Coronavirus: 7 Infection Prevention Best Practices for Healthcare Settings
The coronavirus—which emerged from Wuhan, China, last December—initially posed many infection prevention challenges. How was the virus transmitted to humans? How virulent was the germ? How could healthcare workers be protected from getting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?
Study: Using Bed Barriers Cuts Down on C. diff
The study, conducted by researchers at Xavier University in Cincinnati and Bon Secours Mercy Health Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital in Kentucky, achieved an almost 60% decrease in infections, which is double the nationwide reduction goal established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Improving Antibiotic Stewardship at Urgent Care Centers
As care continues its move deeper into communities and away from traditional medical campuses, urgent care centers are exploding in growth. In 2018, there were 8,100 urgent care centers, up nearly 27% from 2014, according to Consumer Reports. Those centers see an estimated 160 million patient visits each year, according to the Urgent Care Association.
Study: Low-Temperature Sterilization of Medical Tools is Problematic
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested the effectiveness of three low-temperature technologies, often used for plastic tools, against steam sterilization by simulating the impact of proteins and salts left on tools before sterilization.
New Data on Sepsis Prevalence and Costs ‘Astonished’ DHHS Researchers
Sepsis is diagnosed in at least 1.7 million adults annually in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 270,000 Americans die from sepsis every year, and 1 in 3 patients who die in hospitals are diagnosed with sepsis, the CDC says.
Vitamin and Steroid Treatment for Sepsis Fails in Major Study
Currently, the only treatment option for sepsis is an aggressive regimen of antibiotics. However, this is only partially effective, and even an hour delay in antibiotics increases the odds of mortality by 10%.
Study: Staff Will Work Through Illness Despite Sick Policy
Researchers conducted active surveillance from December 2015 through April 2016 for respiratory viral infections among residents and healthcare providers at a 120-bed long-term care facility in the St. Louis area.
Emergency Preparedness: Expect the Unexpected
While domestic numbers of the virus are still low, the situation serves as a reminder that hospitals and health systems need to be prepared for whatever virus, outbreak, disaster, or emergency event comes their way.
CDC: First Case of Wuhan Coronavirus Confirmed in U.S.
The patient is a Washington resident who returned to the U.S. from China on January 15 and sought care at a medical facility in Washington. Based on the patient’s travel history and symptoms, healthcare professionals suspected the new coronavirus. A specimen was collected and sent to the CDC, where laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis. The CDC said it has been preparing for the U.S. arrival of 2019-nCoV for weeks, including:
Study: Antibiotics Use to Blame for C. diff Infections
The study, published September 16, 2019 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, found that higher hospitalwide use of four classes of antibiotics thought to increase the risk of the dangerous intestinal illness C. diff was associated with greater prevalence of hospital-associated C. diff.