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Infection Control Monitor

Each week, Infection Control Monitor will provide important information to help health care facilities improve their infection control efforts. With this resource, facilities can catch up on the latest infection control news and learn valuable tips on keeping their facilities safe.

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Infection Control Monitor

Issue 24, June 13, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

Issue 27, July 8, 2005

• Scientists unlock mystery to Nipah virus

  U.S. scientists believe they have decoded the deadly Nipah virus and hope to use their findings to...

Issue 50, December 23, 2005

• Two bird flu patients resistant to antiviral drug

  According to the New York Times, two patients who died from bird flu in Vietnam had developed a...

• China gives bird flu virus strains to WHO

  According to the Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC...

Issue 49, December 16, 2005

• FDA acts to protect public from fraudulent avian flu therapies

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to nine companies marketing bogus...

• Study: Organizational approach works against MRSA

  A recent study illustrated how an organizational behavior management approach can improve the...

Issue 48, December 12, 2005

• China Reports Fifth Human Case of Bird Flu

  A poultry worker in northeast China has tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu this week...

• U.S. planning for worst-case scenario

  The United States is preparing a plan for a worst-case scenario should bird flu cause a human...

Issue 47, December 2, 2005

• Romania reports new cases of bird flu

  According to Reuters, Romania has detected new cases of bird flu in a remote village in the Danube...

• Abortion pill users died of infection

  Federal scientists are investigating the sudden deaths of four young, healthy California women who...

Issue 46, November 18, 2005

• China confirms three human cases of bird flu, two deaths

  The Chinese government confirmed the country's first three human cases of bird flu late Wednesday...

• Roche teams with Gilead to produce more Tamiflu

  As anticipated, Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche has agreed to share control of production and...

Issue 45, November 11, 2005

• CDC will consider requests to borrow 1918 virus samples

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will consider releasing samples of the 1918...

• Family of woman who died from staph infection outraged at surgeon, hospital

  The family of a woman who may have died from a staph infection that her surgeon transmitted to her...

Issue 44, November 4, 2005

• Bush announces $7.1 billion plan to fight bird flu

  President Bush unveiled a $7.1 billion plan on Tuesday to provide early detection, containment...

• IDSA responds to Bush's bird flu plan

  The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) strongly supports President Bush's domestic and...

Issue 43, October 28, 2005

• ACIP recommends hepatitis A shot for youngsters, pertussis shot for adults

  A panel advising the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says hepatitis A shots should...

• Roche halts shipments of Tamiflu

  A drug manufacturer has temporarily halted shipments of Tamiflu to ensure adequate supplies will be...

Issue 42, October 21, 2005

• UN officials fear East Africa will be next bird flu target

  As bird flu surges into the Balkan region of Eastern Europe, United Nations officials recently...

• Expert: Infectious diseases outbreaks a major concern following hurricanes

  Infectious diseases such as chicken pox, gastroenteritis, scabies, and influenza may spread quickly...

Issue 41, October 14, 2005

• Bird flu: Turkey next in its path

  The European Union (EU) says the bird flu that is currently decimating poultry stocks in Turkey is...

• Experts: U.S. needs top official to head influenza preparedness initiative

  Health experts say the United States needs a top official to serve as the head of the bird flu...

Issue 40, October 7, 2005

• Study: 1918 influenza outbreak was bird flu

  The 1918 influenza outbreak, which killed 50 million people, was a bird flu that originally jumped...

• U.S. health leader: World is unprepared for bird flu pandemic

  The nation's top health official told CBS's "The Early Show" that the world is not prepared to...

Issue 39, September 30, 2005

• Indonesia: More than 50 suspected cases of bird flu

  Embattled Indonesian health officials say they are now facing more than 50 suspected cases of bird...

• EEE claims another victim in New Hampshire

  Another person in New Hampshire has contracted Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), bringing the...

Issue 38, September 23, 2005

• CDC: Drug resistance an obstacle in influenza pandemic prevention

  Resistance to drugs that treat influenza has increased by 12%, according to a recent Centers for...

• Study: Flu shots not very effective for the elderly

  Flu shots are not as effective in the elderly as long believed, according to a recent study.

Issue 37, September 16, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• HHS to add to national stockpile of influenza vaccine, antiviral drugs

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a $100 million contract to...

Issue 36, September 9, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Aggressive MRSA program at PA hospital results in significant decrease of infect

  A culture-based active surveillance program can restrain the colonization of methicillin-resistant...

Issue 35, September 2, 2005 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Katrina: Aftermath is a public health nightmare

  West Nile virus, typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis may be the latest challenges facing the victims of...

Issue 34, August 26, 2005

• Experts: Bird flu lifespan in animals may increase danger to humans

  World health experts are worried that the spread of bird flu into Russia and Kazakhstan increases...

• Researchers: New protein discovery could lead to better treatment for viral infe

  A protein known to be vital to the immune system's ability to fight off viral infections has also...

Issue 33, August 19, 2005

• Study: Critical care units a magnet for adverse events

  Patients in critical care units face a significant risk for preventable adverse events and serious...

• Bird flu: Europe may halt spread of disease

  Europe is better equipped at containing bird flu than Southeast Asia and may serve as a successful...

Issue 32, August 12, 2005

• Lawsuits: KY hospital filthy, contaminated

  Ten former patients and the estate of an 11th are suing a Kentucky hospital, claiming they...

• NFPA amends ruling, specifically allows alcohol-based preps

  The National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Standards Council voted on July 29 to amend NFPA...

Issue 31, August 5, 2005

• APIC, CIDRAP unveil center to educate and raise awareness of infectious diseases

  Aiming to provide up-to-date expert information on infectious diseases from around the world, the...

• More imposter surveyors turn up in Seattle

  A Seattle hospital has informed JCAHO that two imposters posing as surveyors attempted to gain...

Issue 30, July 29, 2005

• Researchers say they've solved anthrax mystery

  Scientists at Harvard Medical School have uncovered a key step in the entry of anthrax toxin into...

• Scientists: A possible new treatment for hepatitis B

  By injecting molecules that interfere with the virus' replication, researchers from the British...

Issue 29, July 22, 2005

• Researchers: Bird flu virus survives in frozen duck meat

  Further displaying how difficult a disease bird flu is to contain and to kill, Japanese researchers...

• Construction on $150M flu vaccine factory begins in PA

  Sanofi-Pasteur began construction this week on a new $150 million Pennsylvania factory, a facility...

Issue 28, July 15, 2005

• PA first to report healthcare-acquired infection information

  In a landmark event earlier this week, Pennsylvania hospitals reported that 11,668 patients...

• Help us out by taking our MRSA survey!

  We need your help to determine how important information on controlling MRSA in wound care settings...

Issue 26, July 1, 2005

• In England, it's curtains for some hospital-acquired infections

  Disposable privacy curtains coated with a bactericidal are the newest weapons against...

• Study: Smokers have more trouble fighting off tuberculosis

  Current and ex-smokers are more susceptible to tuberculosis (TB) than people who have never smoked...

Issue 25, June 24, 2005

• FAO warns China to stop vaccinating animals

  The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) warns that vaccinating animals across...

• PA representative seeks infection data

  A Pennsylvania state representative is introducing a bill that would require all hospitals in the...

Issue 24, June 17, 2005

• Patients, staff face TB exposure from infected worker at MA hospitals

  Health officials at four Massachusetts hospitals are setting up free tuberculosis (TB) testing for...

• Avian and pandemic flu information available

  The Infectious Diseases Society of America has contracted with the Center for Infectious Disease...

Issue 23, June 10, 2005

• British microbiologist quits over hospital’s approach to C. difficile

  An infection control professional at a British hospital resigned last week over an employer's...

• Bird flu: Three more cases in Vietnam

  Health officials in Vietnam confirmed on Thursday that three more people contracted the avian bird...

Issue 22, June 3, 2005

• Study: MRSA better treated with Zyvox than vancomycin

  The antibiotic Zyvox is more effective at treating, and preventing the spread of...

• Infection control leaders to discuss avian flu, SARS at San Francisco conference

  Recognizing the immediate need to examine the fast spread of diseases such as SARS and avian flu...

Issue 21, May 27, 2005

• China: No more human cases of H5N1 infection

  Chinese health authorities say recent Internet reports of additional human deaths from H5N1...

• Experts: Global pandemic task force needed

  Many of the world's leaders in infectious disease research are calling for an immediate and...

Issue 20, May 20, 2005

• WHO: Bird flu becoming more infectious between humans

  The World Health Organization (WHO) believes the bird flu is becoming more capable of...

• RI approves hospital-acquired infection bill

  The Rhode Island Senate recently approved a bill adding hospital-acquired infections to the factors...

Issue 19, May 13, 2005

• Physician: Woman contracted meningitis from mosquito bite

  The physician of a Georgia woman who developed viral meningitis in April says a mosquito bite...

• Many U.S. hospitals join campaign to prevent hospital deaths

  Responding to pressure to report patient infection rates, many United States hospitals have joined...

Issue 18, May 6, 2005

• UK nurses develop MRSA treatment

  Two nurses in the UK recently developed a remarkably successful treatment for methicillin-resistant...

• FDA approves new pertussis vaccine

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week approved the first combination vaccine to boost...

Issue 17, April 29, 2005

• Study: Protein IKKa inhibits immune response to bacterial infections

  Researchers have identified a protein which is responsible for shutting down the immune response to...

• Hong Kong scientists develop solution to SARS

  A team of scientists in Hong Kong has discovered a new class of compounds that can effectively...

Issue 16, April 22, 2005

• CA company announces human testing for West Nile vaccine

  Vical Incorporated, a San Diego biopharmaceutical company, announced this week that initial human...

Issue 15, April 22, 2005

• Flesh-eating bacteria kills New York student

  A rare strain of flesh-eating bacteria killed a young female student from New York last week...

• CDC investigating Ohio company for distributing deadly flu virus

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating an Ohio-based life science...

• Study: Antimicrobial soaps have direct link to chloroform, cancer

  Excessive use of antimicrobial soaps as a hospital disinfectant may be exposing workers to high...

Issue 14, April 8, 2005

• Study: Alcohol gel most effective disinfectant

  Hospitals whose healthcare workers use alcohol gel to disinfect their hands have a lower risk of...

• Risk of SSI decreases after age 65

  The risk of surgical site infections (SSI) in patients increases each year until age 65, then...

Issue 13, April 1, 2005

• Researchers explore evolution of anthrax spores

  Scientists from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and three other institutions are...

• FDA puts new antibiotic on fast track

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed Theravance, Inc.'s, new antibiotic, Telavancin...

Issue 12, March 25, 2005

• CMS issues interim rule allowing alcohol-based handrubs in healthcare facilities

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued yesterday an interim final rule that will...

• Researchers to test bird flu vaccine on humans

  Hundreds of healthy adults in three United States cities will undergo testing of a vaccine against...

Issue 11, March 18, 2005

• Veteran's Administration patients at risk from improperly sterilized tools

  Patients at the Veteran's Administration (VA) San Diego Healthcare System in La Jolla may have been...

• JCAHO warns of fake surveyors in hospitals

  The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) warned hosptials by...

Issue 10, March 11, 2005

• WHO eyes more smallpox vaccine

  The World Health Organization (WHO) requested more smallpox vaccine last week as a precaution...

• Bird flu showing up in clusters in northern Vietnam

  Health experts expressed concern this week that new cases of the bird flu in northern Vietnam could...

Issue 9, March 4, 2005

• AORN seeks comment on recommendations for sterile field practices

  A committee of the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) is seeking public comment...

• HHS distributes $1.7 billion in HIV and AIDS grants

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is providing grants worth $1.7 billion to...

Issue 8, February 25, 2005

• Bird flu vaccine ready for testing

  The federal government is preparing to test bird flu vaccines as the threat of the virus spreading...

• CDC highlights flu vaccine accomplishments from 2004

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Julie Gerberding, MD, this week discussed...

Issue 7, February 18, 2005

• First cases reported of bird flu infecting the brain

  A report in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine discusses a finding by...

• Study: Flu vaccination may be less effective in elderly

  A new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine concludes that the influenza vaccine may...

Issue 6, February 11, 2005

• Syringe scare leads to another FDA alert

  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reissued a nationwide alert concerning batches of preloaded...

• Report: Smallpox vaccine presents risks to some

  People should weigh the risk of serious vaccine complications against the risk of experiencing a...

Issue 5, February 4, 2005

• Study: New approach to treating viral diseases discovered

  Scientists have discovered that by blocking cellular signaling pathways that viruses depend on for...

• Legislation filed to address emerging infectious diseases

  Several U.S. senators, including Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), on January 24 filed a bill that would...

Issue 4, January 28, 2005

• CDC releases hospital infection rate statistics

  Recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show a number of trends...

Issue 3, January 21, 2005

• Denver's VA hospital fails to meet safety, sanitation standard

  A federal report has identified numerous safety and sanitation violations at the Denver Veterans...

• Study: New virus possibly linked to mysterious childhood illnesses

  Researchers at Yale University found that a new virus related to SARS could cause certain childhood...

Issue 2, January 14, 2005

• Tighter IC rules adopted after outbreak involving wound-care tool

  Johns Hopkins Hospital has put in place new infection control (IC) procedures in the wake of an...

• CDC: Antibiotics aren't always the solution

  With someone sniffling, sneezing or coughing pretty much wherever one turns, it couldn’t be...

Issue 1, January 7, 2005

• Study: Houseflies could contract E. coli from cattle

  Researchers suggest that houseflies on cattle farms could potentially spread E. coli to humans, the...

• Vietnamese boy dies from first recorded bird flu death of 2005

  Vietnam recorded its first death from bird flu in 2005 when a 9-year-old boy succumbed to the virus...

Issue 1, May 27, 2005

• When maintaining IC standards in your facility, get a little help from your frie

  Your facility should identify these resources in the community to help obtain additional...

• JCAHO: 12% of hospitals require hand hygiene improvement

  A 2004 JCAHO poll revealed that 12% of healthcare organizations require improvement to comply with...

• Tracers: An effective tool to protect against infection, JCAHO

  The one thing worse than learning that your staff don’t comply with certain IC measures is...