Infection Control News and Research

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FDA issues formal response to Nephros' 510(k) application for hemodiafiltration system

Nephros, Inc., a medical device company developing and marketing filtration products for therapeutic applications, infection control, and water purification, today reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a formal response to the company's 510(k) application.

8 Jul 2010

Breathing system filters used in anaesthesia allow passage of bacterial, yeast infections

Doctors have highlighted potential problems with the breathing system filters used in anaesthesia, including intensive care units, after demonstrating that they don't provide protection from harmful bacteria and yeast when they become wet.

6 Jul 2010

Update on suspected Acute Haemorrhagic Fever in Republic of the Congo

Blood samples taken from one of the suspected cases in Sangha Region, Republic of Congo, tested negative for several viral haemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg, CCHF, Arenavirus).

5 Jul 2010

FDA grants Abbott 510(k) clearance to market molecular diagnostic test for detection of chlamydia, gonorrhea

Abbott announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market a new, sensitive molecular diagnostic test and instrument to simultaneously detect two of the nation's most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), gonorrhea and chlamydia, including a new variant strain of chlamydia recently discovered in Sweden.

28 Jun 2010

KCI announces agreement to renew existing single-source contracts with KCI's TSS business

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. today announced an agreement with Novation, one of the health care industry's largest supply contracting companies, to renew its existing single-source contracts with KCI's Therapeutic Support Systems business through the end of 2013. Through Novation, KCI provides access to its innovative hospital beds, mattress replacement systems, overlays and bariatric products to more than 30,500 health care institutions across the U.S.

25 Jun 2010

Study proposes new way to measure infection prevention efforts

"Data showing how a hospital performs on certain measures [of post-surgical infection prevention] are publicly available. But, a study published in [the Journal of the American Medical Association] says, the publicly reported measures don't actually correlate with postop infection rates. In other words, picking your hospital on the basis of how often it administers antibiotics within an hour before surgery is not going to help you avoid an infection" (Hobson, 6/22).

24 Jun 2010

Grant introduces new range of digital, analogue ultrasonic benchtop baths

Grant Instruments, a world-renowned supplier of scientific, life sciences and data acquisition products, has unveiled an advanced range of high quality, robust, fully-featured digital and analogue ultrasonic benchtop baths. The baths are designed to meet the growing need for reliable ultrasonic cleaning in laboratories and across pharmaceutical, medical, healthcare and industrial applications.

23 Jun 2010

Study examines survival rates of CF patients with MRSA

A team of researchers led by Elliott Dasenbrook, MD, MHS, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Associate Director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital today published the findings from a major study about cystic fibrosis survival rates in the June 16 issue of JAMA.

16 Jun 2010

Oakwood Healthcare selects RL Solutions as partner for infection control and prevention

RL Solutions, makers of innovative and easy-to-use healthcare quality and safety software, today announced that Oakwood Healthcare has selected RL Solutions as its partner for infection control and prevention. A long-time client, Oakwood is currently using RL Solutions products for risk management, patient feedback and medical claims management.

15 Jun 2010

Adeona's HartLab expands diagnostic testing services to include full array of microbiology testing

Adeona Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that its wholly-owned CLIA-certified clinical testing subsidiary, HartLab, has expanded its in-house diagnostic testing services to include a full array of microbiology testing. Adeona believes that that this expansion of services will be accretive to HartLab's revenues in the current quarter and beyond and is consistent with Adeona's plans to continue to build the revenues of its HartLab subsidiary.

15 Jun 2010

ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors 48 endoscopy units

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has recognized 48 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.

15 Jun 2010

PolyMedix awarded $150,000 grant to support development of antimicrobial sutures to reduce SSIs

A new discovery may help curb surgical site infections through the use of a novel antibiotic agent that can be incorporated into sutures. SSIs are the third most common hospital-acquired infection and may be associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Since more than 60% of SSIs occur in the area of the incision, the use of sutures coated with an antibacterial agent called PolyCides, created by Radnor, PA-based PolyMedix Inc., may reduce infection rates.

14 Jun 2010

Ambulatory Surgery Center industry responds to infection control concerns raised in JAMA

As leading organizations representing the Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) industry, we wish to address concerns raised in this month's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) highlighting data from a 2008 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) pilot study. The industry underscores its strong commitment to patient safety and its nationwide efforts to provide high-quality, patient-centered care at a low cost to the health care system.

11 Jun 2010

Extensive usage of antibiotic linezolid associated with ICU outbreak of LRSA

An outbreak of infection due to linezolid and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LRSA) in 12 intensive care unit patients in Spain was associated with transmission within the hospital and extensive usage of the antibiotic linezolid, often used for the treatment of serious infections, with reductions in linezolid use and infection-control measures associated with resolution of the outbreak, according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA.

10 Jun 2010

Cantel Medical board authorizes regular semiannual cash dividend

CANTEL MEDICAL CORP. announced today that its Board of Directors authorized a regular semiannual cash dividend of $0.05 per outstanding share of the Company's Common Stock. The dividend is payable on July 30, 2010 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 15, 2010.

9 Jun 2010

HHS Secretary statement on new study that underscores urgency for reducing HAIs in ASCs

"Today, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which underscored the urgency behind the Obama Administration's efforts to reduce healthcare-associated infections.

9 Jun 2010

Lapses in infection control common in ambulatory surgical centers

An assessment of nearly 70 ambulatory surgical centers in three states found that lapses in infection control were common, including for practices such as hand hygiene, injection and medication safety and equipment reprocessing, according to a study in the June 9 issue of JAMA.

9 Jun 2010

Xenex Healthcare Services announces commercial launch of pulsed xenon room disinfection system

Xenex Healthcare Services LLC, which specializes in developing disinfection technology for healthcare facilities, today announced the commercial launch of its pulsed xenon room disinfection system and the conclusion of the Xenex system's successful trial at a leading U.S. cancer center. The Xenex system, which is now available, is the fastest, safest, and most effective method for the advanced cleaning of hospital rooms in the world today, quickly destroying all major classes of microorganisms (including viruses, bacteria and bacterial spores) without contact or chemicals.

8 Jun 2010

Computer keyboards in non-treatment areas are more contaminated with bacteria

Keyboards located in triage and registration areas were found to be more contaminated with bacteria than those in other areas of the Emergency Department at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, according to a new study conducted by the hospital.

3 Jun 2010

Scientists awarded $3.9M grant to study how XDR-TB transmitted in rural South Africa

The National Institutes of Health has awarded scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University a five-year, $3.9 million grant to study how extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis is transmitted in rural South Africa. The findings could alter public health approaches for controlling the XDR-TB epidemic in the developing world.

3 Jun 2010

Infection Control News and Research

FDA issues formal response to Nephros' 510(k) application for hemodiafiltration system

Breathing system filters used in anaesthesia allow passage of bacterial, yeast infections

Update on suspected Acute Haemorrhagic Fever in Republic of the Congo

FDA grants Abbott 510(k) clearance to market molecular diagnostic test for detection of chlamydia, gonorrhea

KCI announces agreement to renew existing single-source contracts with KCI's TSS business

Study proposes new way to measure infection prevention efforts

Grant introduces new range of digital, analogue ultrasonic benchtop baths

Study examines survival rates of CF patients with MRSA

Oakwood Healthcare selects RL Solutions as partner for infection control and prevention

Adeona's HartLab expands diagnostic testing services to include full array of microbiology testing

ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program honors 48 endoscopy units

PolyMedix awarded $150,000 grant to support development of antimicrobial sutures to reduce SSIs

Ambulatory Surgery Center industry responds to infection control concerns raised in JAMA

Extensive usage of antibiotic linezolid associated with ICU outbreak of LRSA

Cantel Medical board authorizes regular semiannual cash dividend

HHS Secretary statement on new study that underscores urgency for reducing HAIs in ASCs

Lapses in infection control common in ambulatory surgical centers

Xenex Healthcare Services announces commercial launch of pulsed xenon room disinfection system

Computer keyboards in non-treatment areas are more contaminated with bacteria

Scientists awarded $3.9M grant to study how XDR-TB transmitted in rural South Africa

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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