Infection Control

Infection Control Articles by Topic: CDC Requirements

Lethal "superbug" still at the forefront of CDC concerns

  • Patient Safety Monitor Insider, Issue 12, March 20, 2013

    The CDC is warning providers nationwide about a lethal germ called carbapenem-resistant...

Ask the expert: Meeting TB guidelines with volunteers/unpaid staff

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 33, August 15, 2012

    Q: We are a home health agency and are low risk for tuberculosis (TB) and have a question related...

Mercy! Time to consider risk of MRSA from unsafe injections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 29, July 18, 2012

    Move over hepatitis B, C, and HIV, and make room for MRSA infections as a consequence of unsafe...

Hospital fails to protect from aerosol transmissible disease exposures

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 29, July 18, 2012

    Cal/OSHA has imposed an $84,450 fine on Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for failure to warn and...

Ask the expert: Healthcare worker TB exposure

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 29, July 18, 2012

    Q: A patient seen by our practice has recently tested positive for tuberculosis and is undergoing...

Ask the expert: TB screening for medical office staff

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 28, July 11, 2012

    Q: What are the OSHA TB screening requirements for medical office staff?

Up close and personal on unsafe injections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 24, June 13, 2012

    The CDC has recently posted two items on unsafe injection practices.

Feds encourage blunt-tip suture needle use

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 23, June 6, 2012

    To put it bluntly, the FDA, CDC, NIOSH, and OSHA want to see more use of blunt-tip suture needles...

Study: Work experience related to increased use of PPE for flu

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 20, May 16, 2012

    Proper use of PPE for protection against H1N1 comes with healthcare worker experience, but not as...

New competency model for infection preventionists

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 9, 2012

    The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has introduced their first...

Ask the expert: Online exposure control plan

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 9, 2012

    Q: Is it okay to have the Bloodborne Pathogens exposure control plan online, for example on the...

Weekly poll: Nurses and workplace safety

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 9, 2012

    Compared to other working groups or occupations in your healthcare facility or organization, how...

CDC reiterates: Single dose vials for one patient only

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 18, May 2, 2012

    To avoid confusion among clinicians regarding the use of single-use medication vials and doses, the...

Report on state HAI prevention programs

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 18, May 2, 2012

    Despite some uneven progress among the states, HAI-prevention is moving in the right direction...

Weekly poll: Safety compliance and regulatory sources

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 14, April 4, 2012

    From what sources do you regularly obtain information about healthcare staff and facility safety?

Reducing bloodstream infections in an outpatient hemodialysis centers

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 13, March 28, 2012

    Outpatient dialysis centers can significantly reduce the incidence of vascular access-related...

Editor’s choice: Kicking a dirty habit

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 13, March 28, 2012

    Most healthcare facilities have created some sort of campaign to raise levels of hand hygiene...

Ask the expert: Chest x-ray frequency with positive TB test

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 13, March 28, 2012

    Q: How often should a staff member in a doctor's office with a positive tuberculin skin test be...

Recommendations for healthcare personnel immunizations updated

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 101, November 30, 2011

    For those responsible for ensuring compliance with healthcare worker immunizations, the CDC has...

National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec. 4-12

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 101, November 30, 2011

    National Influenza Vaccination Week highlights the importance of continuing vaccinations during and...

Ask the expert: TB skin tests and volunteers

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 101, November 30, 2011

    What does OSHA require for volunteers for TB?

Editor's choice: From bedside to courtroom

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 90, September 14, 2011

    Without appropriate infection control policies, hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities...

Just the facts...just doesn’t work on vaccinations

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 85, August 10, 2011

    The facts aren't enough to overcome the public's increasing distrust of vaccination programs.

Weekly poll: Reacting to flu shot resisters?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 85, August 10, 2011

    How do you react to healthcare workers who resist mandatory seasonal influenza policies when...

Free webinar to focus on sharps safety in nonhospital settings

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 83, July 27, 2011

    The International Healthcare Worker Safety Center is sponsoring a free webinar on an overlooked...

CDC posts infection control checklist for outpatient settings

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 82, July 20, 2011

    As a companion to the infection prevention guide for outpatient settings released in May, the CDC...

NIOSH is all go on STOP STICKS campaign

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 82, July 20, 2011

    NIOSH aims to raise awareness among healthcare workers about the dangers of needlesticks and other...

Weekly poll: Infection control for outpatient settings

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 82, July 20, 2011

    Do you think that the CDC guide and checklist for Infection Prevention in Outpatient Settings...

A look at IC's top 10 challenges

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 80, July 6, 2011

    Infection control professionals at the annual Association for Professionals in Infection Control...

Infection control group announces film fest winners

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 80, July 6, 2011

    The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology announced the winners of a...

Using duct tape as an isolation precaution tool

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 80, July 6, 2011

    Don't ever underestimate the utility of duct tape—the stuff that literally holds the world...

Guidelines released by the CDC for infection prevention in outpatient care settings

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 74, May 25, 2011

    The CDC released its guidelines and recommendations for outpatient ambulatory care settings on May...

CDC publishes norovirus guidelines for healthcare facilities

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 73, May 18, 2011

    The CDC released a set of guidelines about preventing and controlling norovirus specific to...

Hepatitis B outbreak kills six due to unsafe blood glucose monitoring

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 61, February 23, 2011

    An investigation by the CDC found that a North Carolina assisted-living facility was sharing blood...

Marriage status, education, age predict vaccination rates among healthcare workers

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 59, February 9, 2011

    The CDC took data from healthcare workers between the ages of 18 and 64 to analyze vaccination...

Study investigates how healthcare workers caught H1N1

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 53, December 29, 2010

    The H1N1 flu virus infected 50% of healthcare workers within a healthcare setting during 2009-2010...

CDC recommends options for thoroughness of cleanliness

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 52, December 21, 2010

    As healthcare acquired pathogens become more frequent, the CDC is recommending all hospitals to...

CDC urges flu vaccine while doctors cooperate

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 41, October 13, 2010

    There’s so much talk about the flu these days, but it’s because flu season is on the...

New campaign focuses on UTI reduction

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 9, September 1, 2010

    Maybe they aren’t among the most dangerous HAIs, but catheter-associated urinary tract...

Multidose vials: Follow the 28-day rule

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 9, September 1, 2010

    Multidose vials run the risk for infections and citations if they aren?t used appropriately In one...

Virginia Mason reports on five years of mandatory flu shots

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 11, 2010

    Widely known as the first healthcare facility to implement a mandatory influenza vaccine policy...

CMS rule requires hospitals to report central line infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 11, 2010

    A final rule released by CMS on July 30 now requires hospitals that accept Medicare patients to...

CDC releases alert on H3N2

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 11, 2010

    After reports of two small outbreaks of H3N2 in Iowa and sporadic cases in 11 other states, the CDC...

CDC posts 2010 flu shot guidelines from ACIP

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 31, August 4, 2010

    The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices published flu-shot recommendations for the...

Briefings on Infection Control, August 2010

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 8, August 1, 2010

    Inside: Evaluating the possibility  of an OSHA infectious disease standard Study confirms C...

Evaluating the possibility  of an OSHA infectious disease standard

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 8, August 1, 2010

    On May 6, OSHA officially released a request for information (RFI) for public comment on...

Study confirms C. diff can travel through the air

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 8, August 1, 2010

    As Clostridium difficile (C. diff) began appearing in many hospitals across the country—and...

Waterborne illnesses can fly under the radar

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 8, August 1, 2010

    Waterborne pathogens may not be first on your list of IC priorities—perhaps because you...

"Doctor, what is that in your hand?"

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 30, July 28, 2010

    Read the OSHA Healthcare Advisor “Notes from the field post” to find out why this...

Tip of the week: Draw medication in a "clean" area

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 30, July 28, 2010

    The CDC guidelines for safe injection practices indicate that healthcare workers need to designate...

IDSA pushes for mandatory flu shots

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 29, July 21, 2010

    At least one organization has called out the CDC to take a strong stand in favor of mandatory...

Tip of the week: Don't reuse biohazard specimen bags

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 29, July 21, 2010

    Q: Is it OK to reuse biohazard specimen bags if they are not contaminated?  

ADA addresses infection control precautions

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 28, July 14, 2010

    Following reports of poor sterilization of dental equipment in the St. Louis VA Medical Center, the...

More isn’t always better when it comes to sterile processing

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 28, July 14, 2010

    “The saying ‘more isn’t always better’ is true in the case of detergents...

Tip of the week: Make sure employees don't have artificial nails

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 28, July 14, 2010

    There is no OSHA requirement regarding the use of artificial nails, but CDC recommendations say...

CDC releases draft norovirus prevention guideline

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 27, July 7, 2010

    Last week the CDC released a draft “Guideline for the Prevention and Control of Norovirus...

iPhone app attempts to streamline hand hygiene tracking

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 7, July 1, 2010

    The appropriately named ?iScrub? app, developed at the University of Iowa (UI), aims to replace the...

Study: Universal gloving could be viable alternative for contact precautions

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 7, July 1, 2010

    A study published in the May Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology found that a universal...

CDC and Premier partner to develop CLABSI surveillance

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 7, July 1, 2010

    In May the CDC announced its partnership with the Premier healthcare alliance for a joint research...

CDC updates influenza guidelines

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 26, June 30, 2010

    Last week the CDC released a rough draft of updated influenza guidelines, which are available for...

Tip of the week: IC tagging requirements aren't so clear cut

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 25, June 23, 2010

    A recent question was posed on OSHA Healthcare Advisor regarding state and federal laws for...

New blogger reviews basic principles of sterility

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 23, June 9, 2010

    A new guest blogger on OSHA Healthcare Advisor specializes in sterile processing and she debuts...

TB precautions for volunteers

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 21, May 26, 2010

    Obviously employers are responsible for providing TB skin tests free of charge to employees of the...

Tip of the week: CDC reminds labs about VRSA prevention

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 20, May 19, 2010

    After confirming the 11th case of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) since 2002, the...

Hand Hygiene day offers tools and a new iPhone app

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 12, 2010

    On May 5, healthcare organizations around the world celebrated hand hygiene with the World Health...

AORN, 3M announce hand hygiene champions, and video contest winner

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 12, 2010

    The Association for periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) and 3M recently announced Perioperative...

Tip of the week: Celebrate hepatitis month by ensuring your workforce is protected

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 12, 2010

    May is Hepatitis Awareness Month with May 19 marked as World Hepatitis Day, giving healthcare...

CDC to update guidance on infection control for influenza

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 18, May 5, 2010

    The CDC released a Q&A on Monday explaining its intent to update the 2009 infection control...

CDC launches central-line infection initiative

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 18, May 5, 2010

    The CDC is turning its focus to central-line associated bloodstream infections with a joint...

OSHA cracks down on H1N1 respiratory protection

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 5, May 1, 2010

    On January 29, Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA, received a citation and an $8,000 fine...

Improving hand hygiene compliance rates with marketing, accountability, and incentives

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 5, May 1, 2010

    Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and Abington (PA) Memorial Hospital have both improved...

Prefilling insulin in the home health setting

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 16, April 21, 2010

    Last week’s blog post by IC expert Peg Luebbert on prefilling and storing syringes drew a...

Prefilling then storing syringes is not recommended

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 15, April 14, 2010

    How long can you store prefilled syringes? According to CDC guidelines, not at all.

Oncology clinic prevents H1N1 with aggressive policies

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 4, April 1, 2010

    Cancer patients are widely regarded as the patient population most susceptible to infections, so...

New preoperative skin preparations reduce SSIs

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 4, April 1, 2010

    Authors of a new study, published in the January 7 New England Journal of Medicine, wanted to find...

New study shows surgical masks and N95s are equal

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 13, March 31, 2010

    When it comes to respiratory protection against H1N1, the CDC says N95s should be used during close...

Ensuring TB tests for all employees

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 12, March 24, 2010

    Last week on OSHA Healthcare Advisor, Kathy Rooker explained why all healthcare workers with...

Tip of the week: The Joint Commission will look for gowns

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 10, March 10, 2010

    A Q&A recently posted on The Joint Commission’s Web site indicates that Joint Commission...

Study finds healthcare workers resisting treatment for TB

  • OSHA Healthcare Connection, Issue 9, March 2, 2010

    Half of healthcare workers diagnosed with latent TB failed to seek treatment for it, according to a...

Editor's Choice: Medical Environment Update - Evaluating decontamination procedures prior to sterilization

  • OSHA Healthcare Connection, Issue 9, March 2, 2010

    What's so important about precleaning medical instruments before sterilizing? How should your staff...

CDC updates guidelines on CAUTI prevention

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 3, March 1, 2010

    Although it's not one of the most dangerous healthcare-associated infections (HAI...

Hand hygiene rates improved through variety of reinforcement styles

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 3, March 1, 2010

    Editor's note: This article was originally published in the December 2009 Briefings on The Joint...

When toys transmit infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 8, February 24, 2010

    Objects that pose a high risk of infection, especially for kids, might be found in your waiting...

Washington OSHA imposes N95 respirator fines

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 8, February 24, 2010

    All the advisories and enforcement documents about protecting workers during the H1N1 pandemic...

Many healthcare workers refuse TB treatment

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 8, February 24, 2010

    A study published in the February issue of Chest indicates that half of healthcare workers refused...

Are hands-free sinks required?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 6, February 10, 2010

    Although hands-free sinks are certainly more efficient than the alternative, they often pose a...

Consumer Reports details the dangers of central-line infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 6, February 10, 2010

    An article recently published in Consumer Reports emphasizes the need to focus on reducing...

Drug manufacturer may be liable in Vegas hepatitis C outbreak

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 6, February 10, 2010

    A sworn deposition from a drug company executive may prove that the company that makes propofol...

Tip of the week: Be aware of healthcare worker-to-patient transmission

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 6, February 10, 2010

    The lead article in this month’s issue of Medical Environment Update flips the tables and...

CDC to study HAIs and antimicrobial usage

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 5, February 3, 2010

    The CDC will conduct two surveys in order to gauge national figures for HAIs and antimicrobial...

Tip of the week: CDC recommends surgical masks during spinal procedures

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 5, February 3, 2010

    In last week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), the CDC offers a reminder to...

Study reignites influenza respiratory protection debate

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 4, January 27, 2010

    A new study published in the most recent Journal of Infectious Diseases observed how influenza-like...

Tip of the week: Check out the top ten posts of 2009

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 1, January 6, 2010

    After its first full year on the Web, OSHA Healthcare Advisor has posted nearly 500 blog entries...

The roles and responsibilities of a new IP

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 1, January 1, 2010

    Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from the Infection Prevention Handbook, written by...

Optimal instrument cleaning between patients

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 52, December 30, 2009

    Healthcare workers responsible for instrument disinfection and sterilization are under pressure to...

Final report reveals details of Vegas hepatitis C outbreak

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 52, December 30, 2009

    Last week the CDC and the Nevada State Health Division Bureau of Licensure released a detailed...

H1N1 cases dip, report indicates caps remain in preparedness

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 51, December 23, 2009

    The number of states with widespread H1N1 influenza cases dropped to 11, along with a declining...

Tip of the week: Create your own hand hygiene video for AORN

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 51, December 23, 2009

    If you enjoy the creativity of producing your own training videos, or if you’ve created an...

Patients can affect clinician hand hygiene compliance

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 50, December 16, 2009

    A recent study released by the CDC and Premier healthcare alliance, in collaboration with Catholic...

Health agencies chime in on endoscope reprocessing

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 48, December 2, 2009

    Endoscopy clinics have had a rough past couple of years when it comes to reprocessing procedures...

NIOSH blog offers respirator Q&A

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 48, December 2, 2009

    A previously published NIOSH blog post is one of the most informational and authoritative resources...

Educating visitors about isolation precautions

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 12, December 1, 2009

    With Joint Commission standards requiring patient and visitor education on HAIs, coupled with the...

OSHA releases H1N1 enforcement directive

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 47, November 25, 2009

    It’s a document we were all expecting at one point or another, but OSHA has officially...

Surviving a CMS survey at your ASC

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 47, November 25, 2009

    With new CMS IC regulations for ambulatory surgery centers (ASC), and millions of dollars going to...

Wall Street Journal looks at 10 steps to preventing infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 46, November 18, 2009

    Part of a Wall Street Journal Health Care report released late last month includes a breakdown of...

IC organizations urge a change in respiratory protection guidelines

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 45, November 11, 2009

    Three leading IC organizations, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, the Infectious...

Even athletes have to follow IC protocol

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 45, November 11, 2009

    Even multi-millionaire athletes, and recent World Series champions, aren’t exempt from flu...

Tip of the week: OSHA site offers H1N1 guidance

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 45, November 11, 2009

    OSHA has released H1N1 guidance for workers and employers, including fact sheets regarding...

More confusion, doubt on N95 protection from H1N1

  • OSHA Healthcare Connection, Issue 45, November 10, 2009

    The authors of a key study on N95 respirator use for H1N1 influenza protection have retracted their...

Demand for H1N1 shots shuts down flu hotline

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 44, November 4, 2009

    Before flu season came into full effect, many medical facilities established telephone hotlines to...

N95 protection findings retracted

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 44, November 4, 2009

    A surprising endnote at the annual meeting of the Infection Diseases Society of America (IDSA) came...

Hand hygiene fun and games

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 42, October 28, 2009

    With Joint Commission standards focusing intently on increased hand hygiene compliance, many...

Treat suspected patients with antivirals ASAP

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 42, October 21, 2009

    The CDC released recommendations Sunday advising clinicians to initiate early antiviral treatment...

Syracuse nursing home cited for IC deficiencies, again

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 41, October 14, 2009

    Three years after being named one of the nation’s worst-performing nursing homes by the New...

Tip of the week: Go back to basics with flu prevention

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 41, October 14, 2009

    An op-ed article published on October 1 issue on the Journal of the American Medical Association...

Florida nurse suspended after reusing IV supplies

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 40, October 7, 2009

    Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL has suspended a nurse for allegedly reusing...

H1N1 rap gives winning advice

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 39, September 30, 2009

    Not all H1N1 training needs to be dry or monotonous. In fact, ten individuals have found ways to...

Finding a middle ground on N95 respirators

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 39, September 30, 2009

    So much of H1N1 preparation news has focused on how hospitals will cope with the pandemic that it...

Tip of the week: Scheduling MRSA patients in the OR

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 38, September 23, 2009

    When it comes to known MRSA patients in the OR, standard precautions and contact precautions are...

Is hand washing all it's cracked up to be?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 38, September 23, 2009

    Despite urging from the CDC that consistent hand hygiene is the best way to prevent transmission of...

AHA to CDC: Let’s use surgical masks for some; N95s for others for swine flu

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 38, September 23, 2009

    The American Hospital Association (AHA) is lobbying the CDC to change the current guidance on the...

Tip of the week: IOM recommends N95 respirators

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 36, September 9, 2009

    The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has issued a report recommending the use of N95 respirators for...

Steam sterilization is on Joint Commission’s radar

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 9, September 1, 2009

    After working with multiple professional and trade organizations on the common and proper use of...

H1N1 could infect half of the United States

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 34, August 26, 2009

    A presidential panel estimates H1N1 (swine flu) could infect half of the U.S. population this...

Tip of the week: Consult federal H1N1 planning guidelines

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 34, August 26, 2009

    Shot, hand, and home are the keywords of the federal guidelines for employer preparation for the...

HHS meetings focus on HAI prevention

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 33, August 19, 2009

    In an effort to bring HAI prevention efforts to the forefront of healthcare in the United States...

IOM weighs evidence on respirators for H1N1 protection

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 33, August 19, 2009

    The debate continues—whether healthcare workers need to wear respirators, most likely N95s...

APIC takes strong stance on safe injection practices

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 12, 2009

    On July 30, APIC published a position paper promoting safe injection practices as the absolute...

Tip of the week: Clean equipment between all patients

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 12, 2009

    In many outpatient settings it is standard procedure to routinely decontaminate procedure chairs...

Tip of the week: Respiratory protection from H1N1

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 31, August 5, 2009

    Recently there has been some debate about whether N95 masks are recommended to protect healthcare...

Examining The Joint Commission's position on sterilization

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 30, July 29, 2009

    A recent Joint Commission position statement on sterilization procedures has created a buzz in some...

Don't let your dog give you MRSA

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 26, July 1, 2009

    A new study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal says that MRSA infections can be...

Tip of the week: Following CMS guidelines

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 26, July 1, 2009

    It’s been just over a month since CMS initiated its new Conditions for Coverage for...

N95 fit testing during a pandemic

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 7, July 1, 2009

    When the novel influenza A H1N1 virus, or swine flu, hit Mexico and subsequently the United States...

Tip of the week: SHEA nixes respirator use for protection from novel and seasonal flu

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 24, June 17, 2009

    Epidemiologists who first advised respirator use for the current flu pandemic now say it is not...

Oncologists express concern about infections in cancer patients

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 22, June 3, 2009

    On May 27, a survey released by Amgen revealed that 92% of oncologists believe it’s important...

Can hand sanitizers protect against specific viruses?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 22, June 3, 2009

    Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a proven method of hand hygiene and infection prevention, but...

CDC guidance for CRKP

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 21, May 27, 2009

    Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is...

The great scrubs debate

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 20, May 20, 2009

    An ongoing debate in the infection control community has been whether or not healthcare...

Tip of the Week: Avoid swine flu parties

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 20, May 20, 2009

    No, you didn’t read that incorrectly. Despite your double-take, this is a legitimate...

Swine flu fears shift to fall

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 19, May 13, 2009

    Although influenza A H1N1 outbreaks continue to spread, totaling 3,009 cases in the United States...

Threat of H1N1 looks mild

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 18, May 6, 2009

    After a couple whirlwind weeks of preparing for a possible outbreak of influenza A (H1N1), swine...

Swine flu updates

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 17, April 29, 2009

    In a matter of days, what began as a few suspected cases of swine flu in Mexico has elevated to...

IC deficiencies in California medical center

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 17, April 29, 2009

    The Southwest Healthcare System in Wildomar, CA, could lose Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement in...

Miami health officials stumped over meningitis

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 17, April 29, 2009

    A rare and virulent strain of meningitis has infected 12 people and killed four in South Florida...

Tip of the week: Look for increased food safety efforts

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 15, April 15, 2009

    Incidences of foodborne illnesses caused by contaminants such as Salmonella have remained steady...

Colonoscopies put veterans at risk

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 13, April 1, 2009

    A five-member team from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is investigating a Miami VA...

GAO report calls for continued leadership

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 12, March 25, 2009

    A March 2008 report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) called for more...

State health investigation reveals IC deficiencies

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 11, March 18, 2009

    More than a year ago, in February 2008, Las Vegas health officials advised roughly 50,000 city...

CDC warns against free antibiotics

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 10, March 11, 2009

    Retailers may have thought they were helping customers by giving away antibiotics for free, but...

Tip of the Week: Keep your dishwasher limited to dishes

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 9, March 4, 2009

    Occasionally, particularly in a physician’s office, staff members will use a dishwasher to...

CDC puts more money into HIV testing

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 5, February 4, 2009

    Since 2006, the CDC has recommended that all healthcare facilities routinely test Americans ages 13...

Tip of the week: Follow safe injection measures

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 3, January 21, 2009

    There’s been a lot in the news over the last few weeks regarding safe injection measures...

The CDC will get new leadership

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 2, January 14, 2009

    When he becomes president, Barack Obama will appoint a new head to two of the most important...

Advisory group recommends smokers get pneumonia vaccination

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 12, December 17, 2008

    Smokers, along with children and the elderly, should receive a pneumonia vaccination, according to...

When the economy takes a bite out of emergency preparedness

  • OSHA Healthcare Connection, Issue 50, December 16, 2008

    A report from Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF...

OSHA Hospital eTool focuses on MRSA

  • OSHA Healthcare Connection, Issue 50, December 16, 2008

    With medical facilities across the country becoming more concerned about MRSA infections, OSHA has...

Alaska hospital issues ultimatum: Get a flu shot or get out

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 11, December 10, 2008

    An Alaskan hospital has told all of its employees to get an influenza vaccination by December 31 or...

Compendium of strategies full of HAI prevention tips

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 12, December 1, 2008

    Five major organizations collaborated in October to create a compendium of strategies to prevent...

Many hospitals ignore CDC recommendation on HIV testing

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 9, November 26, 2008

    Two years ago, the CDC recommended routine HIV testing for everyone ages 13 to 64, whether or not...

CDC releases new disinfection and sterilization guideline

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 8, November 19, 2008

    ICPs will want to take a look at the CDC’s newly released guideline containing...

New regulations affect dialysis facilities

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 10, November 1, 2008

    If your hospital owns a dialysis clinic, you’ll need to ensure that it’s compliant with...

Stay vigilant: Pandemic influenza is more likely than ever

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 10, October 1, 2008

    Three years ago, pandemic influenza was a hot topic. Many facilities were focused on preparing for...