Infection Control News and Research

RSS

Recent releases in Global Health

A Lancet Infectious Diseases Leading Edge article examines the history of the global efforts to control polio and the challenges associated with targets to globally eradicate the disease. "The eradication of polio seems imminent, but with so few cases, there is a temptation to think an acceptable level of infection has been achieved. Not so.

29 May 2010

National Science Foundation supports PolyMedix with $150,000 grant for development of antimicrobial sutures

PolyMedix, Inc., an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat serious acute cardiovascular disorders and infectious diseases, has received a grant in the amount of $150,000 from the National Science Foundation to support the development of antimicrobial sutures. PolyMedix has developed a series of novel antimicrobial polymers for device and material applications, which it collectively calls the PolyCides™.

27 May 2010

Fear of H1N1 appears to be the driving factor behind adoption of preventive behaviors: Study

Fear of the H1N1 virus appears to be the driving factor behind the adoption of preventive behaviors, according to a study published in the June issue of AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

27 May 2010

Ansell Healthcare receives "2010 European Surgical Gloves Product Quality Leadership Award"

Based on its recent research on the surgical drapes, gowns and gloves market, Frost & Sullivan presents Ansell Healthcare Europe (Ansell Healthcare) with the "2010 European Surgical Gloves Product Quality Leadership Award" for its Encore® range of surgical gloves. The range consists of multiple products that are customized to support a wide range of surgical procedures including specialty surgery such as orthopaedics and microsurgery.

21 May 2010

Clinical Infectious Diseases journal examines new scientific advances to curb HIV, TB epidemics

As US policymakers consider scaling back on its historic initiative to fight AIDS around the world and downsizing goals to combat tuberculosis, next-generation treatment and prevention strategies to significantly reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are now imminent. New science can dramatically change the trajectory of both deadly epidemics, according to a special new issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

21 May 2010

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario approves premises standards to improve patient safety

At its Council meeting today, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario welcomed new regulatory oversight and approved premises standards that will improve patient safety in a wide variety of settings.

18 May 2010

SwabCap disinfection cap demonstrates successful compliance with new Joint Commission requirement

A hospital's evaluation trial of the SwabCap™ disinfection cap for needleless IV connectors showed the cap achieved compliance with a new Joint Commission requirement, according to a poster to be presented at the National Patient Safety Foundation Annual Congress.

14 May 2010

Nephros reports 57% increase in revenues for first-quarter 2010

Nephros, Inc. announced today financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

14 May 2010

Lawsuit over hepatitis C infections contracted from Doctor

Nearly 30 women got infected with Hepatitis C virus due to a breach in infection prevention protocols by an anaesthetist at a late-term abortion clinic. The incidents occurred at the Croydon Day Surgery in Melbourne's eastern suburbs during an 18-month period when James Latham Peters was working as an anaesthetist. The issue had come to light in the last few weeks. Now a multi million dollar lawsuit against the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria on behalf of the allegedly infected women is being planned.

9 May 2010

University of Iowa develops iScrub Lite 1.5 application to monitor hand hygiene

One of the most common causes of preventable health care-associated infections is poor hand hygiene. iScrub Lite 1.5, an iPhone and iPod touch application developed at the University of Iowa, makes monitoring hand hygiene compliance more efficient and accurate.

5 May 2010

Data mining of hospital information can help identify MDROs: Asolva

Infection control within hospitals is a huge and growing problem. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that conditions caused by healthcare associated infections killed 48,000 people and increased healthcare costs by $8.1 billion in 2006 alone.

30 Apr 2010

Practicing NPIs may help limit transmission of pandemic flu: Study

Practicing non-pharmaceutical interventions such as hand-washing and mouth covering may help limit the transmission of the pandemic flu, but more research on these measures is critical according to a new study appearing in the May issue of AJIC: American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc.

30 Apr 2010

Anesthetist may have infected patients during procedure

There has been a breach in the strict infection prevention protocols followed by health care staff including doctors presumably by an Anesthetist. Nearly 250 patients in Western Australia might have been already infected with HIV, Hepatitis B and C and syphilis.

30 Apr 2010

International Day for Fighting Infection focuses on hospital infection control

Hospital acquired infections are the focus for the 3rd International Day for Fighting Infection, being marked on St. George’s Day, as experts meet to look at the evolution of infection control in hospitals.

22 Apr 2010

New study quantifies prevalence of MRSA infections in different patient populations

A multi-center study led by a researcher at Rhode Island Hospital has determined that long-term elder care, HIV-infected and hemodialysis patients are at increased risk of carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in their nose.

21 Apr 2010

FDA files consent decree against STERIS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that a consent decree has been filed against the device manufacturer, STERIS Corp. of Mentor, Ohio. The decree stops the company from distributing unapproved and misbranded devices used to sterilize heat-sensitive instruments and medical devices. It prohibits the distribution of the STERIS System 1 Processor, or SS1, a tabletop liquid chemical system marketed to disinfect certain devices, such as endoscopes, that cannot withstand steam sterilization.

21 Apr 2010

SJHS-HC tracks potential influenza cases using SafetySurveillor solution

St. Joseph Health System - Humboldt County, a member of St. Joseph Health System based in Orange, Calif., was able to track potential influenza cases minutes after California health officials released new requirements regarding influenza reporting. The SJHS-HC hospitals achieved this using SafetySurveillor, a safety surveillance solution offered by the Premier healthcare alliance.

15 Apr 2010

HHS quality report 2009 shows increase in hospital-acquired infections

"The Health and Human Services department's 2009 quality report to Congress found 'very little progress' on eliminating hospital-acquired infections and called for 'urgent attention' to address the shortcomings — first brought to light a decade ago." Specifically, the report found that, for three out of the five major types of serious hospital-related infections, the rate of illness increased.

15 Apr 2010

New AIGISRx Flat provides antimicrobial protection from CRMD infection

TYRX, Inc. announced today the commercial release of the AIGISRx™ Flat, an antibacterial product that helps provide protection against infections associated with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.

15 Apr 2010

HHS 2009 quality report shows increase in hospital-acquired infections

The Associated Press: "The Health and Human Services department's 2009 quality report to Congress found 'very little progress' on eliminating hospital-acquired infections and called for 'urgent attention' to address the shortcomings — first brought to light a decade ago."

15 Apr 2010