CDC: Healthcare Facilities Threatened by Growing Antimicrobial Fungus Threat
Clinical cases of C. auris have increased every year since it was first reported in 2016, with a total of 3,270 clinical cases and 7,413 screening cases (where the fungus is detected but not causing infection) reported through December 31, 2021. And during 2019-2021, 17 states identified their first C. auris case ever.
PSQH Innovation Awards Winner: Ascension St. Mary’s Revamps Processes to Reverse HAI Trend
The fifth annual PSQH Innovation Awards recognize healthcare organizations who overcame patient safety or quality improvement challenges. In this article, we highlight the winning submission selected from Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital in Saginaw, Michigan.
CDC Issues Nationwide Alert for Measles Cases After Exposure at Kentucky Gathering
The CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory “to notify clinicians and public health officials about a confirmed measles case at a large gathering’ from February 17-18, during the infectious stage. According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH), the case involves “an unvaccinated individual with a history of recent international travel.”
Preventing Hospital-Acquired Infections is Everybody’s Job, Not Just Nurses
Awareness is the key to a successful infection prevention program, says Carol Vance, MSN, RN, PHN, CIC, the multi-site prevention director for Advocate Children’s Hospital in Chicago, a 381-bed facility that is one of the largest network providers of pediatric services in Illinois.
Inspector General Provides Recommendations for Nursing Home Infection Prevention
Using Medicare claims data, the OIG looked at 15,086 nursing homes nationwide that had “extremely high” infection rates between spring and fall of 2020. Particularly, they looked at each facility’s characteristics, whether they’d been cited with infection control deficiencies, as well as if their reported nursing hours met Medicare’s minimum requirement.
Antibiotic Resistance Impacted by Patient Age and Care Setting, Study Finds
The recent research article, which was published by JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance, is based on data collected from 166 facilities from 2012 to 2017. The data was separated into four patient groups: children, adults, children treated at standalone pediatric facilities, and children treated at facilities that serve both children and adults.
Vaccination Rates Stable But Healthcare Providers Must Remain Vigilant
While national vaccination rates for vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles are relatively high and stable, healthcare providers need to be on guard for vaccination lapses at the local level, says Susan Koletar, MD, a practicing physician and director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.
It’s Official: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to End on May 11
As promised, the White House is giving ample notice—the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will end on May 11. In a statement January 30, the White House said it would end the PHE, which has allowed hospitals and other providers a number of compliance and other waivers to help ease the burden on healthcare.
OSHA’s Regulatory Plans for 2023
Labor Secretary Marty Walsh recently confirmed that three OSHA healthcare rulemakings are priorities for the Labor Department: a permanent healthcare COVID-19 standard, a proposed infectious disease standard, and a rulemaking to address workplace violence in health care and social services.
OSHA Proceeding With Healthcare Rulemakings
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will proceed with three rulemakings focused on the healthcare industry—standards for COVID-19, infectious diseases, and workplace violence—the Department of Labor (DOL) announced as part of the fall 2022 unified regulatory agenda unveiled January 4.