Healthcare Associated Infection HAI News and Research

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Widespread use of unnecessary antibiotics drives up avoidable healthcare costs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Premier, Inc. have released new research on the widespread use of unnecessary and duplicative antibiotics in U.S. hospitals, which could have led to an estimated $163 million in excess costs.

11 Sep 2014

Each day of hospitalization increases risk of multidrug-resistant by 1%

If a patient contracts an infection while in the hospital, each day of hospitalization increases by 1% the likelihood that the infection will be multidrug-resistant, according to research presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) an infectious disease meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.

8 Sep 2014

Longer looks: Alzheimer's and a marriage; racism in medicine; abortion restrictions in Texas

The US, which has a mostly private health-care system, manages to spend more on its public health-care system than countries where the health-care system is almost entirely public. America's government spends more, as a percentage of the economy, on public health care than Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan or Australia. And then it spends even more than that on private health care.

5 Sep 2014

MRSA and antibiotic resistance is a major health threat

Antibiotic resistance continues at an alarming rate with the indiscriminate overuse of antibiotics given to humans and animals.

13 Aug 2014

"Fist bumping" transmits significantly fewer bacteria than handshaking

"Fist bumping" transmits significantly fewer bacteria than either handshaking or high-fiving, while still addressing the cultural expectation of hand-to-hand contact between patients and clinicians, according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

29 Jul 2014

Anesthesia providers missing to clean their hands during surgical procedures, shows study

Anesthesia providers are missing opportunities to clean their hands during surgical procedures, according to a study published in the July issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

1 Jul 2014

Synthetic Biologics supports SYN-004 C.difficile preventative program with formation of Clinical Advisory Board

Synthetic Biologics, Inc., a developer of novel anti-infective biologic and drug candidates targeting specific pathogens that cause serious infections and diseases, announced today the formation of a Clinical Advisory Board (CAB) to support development of SYN-004, the Company's lead anti-infective product candidate for the prevention of the devastating effects of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)

30 Jun 2014

Xenex testifies before U.S. House of Representatives on effectiveness of UV disinfection system in reducing HAI rates

Xenex Disinfection Services, the world leader in UV room disinfection systems, testified yesterday before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; Subcommittee on Research and Technology; and Subcommittee on Oversight.

28 Jun 2014

Collaborative research effort produces new genetic insights into brainstem glioma

A collaborative effort between Duke Medicine researchers and neurosurgeons and scientists in China has produced new genetic insights into a rare and deadly form of childhood and young adult brain cancer called brainstem glioma.

2 Jun 2014

Specific Technologies unveils SpecID blood culture system at General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology

Specific Technologies, developer of the SpecID™ system to rapidly detect and identify bacterial species and strain via a metabolomic fingerprint, today announced that for the first time it will showcase its transformative SpecID blood culture system at the 114th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, May 17-20, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

16 May 2014

Surgical site infection guidelines provide real-world strategies to reduce number of infections

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common and costly healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in the United States.

7 May 2014

ASGE to honor important contributions to field of endoscopy during tenth annual ASGE Crystal Awards

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) will honor important contributions to the field of endoscopy during the tenth annual ASGE Crystal Awards on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

5 May 2014

Daylight Medical releases SKY 6Xi disinfection technology for mobile devices

Daylight Medical, manufacturer and provider of innovative medical products, is pleased to announce its rollout of SKY 6Xi, disinfection technology for mobile devices. SKY 6Xi uses high intensity (254 nanometer wavelength) ultraviolet light in the "C" spectrum (UVC) at close proximity to thoroughly disinfect a mobile device. The unique power of SKY reduces the risk that Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are transmitted to patients while improving safety for healthcare workers.

15 Apr 2014

Researcher receives $20,000 grant award from SHEA to determine Washington State Validation Protocol for CLABSIs

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has announced Jason Lempp, MPH, CIC, as the winner of the third annual EPI Project Competition. Lempp was honored with the early investigator award for his project looking to determine if the Washington State Validation Protocol for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) can be a scalable, sustainable model for tracking and ensuring quality national data on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

11 Apr 2014

Expert guidance highlights strategies to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections

New expert guidance highlights strategies for implementing and prioritizing efforts to prevent catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in hospitals.

9 Apr 2014

New research commissioned to create infection control strategy for AMR and antibiotic usage

It is the health system’s nightmare, bubbling just below the surface of our hospitals. Infections are becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics, while secondary infection rates during hospital stays continue to rise.

18 Mar 2014

Study: U.S. hospital intensive care units show uneven compliance with infection prevention policies

U.S. hospital intensive care units (ICUs) show uneven compliance with infection prevention policies, according to a study in the February issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

30 Jan 2014

HHS develops national plan to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections

Independent evaluators have found that measurable progress in reducing the rates of some targeted HAIs has been achieved under the umbrella of a national plan to prevent HAIs that was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

24 Jan 2014

Study finds significant decline of MRSA infections in VA long-term care facilities

Four years after implementing a national initiative to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus rates in Veterans Affairs long-term care facilities, MRSA infections have declined significantly, according to a study in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

7 Jan 2014

University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics recognized with 2013 Partnership in Prevention Award

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) today recognized the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) with the 2013 Partnership in Prevention Award for achieving sustainable improvements towards eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

27 Nov 2013