Infection Control

Infection Control Articles by Topic: Surveillance

Setting, achieving, and evaluating goals for your infection control program

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

    Most infection control (IC) professionals can recite their No. 1 goal in their sleep: zero...

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...

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...

Transporting blood and urine samples

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

    Q: Do blood and urine samples need to be in a biohazard bag when transported either by hand, on 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...

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...

Inflatable door prevents airborne infections

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

    An inflatable door used to prevent the risk of airborne infections is helping staff at the Royal...

When it comes to the airborne flu virus, size matters

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

    The risk of airborne infections from the influenza A virus depends on size. A study found that the...

Hepatitis B outbreak in assisted living facility caused by unsafe blood monitoring device use

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 46, November 17, 2010

    A Hepatitis B outbreak in early October that killed five residents at a Mount Olive, NC, assisted...

MRSA rates drop, reasons unclear

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 33, August 18, 2010

    Research findings released in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicate MRSA...

New superbug seen as a global problem

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 33, August 18, 2010

    A study published in the August 11 issue of The Lancet Infectious Disease shows prevalence of a new...

Survey says CRBSIs still a problem

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

    A recent survey released by APIC during its annual conference found that half of infection...

Inspection reports shows IC lapses in Illinois

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

    More than 75% of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the state of Illinois were found to have...

Quick response stops dangerous outbreak in Dallas

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

    When Methodist Dallas Medical Center found a cluster of Acinetobacter baumannii in 2009, staff...

CMS adds outpatient facilities to performance measures

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

    CMS continues to place importance on the outpatient sector of healthcare. Last week the regulator...

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...

Computerized monitoring systems reduce infections

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

    A study presented at the 37th Annual Conference and International Meeting of the APIC indicates...

Identifying IC risks within Environment of Care standards

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

    After reading this article, you will be able to:  Explain how Environment of Care...

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...

California hospital hit with major fine for ATD violation

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

    The Department of Industrial Relations? (DIR) Division of Occupational Safety and Health, better...

"All or none" is the best approach for preventing post-op infections

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

    A study recently published in the July 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical...

Are you concerned about Joint Commission modifications?

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

    Last week The Joint Commission announced modifications to its deemed status survey for ASCs...

Expert Q&A offers IC guidance for ASCs

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 22, June 2, 2010

    An April 21 HCPro webcast, “Infection Prevention Survey Strategies for ASCs: Comply with CMS...

IC worksheet included in Joint Commission deemed status modifications for ASCs

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 22, June 2, 2010

    The Joint Commission announced that it has modified its deemed status survey for ambulatory surgery...

Vaccination records: Asking isn't enough

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

    Compliance with hepatitis B vaccination provisions are some of the stickier issues with...

Unsafe injection practices the subject of a nationwide survey

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

    Premier Safety Institute is conducting a nationwide survey of healthcare facilities concerning...

Chicago hospitals address unusually high infection rates

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

    Nine hospitals in the greater Chicago area were flagged for unusually high central line bloodstream...

Weigh in on OSHA's consideration of an infectious disease standard

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

    As reported last week, OSHA is considering an infectious disease standard, and it looks as if there...

SSI bundle reduces post-cesarean sections infections by 84%

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

    Infection prevention bundles have been used more frequently in healthcare facilities, particularly...

Ensuring appropriate resources in your facility

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

    Essentially, a Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO)surveyor will look at the overall health of your IC...

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...

Briefings on Infection Control, May 2010

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

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

AHRQ reports HAI rates remain problematic

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

    The annual National Healthcare Quality Report compiled by the Agency for Healthcare Research and...

Tip of the week: Get expert advice on CMS compliance

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

    Today at 1 p.m. EST, CMS and AAAHC surveyor Dawn McLane, and IC consultant Libby Chinnes will team...

Tip of the Week: New Steris System 1 alternative gains FDA approval

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

    For healthcare facilities affected when the Steris System 1 (SS1) processor came under federal fire...

Top three IC struggles in ASCs, according to a surveyor

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 14, April 7, 2010

    Since the new CMS Conditions for Coverage, ASCs have been forced to look harder at the infection...

Have a great IC policy, checklist, or tool? Enter our contest to win a free product!

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 14, April 7, 2010

    Take this opportunity to share your expertise and be recognized by your peers in the...

Virginia hospital celebrates five years with no VAP events

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

    Sentara Williamsburg (VA) Regional Medical Center (SWRMC) marked five years without a case of...

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...

Briefings on Infection Control, April 2010

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

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

CMS inspections show IC lapses in ASCs

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

    A recent report presented at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated...

Losing your job over hand hygiene

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

    You’ve probably seen a range of techniques to improve hand hygiene compliance, but none as...

New campaign highlights ASC awareness

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

    The Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee (ASCAC) launched a new campaign his week for...

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...

Study shows John Hopkins' vaccination rates twice the national average

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 7, February 17, 2010

    A new study published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology shows...

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...

New law forces New Jersey ACSs to report infections

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

    A new and last-minute New Jersey state law requires ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) to begin...

Tip of the week: Track MRSA within your facility

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

    Researchers have created a new genomic tool with the ability to precisely track the spread of MRSA...

IC experts argue against new Maine law requiring MRSA screening

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 3, January 20, 2010

    A new law in Maine went into effect last week that requires all hospitals in the state to screen...

Pennsylvania issues first HAI report

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 3, January 20, 2010

    Pennsylvania hospitals reported more than 13,000 HAIs in the second half of 2008, according to a...

Study looks at parenteral nutrition and its effect on bloodstream infections

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

    Typically when IPs evaluate bloodstream infection rates, their initial thoughts turn to central...

Briefings on Infection Control, January 2010

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

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

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...

AAAHC releases 2010 revisions

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

    On Friday the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) released its 2010...

Briefings on Infection Control, December 2009

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

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

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...

HHS allocates $9 million for ASC surveys

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

    Last week Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that...

Infection prevention measurements added to Minnesota quality site

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

    The Minnesota Hospital Association has added three new infection prevention measurements to its...

Briefings on Infection Control, November 2009

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 11, November 1, 2009

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

CMS clarifies flash sterilization requirements

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

    Last week CMS clarified its position on flash sterilization in ambulatory surgery centers...

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...

Joint Commission revises IC standards and ASC surveys

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

    Last week the Joint Commission released official changes to the 2010 National Patient Safety Goals...

Affecting change in Nevada’s IC regulations

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 10, October 1, 2009

    Everyone needs a wake-up call now and then. For some, it’s reprimand from your boss. For...

Briefings on Infection Control, October 2009

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 10, October 1, 2009

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

Hepatitis cases tied to NJ doctor's office

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 37, September 16, 2009

    New Jersey state health officials have found 29 positive cases of hepatitis B linked to a New...

MD hospitals linked to track flu virus

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 35, September 2, 2009

    State officials announced last week that all Maryland hospitals will be linked in a computerized...

Briefings on Infection Control September 2009

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

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

Infection prevention faces budget cuts, higher expectations

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

    There isn’t a business in the United States that hasn’t felt the brunt of the recession...

CMS awards funds for state surveys

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

    Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services...

IC deficiencies elicit a close look at the MRI suite

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 8, August 1, 2009

    For years, many MRI suites in hospitals and outpatient facilities have operated without proper IC...

Briefings on Infection Control July 2009

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

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

Ambulatory surgery centers face IC crackdown

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

    On May 18, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began enforcing the new...

Miami Children's Hospital faces contaminated water

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

    A state agency is monitoring Miami Children’s Hospital after a county report blamed a deadly...

A breathalyzer for your hands

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 23, June 10, 2009

    New infection control technology developed by University of Florida College of Medicine...

APIC supports automated surveillance technology

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 23, June 10, 2009

    On June 3, APIC announced its support for the use of automated surveillance technologies in the...

Nevada passes new IC laws, rejects others

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

    Five new infection control measures for outpatient clinics were passed last week by Nevada...

New antibiotic organism elicits CDC recommendations

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 6, June 1, 2009

    Although much of the focus of MDROs has been on MRSA, a relatively new, and potentially more...

Briefings on Infection Control, June 2009

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 6, June 1, 2009

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

South Dakota urology clinic cited for IC deficiencies

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

    Siouxland Urology Center in Dakota Dunes, SD may have exposed more than 5,000 patients to hepatitis...

Briefings on Infection Control May 2009

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 5, May 1, 2009

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

Greening your hospital without sacrificing IC

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 5, May 1, 2009

    It’s not uncommon for IPs to raise a caution flag when they hear the words “going...

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...

Tip of the Week: Ensure hand hygiene compliance

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 16, April 22, 2009

    On April 14, The Joint Commission released a free monograph intended to help healthcare...

Chicago and Boston hospitals face infection scares

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

    Hundreds of patients were potentially exposed to TB at three Chicago hospitals when a Northwestern...

New Jersey doctor blamed for outbreak

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 14, April 8, 2009

    State regulators have temporarily suspended the medical license of Parvez Dara, MD, an oncologist...

Briefings on Infection Control April 2009

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 4, April 1, 2009

    Briefings on Infection Control is a 12 page monthly newsletter that provides insight and advice for...

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...

Preventing disease transmission is focus of IC.02.03.01

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 3, March 1, 2009

    Under Joint Commission standard IC.02.03.01, an organization must work to prevent the transmission...

Eight tips to help you conduct a thorough outbreak investigation

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 3, March 1, 2009

    Tracking down the source of an infectious disease outbreak is the stuff television dramas are made...

Florida hospital named in infection control lawsuit

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 6, February 11, 2009

    Last week, OSHA Healthcare Advisor posted news about a report from the Associated Press regarding a...

Construction and renovation could mean additional IC responsibilities

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

    In the healthcare setting, there are a tremendous amount of factors to consider during construction...

New kid on the block: DNV accreditation offers choice

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 2, February 1, 2009

    In September 2008, an independent foundation that began by inspecting and evaluating Norwegian...

This patient rights standard has implications for IC

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 2, February 1, 2009

    A new 2009 Joint Commission standard requires hospitals to tell patients that the facility may need...

Tennessee hospital reduces MRSA in long-term care patients

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 2, February 1, 2009

    At Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, TN, a team effort reduced MRSA rates among patients...

Three hospitals share their award-winning infection prevention strategies

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 2, February 1, 2009

    Three of the five Joint Commission 2008 Ernest A. Codman Awards were bestowed on hospitals whose IC...

TB patient sentenced to 30 days of isolation

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 4, January 28, 2009

    There are plenty of airborne precautions for staff to follow when a tuberculosis (TB) patient...

CDC finds TB and substance abuse closely linked in U.S. patients

  • Infection Control Weekly Monitor, Issue 4, January 28, 2009

    A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that about a fifth of...

Health officials say throw out salmonella-linked peanut butter

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

    Hospitals and nursing homes are among those institutions being urged to throw out containers of a...

Tip of the week: Get more sleep to resist colds

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

    Be sure you are getting enough sleep to protect your health. People who get less than seven hours...

New Jersey law on flu vaccinations goes into effect

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

    New Jersey is the first state in the nation to require flu vaccinations for young school children...

IC.01.03.01, assessing risk is a starting point

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 1, January 1, 2009

    When a Joint Commission surveyor comes into your IC department, the first thing he or she will...

IC.01.02.01, needed resources for your IC program

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

    Under Joint Commission standard IC.9.10, soon to become IC.01.02.01 in January after the...

Boston attempts to track flu vaccinations

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

    Beginning last week, Boston became one of the first cities in the country to implement a system...

Joint Commission wants the right person in charge

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

    Under the current Joint Commission standard IC.7.10, hospitals must identify a person or persons to...

Crisis management starts at home but doesn't end there

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 9, September 1, 2008

    The Joint Commission's surveyors may be tough, but they're nothing compared with a natural...

Intensive, expensive, and, in some cases, controversial

  • Briefings on Infection Control, Issue 9, September 1, 2008

    The Joint Commission has announced its 2009 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG), and they include...