News

Busting Common Myths About the Flu Vaccine

A strengthened standard from the Joint Commission is adding additional weight to the importance of healthcare worker vaccination against influenza. As of July 1, 2012, the Joint Commission requires that all accredited healthcare organizations establish an annual influenza vaccination program for staff members and licensed independent practitioners. The standard should be very familiar to many infection preventionists, as six years ago the Joint Commission required that hospitals and long-term care facilities seeking accreditation establish an influenza vaccination program which includes educating about and providing influenza vaccination to healthcare professionals.

Study Finds Decline in HIV Deaths for Most Men, Women by Ethnicity, Education

Study Identifies Women at Risk for Urinary Tract Infections After Pelvic-Floor Surgery

Study Reveals Bitter Taste Receptors Regulate the Upper Respiratory Defense System

Study Shows Nurses are Accurate Barometers of Hospital Quality

Chlorhexidine Partners Network Debuts, Focuses on Antiseptic's Role in Preventing Infections

CDC Issues Final Update on Salmonella Infections Linked to Cantaloupe

Update on Nationwide Meningitis Outbreak

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a final investigation update regarding the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport infections linked to cantaloupe.

NECC Issues Statement on Meningitis Outbreak

FDA Offers Questions and Answers on Fungal Meningitis Outbreak

CDC, WHO Monitoring Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with a Novel Coronavirus

Methadone Reduces the Risk of HIV Transmission

Mosquito Genetics May Offer Clues to Malaria Control

Low Incidence of Needlestick Injuries Among Staff at National Pharmacy Chain

Genotyping Helps Identify Source of Clinic Infection Outbreak

Study Finds Schools Can Cut Risk of Illness by Implementing Hygiene Programs

Survey Reveals Country-Specific Differences in Preventive Behaviors During 2009 Influenza Pandemic

When the Bundle is Not Enough

Research to Analyze Acquired Infection Data on Tele-ICUs Compared to Hospitals

Ben Taub General Hospital (BTGH) is a 575-bed public teaching hospital serving residents of Harris County, Texas. It is one of only two designated Level 1 Trauma Centers in Houston, Texas. The Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit (TSICU) is a 30-bed unit consisting of 24 open ward beds and six isolation rooms. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most common of the healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in all hospitals across the United States costing $565 million annually. The majority of these CAUTIs (50 percent to 75 percent) are preventable.

Respiratory Care Program Could Decrease Pulmonary Complications in Surgical Patients

CDC, FDA Provide Update on Meningitis Outbreak Associated with Fungus-Tainted Injectible Steroid

Progress Reported in Tackling Initial, Recurrent HAIs

On Oct. 4, 2012, the CDC and FDA hosted a briefing to discuss the multi-state investigation of meningitis among patients who have received epidural steroid injections. According to Benjamin Park, MD, medical officer, Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the CDC, there have been 35 cases in six states: Tennessee (25), North Carolina 1), Florida (2), Virginia (4), Maryland (2) and Indiana (1). There have been five deaths: three in Tennessee, one in Virginia, and one in Maryland.

Two Healthcare Organizations Honored for Integrated Pest Management Excellence