How do the veteran and the novice infection preventionists work together in the present climate? What do they think are their strengths and their differences as they combine their knowledge in the health care field? Infection Control Today® asked a veteran and a novice to find out.
Integrating home and community, long-term care facilities are supposed to be a haven for patients and their families. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping the patients and the staff safe was a constant battle. An infection preventionist who lived through it discusses the challenges at her facility.
In this opinion article, the authors discuss their concerns about the recent HICPAC/CDC proposals on infectious diseases.
The journey of pregnancy begins long before conception, with a woman's lifestyle choices profoundly influencing her future child's health. From diet to infection prevention, proactive measures are crucial.
Effective implementation of UV-C disinfection is crucial to reducing HAIs. The Providence Holy Cross Medical Center achieved a 19% reduction in multidrug-resistant HAIs and saved $1.2 million through strategic deployment, highlighting the importance of collaboration and innovative management.
The benefits of a systematic, multi-layered approach utilizing various methods to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 to keep children in school.
This Pathogen Pulse highlights: Whooping cough, oropouche fever, and avian influenza. Read on to get caught up on the latest.
Those dental practices that come out of the COVID-19 pandemic with an appreciation of and renewed commitment to infection control best practices will maintain the trust of their patients and survive, whereas those that scoff at the costs of doing the right thing will not.
The past 5 years in medicine have seen significant advances in RNA vaccines, understanding immune dysregulation, and improved interspecialty communication, promising better disease eradication and tailored treatments.
How do the veteran and the novice infection preventionists work together in the present climate? What do they think are their strengths and their differences as they combine their knowledge in the health care field? Infection Control Today® asked a veteran and a novice to find out.
Post-COVID-19 immune dysfunction is supported by epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory evidence. Attributing, with little to no evidence, that masking and lack of exposure is the primary driver of increases in bacterial and viral infections discourages critical interventions needed to stop the spread of disease.
Have foodborne infections returned to prepandemic levels? What information should infection prevention and control personnel offer to patients and staff to prevent an E coli infection?
Sterilizing modern surgical instruments is challenging due to their complexity, increased size, and varied materials. Low-temperature methods are crucial, but overloading and rapid turnarounds heighten sterilization failure risks.
Accurate device information and proper sterilization or disinfection are crucial to ensure safety during ultrasound procedures.
With stress and burnout from staff shortages and the COVID-19 pandemic, infection prevention auditors need to remember kindness and compassion.
The report has brought to attention the increasing danger of bacteria that are resistant to modern medicine. This problem has already reached alarming levels in many areas of the world.
To celebrate National Nurses' Month, Maryn Moreni, MSN, RN, CNE, discusses the self-care practices she incorporates into her life and teaches to her students.
Setting boundaries becomes crucial as health care workers face rising demands and burnout. Learn practical strategies to protect mental well-being and prevent burnout in the workplace.
Where can we find data on whether or not water vapor is necessary for humans residing in buildings? One great place for such research is the hospital. There is a tremendous amount of data that is collected from one type of hospital building occupant—the patient.
Hospital-associated infections affect over 1 million US patients annually. Proper medical equipment cleaning and sterilization significantly reduce infection risks, improving patient outcomes and safety.
Hand hygiene requirements for inpatient health care are numerous and varied. An electronic system to help monitor adherence with some indications benefits the hospital, although it may also introduce some drawbacks.
Enmetazobactam (Exblifep; Orchid Pharma) has received FDA approval for treating complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs), offering a promising solution in the battle against antimicrobial resistance.
Rapid diagnostics enhance patient outcomes by enabling prompt, targeted treatments, reducing inappropriate antibiotic use, and combating antimicrobial resistance through informed clinical decisions and stewardship programs.
The vaccine is approved for use in adults aged 60 and older to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV.
A phase 3 trial presented at IDWeek 2023 shows that sulbactam-durlobactam (SUL-DUR) reduces mortality and improves outcomes in hospital-acquired Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex infections compared to colistin, offering a promising treatment option.
Shingrix was originally approved by the FDA in 2017 for the prevention of shingles in adults 50 years and older. Now, it’s approved for those 18 years and older who are immunocompromised.
The information health care workers need to know about the concerning infection trends among sex workers and how best to support and treat them.
Amid escalating multidrug-resistant organism threats, hospitals face business risks and patient trust erosion, necessitating improved cleaning and infection prevention practices.
Media in the US presents AI as both beneficial and risky. Positive coverage shows AI's potential through virtual assistants like Siri, while cautionary tales warn of misuse like misinformation and deepfakes. How does all this work in health care?