Infection Control

Infection Control Articles by Topic: Healthcare Acquired Infections

Editor's choice: CMS policy may not impact infection rates

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 42, October 17, 2012

    The policy to reduce payments for preventable hospital-acquired conditions, introduced by the...

Hospital-acquired infections undercounted in California

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 35, August 29, 2012

    California officials have uncovered problems in reporting infection control data that highlights...

Editor’s choice: Burnout: A preventable occurrence or a likely outcome?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 35, August 29, 2012

    If you work in healthcare, it's highly likely that you have worked with at least one colleague who...

Editor’s choice: HHS announces awards to prevent and respond to infectious diseases

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 34, August 22, 2012

    Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that nearly $50 million...

Another Exeter patient diagnosed with hepatitis C

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

    The hepatitis C outbreak at Exeter (N.H.) hospital claimed another victim when officials from the...

Dukal recalls potentially contaminated Benzalkonium chloride antiseptic wipes

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 8, 2012

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release last week that Dukal is...

Editor’s choice: The impact of unnecessary procedures on quality and patient safety

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 32, August 8, 2012

    All medical procedures come with some degree of risk, and one doesn't need to look very far to...

Reduce nurse burnout to decrease hospital-acquired infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 31, August 1, 2012

    A new study from the University of Pennsylvania has found that if hospitals in the state reduced...

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...

Oregon's hospitals report HAI prevention success

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

    The fight against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) by Oregon hospitals has yielded...

Hospital Legionella risk management tool flawed

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 27, July 4, 2012

    A tool that many hospitals use to assess the risk of Legionella in facilities may give a false...

Officials investigate hepatitis C outbreak in N.H.

  • Patient Safety Monitor Insider, Issue 24, June 13, 2012

    Nine patients and one hospital employee in New Hampshire have now been linked to an outbreak of...

Editor's choice: Test your nursing history IQ and win a free webcast on preventing CAUTIs!

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

    There is still time to get in on HCPro's Nurses Week celebration free webcast contest through a fun...

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...

Editor's choice: CAUTIs still a problem

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

    Readers of OSHA Healthcare Connection will find HCPro’s May 30 webcast on CAUTIs...

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...

FDA: Bacteria found in ultrasound transmission gel poses risk of infection

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 17, April 25, 2012

    The FDA is warning healthcare facilities that some lots of Other-Sonic Generic Ultrasound...

Hand in hand in beating C. diff

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 17, April 25, 2012

    Clostridium difficile posed a threat across all medical facilities, not just hospital settings. But...

Mum’s the word for patients and hand washing

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 15, April 11, 2012

    Physician, wash thy hands. That's something patients are still reluctant to express before...

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...

Board certification goes hand in hand with lower MRSA rates

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 12, March 21, 2012

    Acute care hospitals have lower rates of MRSA bloodstream infections when having a board certified...

CDC: ’C. difficile’ poses threats across all medical facilities

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 11, March 14, 2012

    Infections from Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), a bacteria that causes diarrhea and other...

Partnering for clean spaces and healthy patients

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 93, October 5, 2011

    Strengthening the relationship between infection prevention and environmental services to improve...

HAI rates and costs dropping in California

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 88, August 31, 2011

    In California a three-year campaign to cut healthcare-associated infections is beginning to payoff...

Bill proposes jail time for poor infection control practices

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 88, August 31, 2011

    A bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) would allow fines and imprisonment for Veterans...

Bill proposes jail time for poor infection control practices

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 88, August 31, 2011

    A bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) would allow fines and imprisonment for Veterans...

Editor’s Choice: A cut too deep--Environmental staff and HAI risks

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 88, August 31, 2011

    Cutting environmental staff and budgets may be penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to the...

Study examines stethoscopes vs. hands as contamination source

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

    Using gloves as a precaution against contamination during a physical exam may be offset by your...

Study: One in three people affected by healthcare-associated infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 84, August 3, 2011

    A survey revealed that 34% of U.S. adults have, or know someone who has, acquired an infection...

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...

Study: MRSA lower in coffee and tea drinkers

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

    Perhaps you should include Starbucks as a resource for future infection prevention plans.

Editor’s choice: Sample environmental cleaning checklist

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

    It is imperative that infection control departments partner with environmental services to ensure...

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...

Stakeholders to convene on infectious disease standard

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 81, July 13, 2011

    OSHA published notice of two stakeholder meetings focusing on a infectious disease standard.

Airborne influenza and the effect of indoor humidity

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 81, July 13, 2011

    Influenza A virus inactivation rate and respiratory droplet size is highly affected by the humidity...

Study: Bedpans overlooked as infection source

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 81, July 13, 2011

    Unlike in the U.S., hospitals in the Netherlands take the bedpan seriously.

Joint Commission: Infection control worksheet not just for ASCs

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 81, July 13, 2011

    The CMS infection control worksheet can be a valuable educational tool for various types of...

Editor’s choice: Tapping into electronic faucet risks

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 81, July 13, 2011

    The July issue of Briefings on Infection Control takes a close look at the study sparking a debate...

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...

Possible tuberculosis exposure in Georgia hospital

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 75, June 1, 2011

    A healthcare worker at a Georgia hospital may have exposed patients and staff members to...

New National Patient Safety Goal focuses on CAUTI prevention

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 75, June 1, 2011

    The Joint Commission has released a new 2012 National Patient Safety Goal concerning...

Editor’s Choice: Contact Precautions Checklist

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 75, June 1, 2011

    Use this tool to assess the contact precautions policy for your facility.

Editor’s Choice: Briefings on Infection Control- Rise in Pertussis rates call for vaccination efforts

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

    The May issue of Briefings on Infection Control focuses on pertussis, also known as whooping cough...

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...

Interactive online program helps prevent HAIs

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

    An online virtual training program called Partnering to Heal: Teaming-Up Against...

New guidelines for reprocessing gastrointestinal endoscopes

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

    Guidelines for properly reprocessing flexible gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopes have been updated...

Ask the expert: What, no gloves needed in blood donation centers?

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

    Q: A sign on the wall of a blood bank says, “Gloves are not required when drawing blood. If...

Infection control violations found in 15% of nursing homes

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 72, May 11, 2011

    A study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Infection Control found that 15% of...

FDA plans to improve design and instructions for reusable medical devices

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 72, May 11, 2011

    The FDA has announced steps to decrease risk of bacterial exposure from reusable medical devices...

Editor’s choice: Guidelines to help reduce the spread of MRSA

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 72, May 11, 2011

    The May issue of Briefings on Infection Control discusses preventing MRSA in healthcare settings...

Study finds hospitals unprepared for measles outbreak

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 71, May 4, 2011

    A large outbreak of measles in Tuscon, AZ, prompted a study that found hospitals unprepared in the...

Weekly poll: "Apping" away at work

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 71, May 4, 2011

    A smartphone application has hit hospitals to monitor infection control compliance. How common is...

Study finds UV powder surveillance improves sanitation

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 70, April 27, 2011

    A study published in the March Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Journal found that...

HAIs part of $1 billion patient safety initiative

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 69, April 20, 2011

    A $1 billion investment by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to reduce...

MRSA infection rates drop at VA hospitals after four-year effort

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 69, April 20, 2011

    A study found a 62% decrease in MRSA infections in intensive care units (ICU) at Veterans Affairs...

Weekly Poll: Would your facility pass an infection control inspection?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 69, April 20, 2011

    A report released by the New Jersey Department of Health found a series of violations, including...

New CDC guidelines on bloodstream infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 67, April 6, 2011

    The CDC has updated its 2002 bloodstream infection guidelines. The new guidelines address topics...

Legionella bacteria more common in hands-free faucets

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 67, April 6, 2011

    A study conducted by researchers at The Johns Hopkins Hospital has found that bacteria is more...

Update in contaminated IV bag deaths

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 67, April 6, 2011

    A pharmacy based in Birmingham, AL, has been linked to the deaths of nine patients from...

CDC updates about infected prep pads

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 66, March 30, 2011

    After two incidents in Colorado hospitals involving Bacillus cereus infected alcohol prep pads, the...

Proposed NY bill will penalize medical professionals for infectious disease exposure

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 65, March 23, 2011

    A bill introduced in the New York legislature may make it a felony for medical personnel who...

Improper endoscope sterilization leads to lawsuit

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 65, March 23, 2011

    A New Orleans hospital was dealt a lawsuit after endoscopes used for procedures such as a...

Docs dinged for dirty practices

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 65, March 23, 2011

    Two doctors are at fault for putting patients at risk for potential disease exposure. A nephrology...

Weekly Poll: Should healthcare workers be penalized for infectious disease exposures?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 65, March 23, 2011

    Following a hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV exposure at a New York hospital, a bill introduced...

Weekly Poll: Healthcare workers and chemical hazards

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 64, March 16, 2011

    A survey is being conducted by NIOSH on healthcare workers’ exposure to chemical agents. How...

Bloodstream infection rate down since 2001

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 63, March 9, 2011

    A new CDC report found that central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) decreased 58...

Bloodstream infection rate down since 2001

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 63, March 9, 2011

    A new CDC report found that central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) decreased 58...

Healthcare-associated infections linked to patient readmission in PA

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 62, March 2, 2011

    A report released February 25 found that residents of Pennsylvania who contracted an infection...

Killing bacteria will soon be as easy as flipping a switch

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

    Staff at Thomas Memorial Hospital in Charleston, SC, are learning how to operate a 3-foot tall...

No need to wash, dry, or spin cycle those lab coats

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 60, February 16, 2011

    What’s the difference between a long sleeve lab coat that hasn’t been washed for days...

Editor’s Choice: Ask the Expert: Face protection for IV starts

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

    Q: Is eye protection the standard for starting IVs in a surgery center? I know we have to use...

New online resource offers information on CLABSIs

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 58, February 2, 2011

    A website launched by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology...

California hospitals strive to improve infection rates

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 57, January 26, 2011

    One may be the loneliest number, but zero is the greatest number. All 42 elevators inside...

And your new ICU roommate is?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 56, January 19, 2011

    No one. A study done by a research team from the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in...

New law requires California hospitals to display infection rates

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

    California will introduce Nile’s Law on January 3, 2011, which requires state hospitals to...

Editor's Choice: Suggested work restrictions for employees

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 52, December 22, 2010

    Healthcare workers have to be cautious about not transmitting infections that they have to...

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...

Modern day Inspector Gadget inspects ICU for infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 50, December 15, 2010

    Bright yellow gowns and purple gloves are the new fashion statement at the University of Maryland...

Weekly Poll: Will we see less HAI's in the future?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 50, December 15, 2010

    Healthcare associated infections (HAI’s) may be prevented and reduced in ten years as part of...

Rhode Island hospitals seeing a decrease in infection rates

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 49, December 8, 2010

    Rhode Island hospitals have been in the news lately after they were fined for multiple surgical...

Unsafe injection practices are still occurring in healthcare settings

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 49, December 8, 2010

    Are unsafe injection practices still happening in your healthcare facility?

Weekly Poll: So you’ve witnessed an unsafe injection

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 49, December 8, 2010

    If you as a patient or staff member saw a healthcare professional reusing a syringe or vial, how...

Stomach bug spreads quickly through Chicago nursing homes

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 48, December 1, 2010

    Norovirus, the viral infection that causes nausea, fever, and diarrhea has infected 129 residents...

Inflammatory bowel disease increases risks in patients

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 48, December 1, 2010

    A study published in the November Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that people with...

Workers infected by meningitis after infection control practices were overlooked

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 48, December 1, 2010

    A police officer and healthcare worker were hospitalized after a lack of communication and...

Weekly Poll: Hospital waiting room bans magazines to avoid infections

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 47, November 24, 2010

    A Toronto hospital banned magazines from the waiting room to avoid infectious diseases. Should...

Study: Elderly patients inappropriately receive urinary catheters

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 44, November 3, 2010

    A new study in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control found that elderly...

New 'superbug' found in Chicago healthcare facilities

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 43, October 27, 2010

    Patients in 37 Chicago healthcare facilities have been infected with a possibly lethal superbug...

Four dead after Hepatitis B outbreak in assisted living facility

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 43, October 27, 2010

    An outbreak of Hepatitis B recently led to four deaths in a North Carolina assisted living facility.

Weekly Poll: What if the bedbugs were biting in your facility?

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 43, October 27, 2010

    How does your facility handle spread of bedbugs and are you worried about patient safety and...

Reducing antibiotic resistance

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 36, September 8, 2010

    A study published in the latest issue of BMC Infectious Diseases indicates that using second-line...

Surgical checklist reduces deaths

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

    A 19-item safety checklist used by surgical teams does what it is intended: reduces complications...

Need for increased IC measures in ambulatory care settings cited

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 1, January 7, 2009

    Unsafe injection practices were responsible for 33 outbreaks of hepatitis B (HBV) or C (HBC) virus...

Tip of the week: Double check disinfection machines for endoscopes

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 1, January 7, 2009

    A Las Vegas outpatient surgery center is notifying patients that time settings on machines used to...

Scotland's healthcare workers have new uniforms and dress code

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 13, December 24, 2008

    Soon physicians in Scotland’s hospitals won’t be wearing the traditional white coat...

European hospitals also fight HAIs

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

    U.S. hospitals are not alone in their battle to prevent healthcare-acquired conditions.

Tip of the week: Pay attention to sink design and placement

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

    The design and placement of handwashing sinks in the rooms of transplant patients at Toronto...

Hospital infection lawsuits on the rise

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 10, December 3, 2008

    Medical malpractice lawsuits filed over infections acquired by patients in hospitals are increasing...

The new CMS payment policy might be more bark than bite with regard to SSIs

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 11, November 1, 2008

    If a patient at your facility contracts a surgical site infection (SSI), your facility might still...