Infection Control News and Research

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Many doctors, nurses working when sick with contagious infections

According to a new study, 4 in 10 health care professionals are turning up for work even when they are down with a contagious infection such as a flu. The study titled, “Working with influenza-like illness: Presenteeism among US health care personnel during the 2014-2015 influenza season”, was published in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC).

2 Nov 2017

Healthcare professionals most likely to work while sick, study finds

A new study suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) should heed to their own advice: stay home when sick.

1 Nov 2017

World Hepatitis Summit 2017 calls for immediate action to tackle viral hepatitis

On the eve of the World Hepatitis Summit in Brazil, WHO reports increasing global momentum in the response to viral hepatitis. A record 3 million people were able to obtain treatment for hepatitis C over the past two years, and 2.8 million more people embarked on lifelong treatment for hepatitis B in 2016.

1 Nov 2017

Most drug-resistant staph infections occur in the community, study finds

The proportion of ‘staph’ infections resistant to antibiotics has increased in Australia since 2000 with most cases now occurring in the community rather than in hospitals, a new study led by The Australian National University has found.

31 Oct 2017

Germ-killing robots use UV radiation to safeguard patients from health care-associated infections

Germ-killing robots are being enlisted to further safeguard Vanderbilt University Medical Center patients from health care-associated infections.

30 Oct 2017

Cloth skullcaps found to be effective at minimizing airborne contamination in the OR

One of the first studies testing the effectiveness of different operating room (OR) head coverings in preventing airborne contamination has found that surgeon's caps that expose small amounts of the ears and hair are not inferior to the bouffant-style, disposable scrub hats that cover those features.

26 Oct 2017

Rutgers researchers to explore ways for tackling emerging fungal infections

In recent years, hospitals nationwide have been reporting an increase in life-threatening illnesses resulting from a deadly fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida auris that can enter the bloodstream. This yeast is difficult to identify and often does not respond to commonly used antifungal drugs, leading to high mortality.

23 Oct 2017

Patients with documented penicillin allergy more likely to develop surgical site infections, study finds

A study by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators found that surgical patients believed to be allergic to penicillin were significantly more likely to develop surgical site infections than were patients with no documented allergy, a difference totally attributable to the alternative antibiotics used to prevent such infections.

9 Oct 2017

FDA approves new treatment option for patients with moderate to severe central sleep apnea

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new treatment option for patients who have been diagnosed with moderate to severe central sleep apnea.

9 Oct 2017

Study identifies inadvertent consequences of sepsis care programs

Healthcare experts have long known the benefits of integrated sepsis care programs, yet less information has been published on potential unintended consequences of these programs.

3 Oct 2017

Drones could help perform routine health checks in neonatal care

Drone technology is being developed to perform routine health checks remotely in a bid to reduce infection spread in neonatal care.

3 Oct 2017

British technology offers ultimate surface protection against Aussie flu virus

With breaking news of a more severe Aussie Flu strain heading for the UK, there is a British technology that provides the ultimate surface protection against the virus - reducing it by 99.99%!

30 Sep 2017

BD launches first automated phenotypic test for CPO detection

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, today announced the launch of the first automated phenotypic test to detect and classify carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO).

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 28 Sep 2017

Improving porter efficiency in hospitals using electric tugs

For many, porters are the oil in the machine of many NHS hospitals, moving goods, equipment, and patients around hospitals and proving a critical component in running clinical services smoothly.

25 Sep 2017

FDA approves scope with disposable part aimed at reducing superbug infections

Seeking to prevent superbug outbreaks, federal health officials said they have approved the first gastrointestinal medical scope with a disposable cap for use in the U.S.

22 Sep 2017

Hospital design and effective decontamination can prevent spread of antibiotic-resistant infections

Hospitals should design premises and adapt their infection control routines to a society that no longer has effective antibiotics, and that is vulnerable to fast-spreading global pandemics. This is argued in a new dissertation from Lund University in Sweden.

18 Sep 2017

PENTAX Medical Europe to introduce new DEC Duodenoscope for infection prevention

PENTAX Medical Europe, a leading company in the endoscopic field, has obtained a CE mark for its new duodenoscope with a Disposable Elevator Cap – the DEC Duodenoscope.

15 Sep 2017

New study identifies best operating room infection control procedures

While hospitals grapple with what operating room (OR) infection control procedures work best, a new study of Texas hospitals has determined two areas that stand out: mandating sterile operating conditions at or close to the wound itself; and tracking in-hospital outcomes on surgical site infections (SSIs) and sharing that information with surgeons and other OR staff.

14 Sep 2017

BioCote Silver Ion Antimicrobial Technology makes surfaces inhospitable to influenza viruses

Strike a chord please, especially in light of the BMJ's article on Tuesday about the ineffectiveness of the flu vaccine for elderly last year - just wanted to make you also aware of the ultimate surface protection against viruses like H1N1, plus all the proliferating superbugs.

11 Sep 2017

Inappropriate glove use among nursing assistants may be cause for spread of infections, study says

The failure to change gloves is common among certified nursing assistants, and may be a significant cause of the spread of dangerous pathogens in nursing homes and long-term healthcare settings, according to a new study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

8 Sep 2017