Infection Control News and Research

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MRSA cases continue to decline in VA medical centers

Five years after implementing a national initiative to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates in Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers, MRSA cases have continued to decline, according to a study in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

30 Oct 2013

Identifying gaps in infection prevention practices may help improve patient safety, shows study

Identifying gaps in infection prevention practices may yield opportunities for improved patient safety, according to a survey published in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

30 Oct 2013

Three researchers team up to develop framework to help prevent hospital infections

Two researchers at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business have teamed up with a researcher at American University to develop a framework to help prevent costly and deadly infections acquired by hospitalized patients.

23 Oct 2013

Elsevier launches web-based curriculum for community mental health practitioners

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announced today the launch of a new curriculum, The College of Recovery and Community Inclusion.

17 Oct 2013

Study shows narrow-spectrum UV light reduces surgical infections without damaging tissue

Despite major efforts to keep operating rooms sterile, surgical wound infections remain a serious and stubborn problem, killing up to 8,200 patients a year in the U.S. A study by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers suggests that narrow-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) light could dramatically reduce such infections without damaging human tissue.

17 Oct 2013

Use of antibiotics to treat catheter-associated bacteriuria infection show no change in mortality rates

With 30 million indwelling bladder catheters placed annually nationwide, patients face an increased risk of developing catheter-associated bacteriuria (bacteria in the urine). Many patients with indwelling urinary catheters acquire bacteria in the urinary tract while they are catheterized.

17 Oct 2013

FMCNA encourages dialysis patients to get vaccinated against flu

With early cases of seasonal flu already being reported in the U.S., Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading network of dialysis facilities, is strongly encouraging dialysis patients to get flu shots to protect themselves against this common infectious disease.

9 Oct 2013

Universal Gown And Glove Use By Health-Care Workers In ICU Reduces MRSA 40 Percent

Healthcare workers' use of disposable gowns and gloves upon entering all patient rooms on an intensive care unit (ICU), versus only in rooms on standard isolation protocol, helped reduce patient acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by approximately 40 percent, according to new research co-led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Yale New Haven Health System Center for Healthcare Solutions.

5 Oct 2013

Antimicrobial usage causes vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreaks in Greek NICU

Administration of antibiotics may have caused successive outbreaks of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a Greek neonatal intensive care unit, according to a study in the October issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

2 Oct 2013

Virginia Tech faculty receives NIH New Innovator Award to research on influenza transmission

Influenza strikes five to 15 percent of the population and is estimated to cost the U.S. economy a hefty $90 million per year. If researchers can improve the understanding of how environmental conditions affect the ability of the influenza virus to survive and infect others while it is airborne, they may be able to help improve prediction and control of its spread.

1 Oct 2013

Inhibiting use of antibiotics may be more effective in reducing C.diff infection

New ways are needed to fight the infection Clostridium difficile and better use of antibiotics could be key, according to the authors of ground-breaking research.

26 Sep 2013

New guidelines aim to prevent spread of infectious pathogens among pediatric populations

With the evolving changes in the delivery of healthcare to children worldwide, which frequently include long-distance travel and lodging for specialized medical treatments, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities to release the first-ever infection prevention and control guidelines for "home away from home" pediatric residential facilities to help prevent the spread of infectious pathogens among vulnerable pediatric populations.

19 Sep 2013

Contact Precautions used to prevent spread of infections create negative perception of care

Patient satisfaction has an increasing impact on hospitals' bottom lines, factoring into Medicare reimbursement of hospital care. A new study finds patients placed in Contact Precautions (Contact Isolation) were twice as likely to report perceived problems with care compared to patients without Contact Precautions, placing the common infection control practice at odds with hospital interests.

19 Sep 2013

New analysis finds that EU member states identify 13 directives for patient safety

Europe is at the forefront of acknowledging the importance of patient safety and risk management. Eight to 10 percent of patients in the region are subjected to healthcare-associated infections and medication or prescription errors. Around 30 to 40 percent of these issues are preventable, and healthcare institutions have rolled out several initiatives for reporting and learning systems, as well as patient safety directives. Denmark in particular has shown considerable progress, followed closely by the U.K. and France.

17 Sep 2013

New strategy to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections

Simply replacing the connector in the IV system in patients with central lines could help reduce deadly bloodstream infections, researchers at Georgia Regents University have found.

11 Sep 2013

FUJIFILM SonoSite gets CE mark approval for X-Porte Ultrasound Kiosk

FUJIFILM SonoSite, Inc., specialists in designing cutting-edge ultrasound tools and world-leading education for access to point-of-care visualization, today announced CE mark approval for its newest generation of point-of-care ultrasound: the X-Porte Ultrasound Kiosk.

7 Sep 2013

Student nurses need better role model for infection prevention and control

100 percent of student nurses surveyed observed lapses in infection prevention and control practices during their clinical placements, according to a British study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

4 Sep 2013

Research roundup: The health of the U.S.; doctors aren't paid to talk; savings from high-deductible plans

Understanding the major health problems in the United States and how they are changing over time is critical for informing national health policy. ... From 1990 to 2010, the United States made substantial progress in improving health. Life expectancy at birth and [healthy life expectancy] increased, all-cause death rates at all ages decreased, and age-specific rates of years lived with disability remained stable.

17 Aug 2013

MOOCs courses offered by JHUSON concentrate on Dementia and TB

An aging population and an old health scourge are the driving forces behind two massive open online courses (MOOCs) being offered this fall by the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON).

14 Aug 2013

Updated United States Public Health Service guidelines for management of occupational exposure to HIV

New guidelines from the United States Public Health Service update the recommendations for the management of healthcare personnel with occupational exposure to HIV and use of postexposure prophylaxis.

7 Aug 2013

Infection Control News and Research

MRSA cases continue to decline in VA medical centers

Identifying gaps in infection prevention practices may help improve patient safety, shows study

Three researchers team up to develop framework to help prevent hospital infections

Elsevier launches web-based curriculum for community mental health practitioners

Study shows narrow-spectrum UV light reduces surgical infections without damaging tissue

Use of antibiotics to treat catheter-associated bacteriuria infection show no change in mortality rates

FMCNA encourages dialysis patients to get vaccinated against flu

Universal Gown And Glove Use By Health-Care Workers In ICU Reduces MRSA 40 Percent

Antimicrobial usage causes vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreaks in Greek NICU

Virginia Tech faculty receives NIH New Innovator Award to research on influenza transmission

Inhibiting use of antibiotics may be more effective in reducing C.diff infection

New guidelines aim to prevent spread of infectious pathogens among pediatric populations

Contact Precautions used to prevent spread of infections create negative perception of care

New analysis finds that EU member states identify 13 directives for patient safety

New strategy to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections

FUJIFILM SonoSite gets CE mark approval for X-Porte Ultrasound Kiosk

Student nurses need better role model for infection prevention and control

Research roundup: The health of the U.S.; doctors aren't paid to talk; savings from high-deductible plans

MOOCs courses offered by JHUSON concentrate on Dementia and TB

Updated United States Public Health Service guidelines for management of occupational exposure to HIV

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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