Infection Control - May 2019
Telemedicine company launched to focus on infectious disease
Infectious Disease Connect will seek to reduce transfers and allow the treatment of patients with infectious diseases in their own communities
5/31/2019
Sanitizer uses ultraviolet rays to kill viruses on mobile devices
Studies have found that 94 percent of cell phones used by hospital staff carry contaminants
5/31/2019
Study: Hand-hygiene signs not working in healthcare facilities
Researchers placed placards near soap and alcohol-based hand-rub dispensers in two hospital units
5/31/2019
Seattle Children's Hospital operating rooms shut down because of fungus
Air tests detected Aspergillus in several operating rooms and equipment storage rooms
5/30/2019
Healthcare facilities changing how they fight superbugs
Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and Clostridium difficile have been overcoming antibiotics
5/29/2019
New factor that can influence spread of legionella found
Legionella can proliferate less efficiently in amoebae if they contain endosymbionts
5/29/2019
C diff. transmitted through non-critical items
Report says proper disinfection of tools is crucial
5/28/2019
Agencies investigating Legionnaires' case at McLaren Flint
Hospital officials acknowledging that a patient may have acquired the disease at the facility
5/24/2019
Study: Outside temperature impacts pathogens in climate-controlled ICUs
The outside temperature can influence the indoor temperature
5/24/2019
An emergency declaration over Ebola could make things worse
The Ebola outbreak in the Congo is challenging the world's capacity to respond
5/22/2019
Heathcare facility floors getting more attention in infection control efforts
Disposable mops may cut down on contamination
5/22/2019
WHO worried about risk of Ebola spread
The death total in the outbreak is 1,105 and response teams are still investigating 310 suspected Ebola cases
5/21/2019
Officials at Chinese hospital fired over poor infection control after five baby deaths
The babies died after contracting an infection caused by Echovirus 11, a type of intestinal virus
5/20/2019
University of Texas new biocontainment care unit is prepared for the next Ebola outbreak
Specialty unit is among 10 U.S. regional centers for highly infectious diseases
5/17/2019
Study: Few healthcare workers know hand-washing guidelines
Study found that workers performed hand hygiene 35 percent of the time.
5/17/2019
VA finds officials covered up Legionella at Loma Linda hospital
Staff members said they were not informed of bacteria discovery
5/16/2019
NY dedicates statue to handwashing champion
Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis saw the benefits of handwashing in 1847
5/16/2019
Research finds healthcare facility privacy curtains can pose threat to patients
University of Michigan researchers looked at the prevalence of curtains contaminated in skilled nursing facility rooms.
5/15/2019
Michigan Legionnaires' cases up in 2018, but death rates drop
The state experienced a 67 percent increase from 2017
5/14/2019
Candida auris cases confirmed in Maryland
Fungal infection has been confirmed in 12 U.S. states
5/14/2019
Study finds disinfection devices in ICU sinks effective against superbugs
Researchers placed devices on sink siphons that applied heat and electromechanical vibration
5/14/2019
Senator urges feds to declare emergency over Candida auris
Schumer is asking the federal government to allocate millions of dollars to fighting the fungus
5/13/2019
Experts fear disaster as Ebola outbreak threatens to escalate
Ongoing violence aimed at the Ebola response workers is undermining efforts to stop the virus' spread
5/13/2019
Specific environmental strategies needed in infection control
World Health Organization publishes priority pathogens list
5/13/2019
Concerns raised that some new hospitals not built to prevent infection
Some members of Parliament say Scotland's hospitals are not being built to a high enough standard
5/10/2019
Outbreak incident in Israel teaches value of infection control
Clean care key to dealing with health emergencies
5/9/2019
Superbugs make hand-washing even more important
Annually, drug-resistant germs infect around 2 million Americans and kill more than 20,000
5/9/2019
Congo sets daily record with 23 new Ebola cases
A surge of cases often happens after attacks on the Ebola response
5/8/2019
Two Legionnaires’ cases reported at Chicago hospital
Mercy has begun flushing its water system, and will alter or replace water fixtures and place filters on sinks
5/7/2019
Hospitals are boosting hygiene practices to fight superbugs
One of the best ways to prevent ransomware attacks is to educate employees
5/7/2019
Legionnaires' disease found in facilities adjacent to California prison hospital
Tests found the bacteria in the water supply at a prison medical facility in Stockton and at two neighboring youth correctional facilities
5/6/2019
Flu season longest in 10 years
The U.S. has experienced 21 consecutive weeks of elevated flu activity
5/6/2019
Research says non-sporicidal wipes effective against Candida Auris
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of sporicidal disinfectants
5/6/2019
Two reasons why ambulatory care facilities struggle with infection control standards
The Joint Commission highlights problematic standards for office-based surgery practices
5/3/2019
Cleaning robots could curb spread of 'superbug fungus' in Pa, hospital
Chambersburg Hospital has used UV robots since 2017 in the final step of the cleaning process
5/2/2019
Location-based technologies: A complete infection control solution
With RTLS solutions, healthcare organizations can track hand hygiene compliance and noncompliance events
5/2/2019
Calif. investigating Legionnaires' outbreak at prison hospital
One inmate has died and a second inmate tested positive for the bacteria
5/1/2019
Study: Hospital workers can unknowingly spread the flu
Infection control measures in hospitals may be inadequate
5/1/2019
Repeated wearing of clothes increases bacteria for healthcare workers
Level jumps fourfold when clothes are worn more than one shift
5/1/2019
