Infection Control
Seeking Standards for Microbial Loads in Healthcare Facilities
Why is there no binding standard for the acceptable microbial load on surfaces or in the air in hospitals?
6/9/2025
Privacy Curtains May Contribute to HAI Cases
Privacy curtains can harbor bacteria that can be passed down to patients.
5/27/2025
In or Out? Identifying an Effective Infection Control Strategy
The quality of training, supervision and oversight matter more than whether the cleaning team is in-house or outsourced.
5/14/2025
Regions Hospital Fined $100,000 for Improper Infectious Waste Disposal
Officials say the infectious waste was sent to the wrong facility several times.
5/7/2025
Next-Gen Disinfectants: Embrace the Upgrade
Understanding the role of the environment in healthcare-associated infections will lead to more effective use of disinfectants in healthcare settings.
5/5/2025
How Healthcare Furniture is Evolving for Infection Control
Cleanability, durability and safety remain key, but now they must coexist with aesthetics, comfort and sustainability.
5/2/2025
Should We Be Testing Toilet Water in Patient Restrooms?
Research suggests transmission of Legionella pneumophila through toilet flushing should be considered when investigating a Legionnaires’ disease case.
4/16/2025
The Effect of Over-Cleaning on Human Health
Environmental services managers should be concerned and informed about the oral and dermal toxicity of all chemicals used in their facilities.
4/2/2025
Patient Contacts Legionnaires' Disease at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital
No information has been given about the patient’s status or how they contracted the illness.
3/19/2025
Strategies to Eradicate Biofilm Containing C. Auris
Understanding the speed and risks of contamination after room disinfection should inform managers’ environmental cleaning recommendations.
3/12/2025
Listeria Outbreak Infects 38, Kills 12 in Senior Care Facilities
The Listeria outbreak largely affecting senior care facilities first started in 2018.
3/4/2025
Chemical-Dispensing Systems and Patient Health: A Closer Look
Chemical disinfectants with concentrations that deviate from recommendations can harm patients by compromising disinfection efficacy.
3/3/2025
Addressing Infection Prevention Staffing Gaps in Ambulatory and Procedural Care
Traditional models that are based on inpatient bed counts fail to account for the unique demands of ambulatory and procedural settings.
2/27/2025
HAIs Increase, Brand Reputations Fall
COVID-19 continues to being a major cause in hospital acquired infections, leading more people to be questioning their trust in healthcare facilities.
2/25/2025
When Product Labels and Regulatory Guidelines Clash
A huge gap exists between government registration protocols for disinfectants and processing an emergency department trauma room.
2/19/2025
Barriers to Infection: Rethinking Mattress Cleaning
Laundering removable bed barriers provides a more effective, consistent and safer method for eliminating harmful bacteria compared to manual cleaning.
2/5/2025
The Top States for Pest Infestations
Healthcare facilities are among the most popular locations for pest infestations.
2/4/2025
Coos County Nursing Hospital Fighting Flu Outbreak
Eight residents and 10 staff members have tested positive so far.
1/22/2025
Balancing Hand Hygiene Monitoring with Broader Infection Prevention Goals
A recent AJIC study sheds light on possibly reducing the amount of hand hygiene observations without compromising data integrity.
1/16/2025
Bugs Without Borders: The Coming HAI Crisis
A tsunami of pathogenic threats to healthcare facilities is not unthinkable. Simple cleaning might be a key defense.
1/15/2025
Healthcare Facilities May Reduce Amount of Hand Observations
Practicing hand hygiene has been the number one recommendation given to stop the spread of infections.
1/7/2025
Biofilms: Top-Tier Threat to Surface Disinfection
It is time to recognize biofilms as the top-of-the-pyramid predators they are.
1/6/2025
Disinfectant Dispensers in Healthcare Facilities Often Fail to Deliver Safe Concentrations: Study
Study of 10 hospitals finds 90 percent have at least one dispenser delivering disinfectants at incorrect concentrations.
12/26/2024
What's In the Toilet Bowl Is in the Air, Too
Aerosolized contaminants from toilet plumes remain airborne for up to seven days and can be inhaled by patients and healthcare workers.
12/11/2024
Dry-Surface Biofilms: Challenges and Strategies
Environmental services managers might not be using the right disinfectant in their cleaning operations.
12/2/2024
Infection Preventionist Staffing Levels Correlate to HAI Incidence
Nearly four in five hospitals are not staffed at sufficient levels to keep patients safe from preventable infections, according to a study.
11/14/2024
Plume Problems: Toilets and Airborne Contaminants
Fecal bacteria and viruses ejected during flushing can contaminate restroom surfaces with microorganisms.
11/13/2024
Biofilms: The New Frontier for Reducing MDRO
Biofilms in healthcare facilities act as reservoirs for microbial transmission to patients that can lead to infection.
11/4/2024
Five Key Strategies to Implementing Automated Hand Hygiene Systems
Hand hygiene is a core policy in healthcare facilities, and AHMMS are one solution to improving compliance.
10/23/2024
Mold Matters: Strategies for Prevention and Remediation
Understanding how to detect mold early, assess its risks and implement effective mitigation is essential to ensure a safe environment.
10/14/2024
