Infection Control News and Research

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Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's publication on infectious diseases released

Elsevier, the world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, proudly announces the release of Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 7th Edition. Marking 30 years since its initial publication, it remains the most respected reference source of its kind, and maintains its relevance in the face of the emergence of newly recognized infectious diseases, including new strains of the swine (H1N1) and avian influenza viruses.

24 Sep 2009

Children’s Hospital offers tips on H1N1 and seasonal flu

With the early onset of flu season coinciding with the start of school this year, parents are concerned about the flu. Experts from The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo., offer a pediatric perspective on all types of flu, including H1N1, also known as swine flu.

23 Sep 2009

ONA appeals against Ministry of Labour's decision in London nurse's death investigation

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is appealing the decision by a Ministry of Labour inspector to not issue orders against London Health Sciences Centre or make recommendations for improvements in procedures and practices following the death of one of its registered nurses of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

22 Sep 2009

Infections due to handwashing failures cause 100,000 deaths annually

At Bay Medical Center in Panama City, Florida, Compirion Healthcare Solutions, a healthcare consulting firm that was engaged to help improve ED Throughput, Finance and Core Measures compliance, found only 30% of the staff regularly washed their hands between visits with patients.

17 Sep 2009

HIRC investigates the impact of infrastructure on pathogens and micro-organisms

The spread of swine flu and other infectious diseases could be dramatically reduced by revolutionising the way that the places we live in are designed and built.

17 Sep 2009

B. Braun Medical to showcase its Prontosan Wound Irrigation Solution at the SAWC Fall Event

B. Braun Medical Inc. (B. Braun) said today healthcare professionals can now place orders for Prontosan(R) Wound Irrigation Solution and Gel with PHMB (Polyhexanide), a solution used for cleaning wounds as well as moistening and lubricating absorbent wound dressings.

From B. Braun Melsungen AG 14 Sep 2009

Gen-Probe to merge industrial testing assets into an independent company

Gen-Probe Incorporated announced today that it is spinning off its industrial testing assets into a new, independent company focused on developing rapid, highly accurate molecular assays for biopharmaceutical production, water and food safety testing, and other applications.

14 Sep 2009

Practical tips for parents on H1N1 and seasonal flu infections

With the early onset of flu season coinciding with the start of school this year, concern about the flu, and in particular the H1N1 strain of the flu, is growing among parents. Experts from The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo., can offer a pediatric perspective on all types of flu, including H1N1, also known as swine flu.

14 Sep 2009

The Joint Commission to launch Center for Transforming Healthcare

Teaming up with top hospitals and health systems across the country to use new methods to find the causes of and put a stop to dangerous and potentially deadly breakdowns in patient care, The Joint Commission is launching the Center for Transforming Healthcare.

11 Sep 2009

E.V-Trax Employee Vaccination Tracking System helps eliminate manual data entry

General Data Company, Inc., which specializes in barcode-based error-proofing and tracking system solutions, is offering a new mobile application to help healthcare organizations administer employee vaccinations and track the immunization status of their personnel for H1N1, influenza, and other vaccinations.

10 Sep 2009

Medline Industries signs agreement to acquire SunChoice

Medline Industries, Inc., the largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies in the United States, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the business and assets of healthcare distributor SunChoice Europe Limited from the Southern Cross Healthcare Group.

5 Sep 2009

Nurses urge CDC to follow the recommendations for swine flu protection from the Institute of Medicine

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) today applauds the Institute of Medicine for recommending strong patient safety protections for patients and caregivers to avoid airborne transmission during the ongoing H1N1/swine flu pandemic--and calls on the Centers for Disease Control to meet the same, stringent standards.

5 Sep 2009

Bloodstream infections can be avoided with a daily scrub solution bath

Giving critically ill hospital patients a daily bath with a mild, soapy solution of the same antibacterial agent used by surgeons to "scrub in" before an operation can dramatically cut down, by as much as 73 percent, the number of patients who develop potentially deadly bloodstream infections, according to a new study by patient safety experts at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and five other institutions.

5 Sep 2009

ASGE Endoscopy Unit Recognition Program identifies 10 endoscopy units to promote quality care

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has recognized 10 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, 134 endoscopy units have been recognized by ASGE.

3 Sep 2009

Healthcare-acquired infection costs $1 billion per annum

Infections caught in hospital are costing the Australian healthcare system more than 850,000 lost bed days, according to a new study by Queensland University of Technology.

3 Sep 2009

AVA issues guidelines for disinfecting IV catheters

How to meet new infection-control guidelines from the Joint Commission and the SHEA/IDSA Compendium will be the focus of a panel discussion at the upcoming annual meeting of the Association for Vascular Access (AVA).

3 Sep 2009

Linkwell concerned with misunderstanding of prevention and control measures of H1N1

Linkwell Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: LWLL), a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of healthcare-related disinfectants in China, put forward its worries about the trend of the misunderstanding concerning dealing with the spread of H1N1.

2 Sep 2009

GE Healthcare to develop wireless medical monitoring systems for patient care

In what would represent an important step forward in revolutionizing the way patients are monitored in the future, GE announced an initiative aimed to develop wireless medical monitoring systems, or body sensor networks (BSN), which would replace the traditional tangle of bedside cables used to capture a patient’s vital signs. GE’s vision for the systems would enable wireless monitoring from anywhere in the hospital—or even remotely from home.

2 Sep 2009

New award created to honour healthcare CEOs and administrators that support infection prevention

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has created a new award to recognize healthcare CEOs and administrators that support infection prevention and control efforts throughout their facilities. The new APIC Healthcare Administrator Award will honor a member of a healthcare facility’s executive team (CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CNO) who has demonstrated significant and sustained support of the organization’s infection prevention team.

27 Aug 2009

Patient health and safety survey reveals that healthcare facilities are not ready to combat swine flu pandemic

A patient health and safety survey of 190 American hospitals from coast to coast compiled by registered nurses in eight different states finds that a disturbing number of our nation's healthcare facilities are not prepared for the coming H1N1/swine flu pandemic, according to results released today by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

26 Aug 2009