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SpectraShield surgical respirator receives FDA clearance to reduce MRSA infections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the SpectraShield 9500 N95 surgical respirator, a device that kills 99.99 percent of three different kinds of bacteria when exposed to its outer surface.

11 Apr 2011

Hospira focuses on clinical surveillance systems to help reduce antimicrobial resistance

As part of World Health Day 2011, the World Health Organization is calling on policy makers, providers, the public and the healthcare industry to take action to combat the serious health threat of antimicrobial resistance.

8 Apr 2011

IDSA develops plans to combat deadly antibiotic-resistant 'super bugs'

To head off a health care disaster, the Infectious Diseases Society of America has developed a plan to combat deadly antibiotic-resistant "super bugs" and is rolling out the multi-pronged plan today, on World Health Day 2011.

8 Apr 2011

Antimicrobial copper can effectively prevent MRSA in hospitals

A live broadcast from the University of Southampton today highlighted the effectiveness of antimicrobial copper in preventing the spread of antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as MRSA, in hospitals.

5 Apr 2011

Hospira introduces enhanced TheraDoc clinical surveillance system

Hospira, a leading provider of clinical information and medication delivery technologies, today announced the launch of its enhanced TheraDoc™ clinical surveillance system, used by hospitals to help improve patient safety and prevent adverse events such as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

2 Apr 2011

New guidelines to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters

New guidelines, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee outline steps to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters, which are among the most deadly and costly healthcare-associated infections.

1 Apr 2011

Hands-free electronic water faucets more likely to be contaminated with hazardous bacteria

A study of newly installed, hands-free faucets at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, all equipped with the latest electronic-eye sensors to automatically detect hands and dispense preset amounts of water, shows they were more likely to be contaminated with one of the most common and hazardous bacteria in hospitals compared to old-style fixtures with separate handles for hot and cold water.

1 Apr 2011

EPA approves Clorox DISPATCH disinfectant towels registration to fight against C. difficile

The Clorox Company announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the registration of DISPATCH Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach to kill Clostridium difficile spores in five minutes, the fastest C. difficile contact time available.

31 Mar 2011

CDC awards Duke University $2M to study prevention of HAIs using Tru-D disinfection system

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $2 million to Duke University Prevention Epicenter as part of its program to conduct innovative research in the science of preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections, or HAIs, with the goal of saving lives in healthcare settings.

25 Mar 2011

Study finds significant increase in MRSA infections during summer, autumn months

A new study from Rhode Island Hospital has found a significant increase in the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in the summer and autumn months.

25 Mar 2011

Wash your hands? You may now approach the patient bed!

Each year patients in the U.S. get more than a million infections while in the hospital being treated for something else. The best way to prevent infection is to practice proper hand hygiene, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

17 Mar 2011

Excelsior medical's SwabFlush receives FDA 510(k) clearance

Excelsior Medical Corporation announced today that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for SwabFlush™, its latest product for the vascular access and infection control markets.

8 Mar 2011

Nephros completes its shareholders rights offering, related private placement financing

Nephros, Inc., a medical device company developing and marketing filtration products for therapeutic applications, infection control, and water purification, today announced the completion of its rights offering and private placement that together will result in gross proceeds of approximately $3.2 million to Nephros.

5 Mar 2011

Community gym surfaces do not appear to be reservoirs for MRSA transmission

Community gym surfaces do not appear to be reservoirs for MRSA transmission, according to a study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of APIC - the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

3 Mar 2011

EPA approves BioNeutral's Ygiene 206 antimicrobial disinfectant

BioNeutral Group, Inc., a specialty life science technology-based company, today announced that it has received approval and registration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the Company's regulatory application for its Ygiene™ 206.

28 Feb 2011

FDA allows marketing of Ridascreen Norovirus 3rd Generation EIA assay in the US

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of the first test for the preliminary identification of norovirus.

24 Feb 2011

ASGE announces 35 new honorees under Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has recognized 35 endoscopy units as part of its program specifically dedicated to promoting quality in endoscopy, in all settings where it is practiced in the United States. The ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors endoscopy units that follow the ASGE guidelines on privileging, quality assurance, endoscopy reprocessing and CDC infection control guidelines. To date, 307 endoscopy units have been recognized by ASGE.

23 Feb 2011

Seal Shield launches new SILVER BLUE wireless iPad keyboard and case for healthcare

Seal Shield LLC today announced the new SILVER BLUE Bluetooth wireless keyboard and case for the iPad. The product has been designed specifically for healthcare and addresses infection control concerns over iPad use in hospital settings.

22 Feb 2011

Study: Ventilator-associated pneumonia infections drop by 70% in Michigan hospitals

Cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia — the most lethal and among the most common of all hospital-associated infections — dropped by more than 70 percent in Michigan hospitals where medical staff used a simple checklist designed by Johns Hopkins researchers. Such pneumonias kill an estimated 36,000 Americans each year.

17 Feb 2011

New study: CHG cloths more effective in reducing risk of hospital-acquired infections

A new study from Rhode Island Hospital has found a reduced risk of hospital-acquired infections when using two percent chlorhexidine gluconate cloths for daily bathing instead of soap and water.

16 Feb 2011