Infection Control News and Research

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Basic hygienic practices and adherence to decolonization protocols can reduce MRSA infections

A new study found that following basic hygienic practices and complying with protocols for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) decolonization reduces the time to clearance of the bacteria more quickly than a treatment regimen of antibiotic ointment and antiseptic body wash.

29 Jul 2016

Study identifies key risk factors involved in patient-to-patient transmission of drug-resistant bacteria

Three key factors increase the risk for patient-to-patient transmission of an extremely drug-resistant bacteria known as CP-CRE, according to a new study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

26 Jul 2016

Infection prevention bundles effective for reducing CLABSIs in critical care newborns

Infection prevention bundles, a package of evidence-based guidelines implemented in unison, are effective for reducing central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) in critical care newborn infants, according to a new study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

15 Jun 2016

How can we defeat drug resistance? An interview with Dr Grania Brigden

The O’Neill report is a wide ranging report recognising anti-microbial resistance (AMR) as a global problem with major public health and economic significance.

15 Jun 2016

Bacteriophage combinations show therapeutic potential in reducing C. difficile infections

A new University of Leicester study has confirmed the therapeutic potential of bacteriophage combinations to treat highly infectious bacteria C. difficile infections (CDI) while retaining a healthy gut.

6 Jun 2016

ECDC assessment outlines current and future CRE risks for human health

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections are associated with high mortality, primarily due to delays in administration of effective treatment and the limited availability of effective treatment options.

25 May 2016

Nepal, one year on – VSO heads up new recovery and reconstruction hub.

VSO and the UK government (DfID) have set up the ‘National Disaster Recovery Coordination Secretariat’ (NDRCS) in Kathmandu. It aims to help rebuild Nepal, following the devastation of two earthquakes (25th April and 12th May 2015) which claimed nearly 9,000 lives and left hundreds of thousands people homeless.

25 Apr 2016

New study suggests re-evaluation of long-held method to predict effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine

The long-held approach to predicting seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness may need to be revisited, new research suggests. Currently, seasonal flu vaccines are designed to induce high levels of protective antibodies against hemagglutinin (HA), a protein found on the surface of the influenza virus that enables the virus to enter a human cell and initiate infection.

20 Apr 2016

Coordinated efforts could prevent spread of CRE infection in health care facilities

A simulation of how the so-called "superbug" carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) might spread among health care facilities found that coordinated efforts prevented more than 75 percent of the often-severe infections that would have otherwise occurred over a five-year period.

13 Apr 2016

Study shows 37% of outpatient healthcare staff fail to follow hand hygiene recommendations

Despite having policies in place to prevent infections, staff at outpatient care facilities fail to follow recommendations for hand hygiene 37 percent of the time, and for safe injection practices 33 percent of the time, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

12 Apr 2016

ECCMID 2016: Global experts join to fight antimicrobial resistance

Medical professionals, business and government officials from around the world joined in Amsterdam on the sidelines of the ECCMID 2016 Conference, hosted by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases to declare their commitment to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a concerted effort.

12 Apr 2016

New research demonstrates effectiveness of six-step hand-hygiene technique for reducing bacteria

New research demonstrates that the six-step hand-hygiene technique recommended by the World Health Organization is superior to a three-step method suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in reducing bacteria on healthcare workers' hands. The study was published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

11 Apr 2016

Sterilization station for surgical instruments can help minimize risk of infections

Rice University students and their mentors have created a sterilization station for surgical instruments that can help minimize risk of infections to patients anywhere in the world.

24 Mar 2016

N-KICS tool helps describe intensity of nursing care for children with CMC

Recent medical advances have resulted in increased survival of children with complex medical conditions (CMC), such as cerebral palsy, complex chromosomal anomalies, major congenital heart diseases and respiratory disease.

21 Mar 2016

BD MedMined Surveillance Advisor finishes first in Infection Control and Monitoring category

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading medical technology company, announced today that BD MedMined Surveillance Advisor has been named a 2015/2016 Category Leader for Infection Control and Monitoring in the 2015/2016 Best in KLAS: Software and Service report, based on customer feedback.

15 Mar 2016

Study highlights presence of antibiotic stewardship practices in most VA-affiliated facilities

New research highlights the robust presence of antibiotic stewardship practices in most Veterans Administration-affiliated facilities, manifested in both formal and informal policies. The study was published online today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

24 Feb 2016

New research shows copper can destroy MRSA in touch contamination

New research from the University of Southampton shows that copper can destroy MRSA spread by touching and fingertip contamination of surfaces.

24 Feb 2016

Sphere Medical to discuss potential application of Proxima at Symposium Intensivmedizin + Intensivpflege 2016

Sphere Medical, an innovator company in critical care monitoring and diagnostics equipment, announces that at the Symposium Intensivmedizin + Intensivpflege 2016, it will be discussing the potential application of its newly introduced Proxima patient-dedicated blood gas analyser with isolation beds during outbreaks of infections, such as winter influenza, MRSA and VRE.

15 Feb 2016

Innovative mattresses to stop pressure ulcers: an interview with Mike Hutson

Pressure ulcers are wounds that occur when a continuous pressure or friction is placed on one area of the body, damaging the skin. They occur when pressure stops blood from flowing normally, leading the cells to die and the skin to break down.

3 Feb 2016

New breakthrough drug shows promise to fight antibiotic-resistant infections

A New York pharmaceutical company, TGV-Laboratories, has developed a groundbreaking drug that shows promise in treating a wide variety of antibiotic-resistant fungal and bacterial infections.

28 Jan 2016