Innovative Wound Dressing Could Reduce $10B Cost of Surgical Site Infections
A study published July 4 in Nanomedicine found that electrospun nanofiber-based wound dressings loaded with a bioactive form of vitamin D spur production of an antimicrobial peptide that fights infection naturally.
Hospital Occupancy Impacts Infection Risk in Unexpected Ways
After analyzing data for a new study published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, they found some surprising results. Patients were more at risk for C. diff infections when the hospital was moderately full.
Study: CMS Penalties for Hospital-Acquired Conditions Have Little Impact
The targeted billing codes were rarely used by hospitals, and the study found that when hospitals billed for HACs during a patient’s stay, it infrequently affected the diagnosis-related group assignment, impacting hospital reimbursement.
Cleanliness Sensors: Using Technology to Improve Hand Hygiene Compliance
Lutheran is among the healthcare organizations nationwide that in recent years decided to try hand hygiene monitoring technology in the hopes it could improve hand hygiene compliance—and in the process reduce the number of infections and avoid citations from accrediting organizations like The Joint Commission, which in January put stricter enforcement in place.
Urinary Catheters Pose More Risks Than Just CAUTIs
In-depth interviews and chart reviews from more than 2,000 patients found more than half of catheterized hospital patients experienced a complication of some kind. The issues ranged from pain, bloody urine and activity restrictions while the catheter was in, to problems with urination and sexual function after it was removed.
New Study Finds Use of PIV Maintenance Bundles Helps Prevent Bloodborne Infections
The study, “A Bundled Approach to Decrease the Rate of Primary Bloodstream Infections Related to Peripheral Intravenous Catheters,” was published in the March 2018 issue of The Journal of the Association for Vascular Access and found that implementing a PIV maintenance bundle using disinfecting caps and tips successfully decreased primary BSIs from 0.57 to 0.11 per 1,000 patient days.
Hawaii Hospital Investigates Possible Legionella Outbreak
Doctors believe the deceased patient and another who has been released acquired Legionella outside the hospital. But the state Department of Health stepped in after learning two other patients developed symptoms after already being hospitalized, making it possible they contracted Legionnaire’s in the hospital.
Post-Colonoscopy Infection Rates Much Higher Than Previously Believed
The study’s researchers examined medical insurance data from 2014 to look at infection rates after colonoscopy and osophagogastroduodenoscopies procedures done at selected outpatient facilities in six states.
Sending Sepsis Patients Home May Not Harm Them
Peltan and his research team studied 8,239 adult ED sepsis patients at two tertiary hospitals and two community hospitals in Utah. The researchers found that 1,607 of the patients—19.5% of the total—were discharged rather than admitted to the hospital.
APIC Survey Sheds Light on IP Workforce
The results of the APIC MegaSurvey were released during a session at last week’s 45th annual APIC Conference in Minneapolis. Conducted in 2015, the survey was completed by 4,078 active APIC members, or about 31% of the organization’s membership.