Infection Control News and Research

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$9M ARRA funds to reduce healthcare-associated infections in ambulatory surgical centers

To reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in stand-alone or same-day surgical centers, the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of up to $9 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to state survey agencies in 43 states. HAIs are infections some patients acquire when they are in a health care setting such as a hospital or outpatient clinic.

11 Nov 2009

Bayfront Medical Center to implement CareFocus clinical surveillance solution from Thomson Reuters

Bayfront Medical Center has selected Clinical Xpert CareFocus from Thomson Reuters as its clinical surveillance solution for improving Core Measures outcomes and patient safety indicator (PSI) scores while also supporting infection control and pharmacy intervention initiatives.

10 Nov 2009

Study on how robust antibodies work to block the HIV virus raise hope for new vaccine

A very close and detailed study of how the most robust antibodies work to block the HIV virus as it seeks entry into healthy cells has revealed a new direction for researchers hoping to design an effective vaccine.

10 Nov 2009

Thomson Reuters releases CareFocus 2.0 clinical surveillance solution

Thomson Reuters today announced the newest release of Clinical Xpert(TM) CareFocus, a leading clinical surveillance solution that enables hospitals to identify at-risk patients in real-time and respond immediately to improve clinical quality and reduce total cost of treatment.

9 Nov 2009

2009 H1N1 influenza PPE federal guidance for healthcare workers causes concern among prevention experts

Three leading scientific organizations specializing in infectious diseases prevention issued a letter to President Obama today expressing their significant concern with current federal guidance concerning the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers in treating suspected or confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza.

7 Nov 2009

Symposium on H1N1 and seasonal flu

With the looming threat of both the H1N1 flu (also known as "swine flu") and the regular seasonal flu, area health officials fear that the worst may be in store this coming flu season.

5 Nov 2009

Automated temperature monitoring module for health care facilities

Patient Care Technology Systems (PCTS), a subsidiary of Consulier Engineering, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSLR), today announced the availability of its most advanced automated temperature monitoring module.

4 Nov 2009

Vaccinating mothers against influeza during pregnancy prevents hospitalization in their infants

Infants born to women who received influenza vaccine during pregnancy were hospitalized at a lower rate than infants born to unvaccinated mothers, according to preliminary results of an ongoing study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine. The team presented the study October 29 at the 47th annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Philadelphia.

3 Nov 2009

Historic agreement sets national standard for containing the spread of H1N1

In a dramatic settlement seen as a novel pattern for the nation, the nation's largest nurses union and professional association, and one of the country's biggest hospital systems today announced a landmark agreement that sets a national standard on containing the spread of pandemics such as H1N1 "swine flu."

2 Nov 2009

Patients who acquire SSTIs in healthcare settings may stay longer in hospitals to control the infection

Patients who acquire skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in a hospital or other healthcare setting may be more likely to receive inappropriate antibiotic therapy at the beginning of their treatment. As a result, they also may have significantly longer hospital stays to control the infection.

31 Oct 2009

Gen-Probe receives FDA emergency use authorization for its Prodesse ProFlu-ST test

Gen-Probe Incorporated today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an EUA (emergency use authorization) for its test, the Prodesse ProFlu-ST(TM), to be used in CLIA high complexity laboratories for the diagnosis of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus infection, aided by an algorithm that relies on seasonal influenza A/H1 virus and seasonal influenza A/H3 virus results, from a single sample in individuals who are diagnosed with influenza A by currently available FDA-cleared or authorized devices.

29 Oct 2009

HHS funds projects to combat health care-associated infections

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the award of $17 million to fund projects to fight costly and dangerous health care-associated infections, or HAIs.

28 Oct 2009

SDC-based hard surface disinfectant is effective against the 2009 H1N1

PURE Bioscience, creators of the patented silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, announced today that its SDC-based hard surface disinfectant is effective against the 2009 H1N1 and is included on the list published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of antimicrobial products effective against the 2009 H1N1 flu strain based on their effectiveness against other influenza A virus strains.

27 Oct 2009

HHS funds $17M for fight against costly and dangerous health care-associated infections

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the award of $17 million to fund projects to fight costly and dangerous health care-associated infections, or HAIs.

24 Oct 2009

ISHLT Infectious Disease Council issues new H1N1 advisory for cardiothoracic transplantation programs

Each year 3-5 million people have severe cases and 250-500,000 die from complications of seasonal influenza world-wide. This year, the novel 2009 H1N1 (nH1N1) influenza, previously called swine flu, has reached pandemic status.

23 Oct 2009

Practical guidance for cardiothoracic transplant programs in view of H1N1 flu pandemic

23 Oct 2009

Study reveals a dramatic increase in TTB cases

Babesiosis is a potentially dangerous parasitic disease transmitted by ticks and is common in the Northeast and the upper Midwest. Babesia lives inside of red blood cells, meaning it can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion from an infected but otherwise asymptomatic blood donor.

21 Oct 2009

Swine flu outbreak at USAFA: Investigators study behavior of the nH1N1 virus

With the 2009 influenza season upon us, characterization of the epidemiology and duration of shedding for the nH1N1 virus is critical. Investigators from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Consult Service capitalized on a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights about the natural behavior of the nH1N1 virus, including shedding patterns, during a recent large-scale swine flu outbreak at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA).

20 Oct 2009

Winner of first annual Healthcare Administrator Award announced

Deborah Friberg, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, North Carolina, has been named the recipient of the first annual Healthcare Administrator Award, presented by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). The award recognizes a healthcare facility's executive team member who has demonstrated significant support for infection prevention and control throughout their facility.