Infection Control News and Research

RSS

Nurses' scrubs with antimicrobial properties ineffective at preventing bacterial contamination

Clothing worn by healthcare providers can become contaminated with bacteria, however having nurses wear scrubs with antimicrobial properties did not prevent this bacterial contamination from occurring, according to a study published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

30 Aug 2017

Intensive Care Medicine

Intensive care medicine is a young specialty that deals with the medical treatment of the sickest patients in the hospital. Intensive care medicine doctors are called intensivists and are expert physicians with special skills in the management of organ failure.

29 Aug 2017

Patient empowerment may be effective strategy to improve physicians’ hand hygiene adherence

Armed with new tools, patients and parents felt empowered to remind healthcare providers to perform hand hygiene, successfully improving compliance rates, but just over half of physicians felt that patients should be reminding providers, according to a new study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

17 Aug 2017

Multi-drug resistant fungi found in UK hospitals - alarms health officials

Latest reports have confirmed that over 200 patients in England have been infected with a drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris that was first detected in Japan. High alerts have been put in place to look out for further infections and prevent spread.

15 Aug 2017

Researchers find cost-effective 'germ trap' solution for medical facilities

When an infectious airborne illness strikes, some hospitals use negative pressure rooms to isolate and treat patients. These rooms use ventilation controls to keep germ-filled air contained rather than letting it circulate throughout the hospital. But, in the event of an epidemic, these rooms can quickly fill up.

26 Jul 2017

Healthcare providers rarely perform stethoscope hygiene between patient encounters

You can lead a doctor to disinfection, but how do you get them to clean…or wipe ….or swab a stethoscope?

18 Jul 2017

Illegal diversion of opioids linked to cluster outbreak of Serratia marcescens bacteria

An illegal diversion of opioids by a hospital nurse tampering with syringes was responsible for a cluster outbreak of Serratia marcescens, a gram-negative bacteria, according to research published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

7 Jul 2017

Zika: costs of prevention and control

They undertook a modelling study based on six states in the US in areas that are at risk of Zika emergence. The main finding of this study was that the total cost of Zika in these sates had a range that went from approximately 183.4 million dollars to 1.2 billion dollars.

6 Jul 2017

New technology can help fight against antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem, as some infections that used to be easily cured are now immune to even our most powerful antibiotics.

4 Jul 2017

Even perfect hand hygiene practice can spread MRSA in NICU babies

Even if hospital workers practice perfect hand hygiene, MRSA can still spread among babies in the NICU, according to new research led by a Drexel University researcher.

29 Jun 2017

Scientists develop new technique to study longevity of airborne viruses

Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing and wash your hands. Queensland University of Technology and The University of Queensland scientists have developed a new technique to study how some common disease-causing bacteria can spread up to 4m and remain alive in the air for up to 45 minutes.

19 Jun 2017

Widow unleashes court fight against scope maker Olympus over superbug outbreak

Three executives from Japan loom large in a cramped courtroom here — at least their photos do, mounted on a white poster board propped in front of the jury.

14 Jun 2017

Analysis identifies significant gaps in infection prevention practices in long-term care facilities

While nearly 400,000 residents of long-term care facilities die as a result of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), these facilities continue to lack the resources, including qualified personnel, necessary to implement adequate infection control programs, according to research presented at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology

14 Jun 2017

Sterilization and cleaning methods leave residual contamination on ureteroscopes

The techniques used to clean and sterilize flexible ureteroscopes leave behind contamination including debris, residue, and bacteria, according to a new study being presented at the 44th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

14 Jun 2017

Handshake-free zone: keep those hands — and germs — to yourself in the hospital

Dr. Mark Sklansky, a self-described germaphobe, can't stop thinking about how quickly those little microbes can spread.

31 May 2017

New study shows way to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections

They're a double-edged sword for nursing home residents and staff – making it easier and safer to handle a basic bodily function, but putting frail patients in danger of infections that can lead to confusion, falls and death.

22 May 2017

Novel device can reduce contamination of blood cultures, study finds

A study at the University of Nebraska Medical Center found that a novel device can significantly reduce contamination of blood cultures, potentially reducing risky overtreatment and unnecessary use of antibiotics for many patients.

17 May 2017

Researchers develop safe and easy self-donning surgical gowns

In the health care setting, there is an increasing need for a self-donning surgical gown that health care personnel can don without the need for any assistance.

17 May 2017

High temperatures raise risk of serious surgical site infections

Surgical site infections, a common healthcare-associated infection, are seasonal - increasing in the summer and decreasing in the winter-according to new research published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

16 May 2017