals can become breeding grounds for resistant bacteria, posing a threat to patient safety, according to new research published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

28 Sep 2018

Study highlights need to remain vigilant in maintaining key infection control processes

Healthcare-associated infections can be reduced by up to 55 percent by systematically implementing evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies, according to a review of 144 studies published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

21 Sep 2018

Despite red flags at surgery centers, overseers award gold seals

At his surgery center near San Diego, Rodney Davis wore scrubs, was referred to as "Dr. Rod" and carried the title of director of surgery. But he was a physician assistant, not a doctor, who anesthetized patients and performed liposuction with little input from his supervising doctor, court records show.

20 Sep 2018

Easy and rapid test for viral infections can cut antibiotic use, hospitalizations

A quick and easy test for viral infections can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and hospital admissions, according to new research presented to the European Respiratory Society International Congress today.

17 Sep 2018

Telehealth videoconferencing promotes antibiotic stewardship efforts in rural facilities

A pilot project at two rural VA medical centers demonstrated that telehealth videoconferencing promoted antibiotic stewardship efforts by linking remote facilities to infectious diseases-trained professionals, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

6 Sep 2018

Avoidable sepsis infections send thousands of seniors to gruesome deaths

Shana Dorsey first caught sight of the purplish wound on her father's lower back as he lay in a suburban Chicago hospital bed a few weeks before his death.

6 Sep 2018

UIC to evaluate use of negative pressure wound therapy in obese and diabetic patients

Surgical site infections are a significant complication that can prevent proper wound healing, require expensive treatment and may even lead to death in severe cases. Patients with higher body mass indices and with diabetes have an increased risk of developing incision infections.

5 Sep 2018

Newborns require special diagnosis and treatment considerations for C. difficile infection

Newborns require special diagnosis and treatment considerations for an infectious diarrhea known as Clostridioides difficile infection, according to a new evidence-based white paper published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

31 Aug 2018

Consequences of healthcare-associated infections go beyond patients' physical health

The consequences of healthcare-associated infections reach well beyond patients' physical health, souring social relationships, and leading some healthcare providers to distance themselves from affected patients, according to a qualitative, systematic review published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

16 Aug 2018

Lax oversight leaves surgery center regulators and patients in the dark

The first man died in April 2014. Another died later that month. Then on July 18 of that year, a woman was rushed to a hospital where she was told she was lucky to be alive.

9 Aug 2018

Hand washing practices need to step up after bugs resistant to hand sanitizers emerge

All healthcare facilities and hospitals need to step up their hand washing techniques as well as use of alcohol based hand sanitizers after reports of emergence of hospital super bacteria that are becoming more tolerant to alcohol.

2 Aug 2018

Researchers emphasize need for baby boomers to get tested for hepatitis C

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 300 million people across the globe are unaware they're living with viral hepatitis. In fact, baby boomers - those born between 1945-1965 - are five times more likely to have hepatitis C, one of the many different strains of this viral infection.

27 Jul 2018

Candida Auris testing kit for use in hospital hygiene applications announced by Bruker

At the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology meeting, Bruker announces Fungiplex™ Candida Auris, a new research-use-only, real-time PCR assay and kit for the detection of Candida auris in hospital hygiene applications.

From Bruker Daltonics 4 Jul 2018

Study explores relation between hospital occupancy levels and infection risk

Hospitals today spend a lot of time and effort to protect their patients from developing new infections while they're hospitalized - especially the most dangerous types that can threaten their health even more than the problem that sent them to the hospital in the first place.

2 Jul 2018