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Infection Control Weekly Monitor

Infection Control Weekly Monitor keeps you up-to-date on what's happening in the world of infection control. Every issue provides useful tips on topics from hand hygiene to improving flu vaccination rates.

2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008

Infection Control Weekly Monitor

Issue 8, September 1, 2010

• Contaminated endoscopes a primary concern

  Contaminated flexible endoscopes landed atop ECRI’s top ten most prevalent safety hazards in...

• Contaminated endoscopes a primary concern

  Contaminated flexible endoscopes landed atop ECRI’s top ten most prevalent safety hazards in...

Issue 53, December 29, 2010

• Disinfectant wipe battles hand rub for effectiveness

  Which is more effective: alcohol-based gels and hand rubs, or disinfectant alcohol-based wipes...

• New law requires California hospitals to display infection rates

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

• Study investigates how healthcare workers caught H1N1

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

• Editor's Choice: Infection Control survey for the physician's office

  Does your physician office have a cleaning schedule for its toys? How clean are the bins and...

• Weekly Poll: How was your workplace safety program this year?

  As you glance back at 2010, how would you evaluate your workplace safety program’s...

Issue 52, December 21, 2010

• CDC recommends options for thoroughness of cleanliness

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

• Maternity ward infected by group A streptococcal

  An outbreak of group A streptococcal infection was declared in the maternity ward at Victoria...

• California ASC closes for infection control violations

  Violations in infection control caused an ambulatory surgical center (ASC) in Lodi, CA, to...

• Editor's Choice: Suggested work restrictions for employees

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

• Weekly Poll: Accept or reject mandatory flu shots

  Now that a judge has ruled that a South Carolina hospital has the authority to have a mandatory flu...

Issue 50, December 15, 2010

• Modern day Inspector Gadget inspects ICU for infections

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

• High-tech lab coat wards off bacteria

  To prevent contamination of clothing, The University of South Florida College of Medicine's...

• One shot, two shot, no more annual flu shot

  If you’re a seasonal flu-shot-getter or scared of needles, try imagining getting a flu shot...

• Editor's Choice: Is fooling around with safety devices a violation?

  Tampering with a safety device could hit your facility with a hefty OSHA violation, and it should...

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

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

Issue 49, December 8, 2010

• Washington state provides a public view of surgical infection rates

  If you’re vacationing in Washington state and need an emergency, or if you live in the state...

• Rhode Island hospitals seeing a decrease in infection rates

  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

  Are unsafe injection practices still happening in your healthcare facility?

• Editors Choice: Safe Injection Practices

  Confused as to what are unsafe injection practices as identified by the CDC? Frequently asked...

• Weekly Poll: So you’ve witnessed an unsafe injection

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

Issue 48, December 1, 2010

• Stomach bug spreads quickly through Chicago nursing homes

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

• Inflammatory bowel disease increases risks in patients

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

• Spread of influenza caused by aerosol

  Forget the traditional belief that you can catch influenza by being coughed on by someone or...

• Editor's Choice: Hand hygiene technique with Alcohol-based formulation

  Using an alcohol-based formula during handwashing is an effective way to prevent infections. A...

• Workers infected by meningitis after infection control practices were overlooked

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

Issue 47, November 24, 2010

• Weekly Poll: Hospital waiting room bans magazines to avoid infections

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

• Editors Choice: Infection Control and Safe Injection Practices: Diabetes Care

  OSHA Healthcare Advisor added a new tool on recommended infection-control and safe injection...

• Film festival raises awareness on infection control

  Break out your movie-making skills. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and...

• Infectious diseases proving hard to identify

  As vaccines become used more frequently, infectious diseases may be harder to detect.

• Dozens suspended after employees refused flu shots

  Imagine this ultimatum: Get a flu shot in two weeks or lose your job. What would you do? The...

Issue 46, November 17, 2010

• No more reading in the hospital waiting room- stare at the wall and don't touch a thing

  What do you do in a hospital waiting room? Staring at the algae covered fish tank gets boring after...

• South Carolina hospital rated one of the safest for infection control

  Oconee Medical Center in Seneca, SC, was rated one of the safest hospitals of its size in the state...

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

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

• Editor's Choice: Will OSHA let me off the hook?

  OSHA Healthcare Advisor blogger Terry Jo Gile addresses employees who disregard safety procedures...

• Weekly Poll: OSHA and resident physicians' hours

  Both sides have stated their cases on whether OSHA should look into the amount of hours that...

Issue 45, November 10, 2010

• Ten years of protecting healthcare workers from needlestick infections

  It has been a decade since the passage of the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, which seeks to...

• Battle between hepatitis C surveillance systems

  The National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), a system used to track hepatitis C...

• MRSA may soon be detected in less than 15 minutes

  A new study hopes to help create a device to detect the deadly antibiotic-resistant superbug MRSA...

• Editor's Choice: Sterile Matters: Training is not optional

  In her “Sterile Matters feature” OSHA Healthcare Advisor blogger Michele DeMeo...

• Weekly Poll: Ten years after needlestick legislation

  It has been ten years since the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act went into effect (November 6...

Issue 44, November 3, 2010

• Study: Elderly patients inappropriately receive urinary catheters

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

• H1N1 related to bacterial infection in children

  A new study shows that the H1N1 flu pandemic was related to the increase in children who developed...

• Hospital implicated in dirty surgical instruments

  The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) found that surgical instruments given to clinics and...

• Editor's Choice: Bloodborne pathogen fines in hospitals

  Interested in the most frequent and expensive bloodborne pathogens OSHA citations for general...

• Weekly Poll: Who's at fault for an accidental infected needlestick puncture?

  A three-year-old toddler taken to a NYC hospital for a rash may have HIV or hepatitis after being...

Issue 43, October 27, 2010

• Surgical attire laundering is one of AORNs new recommendations practices

  The Association for Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) released its position on home laundering...

• New 'superbug' found in Chicago healthcare facilities

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

• Four dead after Hepatitis B outbreak in assisted living facility

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

• Editors Choice: Bloodborne Pathogens PPE Compliance Checklist

  The Bloodborne Pathogens PPE Compliance Checklist continues to be one of the most popular free...

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

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

Issue 42, October 20, 2010

• Framework created to help eliminate healthcare associated infections

  Public health and infectious disease experts have come up with a framework that helps prevent...

• Supreme Court examining vaccination company protection

  A lawsuit was filed against pharmaceutical company, Pfizer Inc., by a family whose daughter...

• Avian flu found to survive on glass surfaces and in cold temperatures

  H5N1, better known as the avian influenza virus, was just found by scientists to survive for an...

• Infection Control advice for ASCs

  Infection prevention requirements in ASCs: A Q&A on CMS compliance, common pitfalls, and best...

• Protection for vaccine manufacturers?

  Should vaccine manufacturers be protected from lawsuits due to side-effect complaints?

Issue 41, October 13, 2010

• MRSA won't affect lobster lovers

  We’ve heard of MRSA spreading everywhere; locker rooms, prisons, and especially healthcare...

• CDC urges flu vaccine while doctors cooperate

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

• CMS recaps compliance guidelines for nursing homes

  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reiterated their compliance requirements and...

• Editor's Choice: Infection control perspectives from a blogger's point of view

  Readers might enjoy a perspective from three different healthcare professionals on infection...

• Weekly Poll; Reacting to poor infection control

  Hospitals have been trying to enforce mandatory flu shots for all hospital workers to prevent the...

Issue 40, October 6, 2010

• Deadly superbug turns up in 35 states

  A new type of superbug is striking in hospitals all across America, with barely any treatment for...

• Global Handwashing Day strives to raise awareness on October 15

  Washing our hands with soap and water has always been the most effective way to avoid infectious...

• Study shows bloodstream infections overlooked in hospitals

  A study in October’s American Journal of Infection Control found that hospitals monitoring...

• Hospital worker refuses flu shot and files lawsuit

  A lawsuit was filed against AnMed, a hospital in Anderson, SC, by a hospital worker who refused to...

• Tip of the Week

  Q: When OSHA insists on the use of safety needles and scalpels, isn’t it overstepping its...

Issue 39, September 29, 2010

• CDC issues revised guidelines for flu prevention

  With flu season approaching, it’s becoming more important for healthcare settings such as...

• HHS gives action plan for healthcare-associated infection prevention

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released draft strategies on identifying key...

• New Smartphone application promotes safe injection practices

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Epocrates, Inc. are launching...

• A shot in the arm for forced flu immunization argument

  A short and to-the-point appeal for mandating flu shots for healthcare workers appeared in the...

• Choosing an OSHA compliant disinfectant

  Q: What disinfectant does OSHA recommend for protection from bloodborne pathogens?

Issue 38, September 22, 2010

• SHEA, AAP support mandatory flu vaccinations for healthcare workers

  The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and the American Academy of Pediatrics both...

• Hand hygiene survey: Patient reminders could improve worker compliance

  Sixty percent of healthcare workers who responded to a survey on employee hand hygiene said that...

• Flu shots may reduce risk of heart attack

  According to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, annual flu shots...

• CDC reports new 'superbug' infections

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported the presence of NDM-1, a deadly...

• HBV vaccination and immunity

  If a healthcare worker did not have a titer drawn after the HBV vaccine was completed, how long...

Issue 37, September 15, 2010

• CDC posts fact sheet on flu shots and healthcare workers

  Pointing out that healthcare workers play an important role in protecting public health and their...

• Additional patient risk warning in VA medical center ignored

  The Augusta Chronicle is reporting that an employee’s warnings about problems with the...

• Give us your feedback!

  As an infection preventionist, your feedback is an essential ingredient in making our infection...

• Joint Commission introduces new tool for improved hand hygiene

  A new interactive tool that aims to simplify the solving process for some of the most unrelenting...

• Labeling sterile packs using a variety of methods

  Q: When it comes to labeling sterile packs, what is required? Are there different systems available...

Issue 36, September 8, 2010

• Should you use sanitizer on your stethoscope too?

  A study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology indicates that hand sanitizer...

• Submit your IC video to 3M innovation YouTube contest

  3M® has announced a new contest entitled “The 3M Innovation Award YouTube&trade...

• Why the mulligan for the hepatitis B vaccination?

  Wondering why you need to re-administer hepatitis B vaccinations when a worker fails to respond to...

• Reducing antibiotic resistance

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

• Portable hand sanitizer needs to adhere to fire safety standards

  Q: Our alcohol hand rubs are in bottles in various areas throughout the center. They are mobile...

Issue 35, September 1, 2010

• Waiting room times can play a role in airborne transmission

  A new study published in BMC Infectious Diseases looks at the effect of waiting times in healthcare...

• Bloodborne pathogen risks in the lab

  Infection control risks exist everywhere in your facility, including the lab, particularly when...

• Risk assessments: The catch-all for hazard analysis

  “Do a risk assessment.” That’s the answer most frequently heard in response to...

• Tip of the week: Include contracted services in your quality assurance evaluation

  Q: For contracted services (i.e. linen, waste management, housekeeping, etc.), what information is...

Issue 34, August 25, 2010

• Joint Commission releases top-cited standards for 2010

  The Joint Commission has released the top five standards in each healthcare setting (hospital...

• Seeing is achieving with hand sanitizers

  Out-of-sight means out-of-mind when it comes to locating hand sanitizers. That’s the...

• Last year's pandemic prompts government evaluation

  After last year’s H1N1 pandemic experience, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...

• ANA calls for immunity award nominations

  Recognizing the important part that nurses play in promoting immunizations, the American Nurses...

• Tip of the week: Safety needles are not optional

  Q: Is the use of safety needles optional in a group medical practice, or must the employer require...

Issue 33, August 18, 2010

• Hand hygiene bias affects compliance rates

  A study published in the August issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology draws...

• MRSA rates drop, reasons unclear

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

• Is a mandatory flu shot policy possible?

  Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle has proved that it is, celebrating its five year...

• New superbug seen as a global problem

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

• Tip of the week: Keep your lungs happy when using chemicals

  Sterilizing procedures don’t just affect patient safety and infection control. Every day...

Issue 32, August 11, 2010

• Virginia Mason reports on five years of mandatory flu shots

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

• CMS rule requires hospitals to report central line infections

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

• CDC releases alert on H3N2

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

• AHA goes thumbs down on a new OSHA standard

  The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted a comment to OSHA recommending that the agency...

• Tip of the week: Consult Q&As regarding multidose vials

  There has been much more attention recently on multidose vials, particularly the expiration date of...

Issue 31, August 4, 2010

• FDA releases alert on positive displacement needless connectors

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a letter addressed to infection preventionists...

• Robot surgery reduces infection control risks

  A $2 million robot is replacing surgeons at the bedside in at least one New Jersey hospital.

• IV spiking requirements from TJC

  A previous post, based on a Q&A with infection prevention experts, discussed considerations for...

• CDC posts 2010 flu shot guidelines from ACIP

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

• Tip of the week: Gloving is good, but why?

  You’ve “gotta” love the glove if you are at risk to needlestick exposures...

Issue 30, July 28, 2010

• Anesthesiologist spreads infection through single-use vials

  An investigation published in the July issue of Gastroenterology indicates that the same...

• "Doctor, what is that in your hand?"

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

• Could the flu vaccine come in the form of a patch?

  Do you think people would be more apt to get the flu vaccine if it meant avoiding a needle?

• Survey says CRBSIs still a problem

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

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

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

Issue 29, July 21, 2010

• Inspection reports shows IC lapses in Illinois

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

• IDSA pushes for mandatory flu shots

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

• Quick response stops dangerous outbreak in Dallas

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

• Real stories from real needlestick victims

  It is gratifying to read how the new president of American Nurse’s Association used a...

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

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

Issue 28, July 14, 2010

• CMS adds outpatient facilities to performance measures

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

• ADA addresses infection control precautions

  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

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

• Computerized monitoring systems reduce infections

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

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

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

Issue 27, July 7, 2010

• Failure to properly clean dental instruments results in potential HIV exposures

  A Missouri VA hospital came under fire last week for potentially exposing 1,800 veterans to disease...

• OSHA's take on an infectious disease standard

  The featured article in Briefings on Infection Control and Medical Environment Update discusses the...

• CDC releases draft norovirus prevention guideline

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

• What’s the correct height for sharps disposal containers?

  While there isn’t a magic number when it comes to the height of your sharps container, you do...

• Tip of the week: Considerations for on-site laundering

  There aren’t any specific OSHA requirements for on-site laundering at a physician’s...

Issue 26, June 30, 2010

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

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

• What are the time limits for spiking IV bags before administration?

  This question was addressed in an HCPro’s April webcast “Infection Prevention Survey...

• CDC updates influenza guidelines

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

• AMA looks at lab coats, new technology prevents infections

  At the American Medical Association conference last week, officials announced plans to begin formal...

• Tip of the week: Assess your fish tanks

  If you aren’t careful, that fish tank in your lobby can get pretty dirty, pretty quick, and...

Issue 25, June 23, 2010

• Study shows paid sick leave keeps sick employees at home

  A study commissioned by the Public Welfare Foundation, and conducted by the National Opinion...

• When the sharps container becomes a "lost and found"

  Can you think of anything worse that dropping a personal item into the sharps container? It’s...

• APIC announces second MRSA study

  Last week APIC announced it would follow up its 2006 study on the prevalence of MRSA, with another...

• Study proves effectiveness of VAP bundle

  Many facilities have been using the ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle to reduce the...

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

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

Issue 24, June 16, 2010

• IC lapses found in ASCs

  Although previously presented at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on...

• Hospital officials reveal syringe reuse at Pittsburgh clinic

  Officials at Children’s Hospital North in Franklin Park, PA identified one doctor last month...

• Study reveals MRSA infections are highest after chest and brain surgery

  A study conducted by researchers at the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network (DICON) found that...

• WHO defends response to H1N1 pandemic

  The World Health Organization (WHO) is defending its decisions surrounding the H1N1 pandemic after...

• Tip of the week: Beware of packages containing nonsafety needles

  Q: What are the OSHA rules/guidelines when someone other than the employer provides noncompliant...

Issue 23, June 9, 2010

• Three charged in Las Vegas hepatitis C outbreak

  After a criminal investigation that lasted two years, Dr. Dipak Desai, owner of the endoscopy...

• New blogger reviews basic principles of sterility

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

• ED keyboards carry more germs

  A new study conducted by the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, found that computer keyboards in the...

• Are you concerned about Joint Commission modifications?

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

• Tip of the week: Dental practices shouldn’t prefill syringes either

  Peg Luebbert, the infection control blogger on OSHA Healthcare Advisor, recently posted on...

Issue 22, June 2, 2010

• Expert Q&A offers IC guidance for ASCs

  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

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

• CDC releases state-specific HAI data report

  Last week the CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion has published a state-specific...

• Call for submissions: Have a great infection control policy, checklist, or tool?

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

• Tip of the week: Study shows C. diff can spread through the air

  Typically Clostridium difficile (C. diff) has been a multidrug resistant organism associated with...

Issue 21, May 26, 2010

• TB precautions for volunteers

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

• APIC poll reveals progress of C. diff interventions

  Results from APIC’s “Pace of Progress” poll, which was conducted among APIC...

• Vaccination records: Asking isn't enough

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

• CMS proposes rule for HAI data collection

  CMS has proposed a new rule that would collect data from hospitals on central line associated...

• Tip of the week: Proper glove usage during specimen collection

  Where is the line between picky and compliant when it comes to proper glove usage?

Issue 20, May 19, 2010

• Unsafe injection practices the subject of a nationwide survey

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

• Chicago hospitals address unusually high infection rates

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

• CDC examines healthcare worker exposure to antimicrobial chemicals

  Acute antimicrobial pesticide exposure sounds like something to do with farm work, but it actually...

• CMS drops requirements for MRSA reporting

  CMS has decided to reverse its original requirement for hospitals to track infections through the...

• Tip of the week: CDC reminds labs about VRSA prevention

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

Issue 19, May 12, 2010

• Hand Hygiene day offers tools and a new iPhone app

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

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

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

• Propofol makers lose in hepatitis outbreak suit

  How’s this for a multi-million dollar legal hangover coming out of Las Vegas?

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

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

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

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

Issue 18, May 5, 2010

• CDC to update guidance on infection control for influenza

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

• SSI bundle reduces post-cesarean sections infections by 84%

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

• Implementing mandatory flu shots

  As awareness of an influenza pandemic heightens, so has the need to vaccinate healthcare workers...

• CDC launches central-line infection initiative

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

• Tip of the week: Weigh in on the debate on an infectious disease standard

  A number of commenters on OSHA Healthcare Advisor have been voicing their opinion regarding a...

Issue 17, April 28, 2010

• OSHA considers infectious disease standard

  In a slightly surprising turn of events, it seems OSHA isn’t just focusing on aerosol...

• Study shows some patient groups are at a higher risk for MRSA

  A study published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology indicates that certain groups had...

• Hospital hit with $100K-plus Cal/OSHA violation

  In a major application of California’s aerosol transmissible disease standard, Cal/OSHA fined...

• New games bring out the geek in IC training

  If you’re having difficulty training your younger demographic about infection prevention...

• Tip of the week: Train your employees in their own language

  One of the lesser-known OSHA requirements involves non-English safety training for employees who...

Issue 16, April 21, 2010

• Prefilling insulin in the home health setting

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

• AHRQ reports HAI rates remain problematic

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

• CDC releases pandemic workbook for pediatric care

  Last week the CDC released a workbook compiled from discussions during September’s Pediatric...

• Study shows universal gloving is a good alternative to contact precautions

  A study published in the May 2010 issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology evaluated...

• Tip of the week: Get expert advice on CMS compliance

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

Issue 15, April 14, 2010

• Prefilling then storing syringes is not recommended

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

• Learning from H1N1

  An April 12 New York Times Op-Ed authored by Richard P. Wenzel, a professor of internal medicine...

• IC funding stays strong amid budget cuts

  A recent article published by HealthLeaders Media analyzes surveys of senior hospital officials in...

• Weekly Poll: Do you suspect IC lapses in your facility?

  Last week, an OSHA Healthcare Advisor post listed hand hygiene, education, and medication labeling...

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

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

Issue 14, April 7, 2010

• Top three IC struggles in ASCs, according to a surveyor

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

• Occupational surgical sharps injuries up

  A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons indicates that occupational...

• How healthcare reform affects workplace safety

  Seemingly lost in the polarizing rhetoric associated with the passage of healthcare reform was...

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

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

• Tip of the week: You can't always trust Twitter

  A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control indicates that Twitter updates...

Issue 13, March 31, 2010

• CMS inspections show IC lapses in ASCs

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

• New study shows surgical masks and N95s are equal

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

• H1N1 virus is a significant burden on years of life lost

  Since H1N1 has dissipated significantly, the virus seems to be out of sight and out of mind with...

• Weekly Poll: Do you launder surgical scrubs

  A new recommendation by AORN advising against laundering scrubs at home has generated a number of...

• Tip of the week: Mandatory flu shots promote patient safety

  Reframing the mandatory flu shot controversy from a worker-rights issue to a patient safety concern...

Issue 12, March 24, 2010

• Using evidence-based practices to reduce MRSA

  Researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in Richmond, VA presented...

• Infection prevention for your stethoscope

  A physician at Saints Medical Center in Lowell, MA may be on the verge of simple but potentially...

• C. diff surpasses MRSA as a bigger threat to hospitals

  The study presented at the Fifth Decennial International Conference on Healthcare-Associated...

• Ensuring TB tests for all employees

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

• Tip of the Week: Use sutures over staples

  A new study published in the British Medical Journal indicates that orthopedic surgeons should...

Issue 11, March 17, 2010

• AORN recommends in-house laundering of surgical scrubs

  Ten recommendations regarding surgical attire were introduced at the 57th annual Association for...

• Housekeepers, transporters overlooked in infection prevention

  Two major transmitters of infection prevention often fly under the radar, according to a recent...

• Colorado bills stem from drug thefts

  After two healthcare employees at separate facilities were sentenced for stealing the pain...

• Tip of the week: Chlorhexidine wipes could reduce HAIs in trauma patients

  A study published in Archives of Surgery studied the effect of bathing trauma patients daily with...

Issue 10, March 10, 2010

• Losing your job over hand hygiene

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

• Have you switched to safety devices?

  In 2001 OSHA added the Needlestick Prevention Act into its Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. Nearly a...

• New campaign highlights ASC awareness

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

• Poll question: Do you reprocess devices?

  It seems that reprocessing single-use medical devices has just as many advocates as detractors. Do...

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

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

Issue 9, March 3, 2010

• Reprocessing is green, but is it safe?

  A commentary published in March issue of Academic Medicine argues that appropriately reprocessing...

• Hospital tech sentenced for stealing fentanyl and transmitting hepatitis C

  Kristen Diane Parker, a surgical tech who worked at Rose Medical Center, Denver, was sentenced to...

• Infection prevention checklists successful in Michigan

  Three years after initiating an infection prevention project in Michigan hospitals that used...

• Put your infection prevention knowledge to use

  Writing books is a great way to share your infection prevention knowledge with peers. With the...

• Tip of the week: Ensure your ASC is CMS compliant

  In the last year the infection prevention landscape has changed considerably for ambulatory surgery...

Issue 8, February 24, 2010

• When toys transmit infections

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

• Study reveals half of infection deaths linked to care

  A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that sepsis and pneumonia killed...

• Washington OSHA imposes N95 respirator fines

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

• Many healthcare workers refuse TB treatment

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

• Tip of the week: One flu shot next year, not two

  The FDA voted unanimously on Monday to fold the pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine into the seasonal...

Issue 7, February 17, 2010

• The future of hand hygiene

  New technology could change the way healthcare workers perform hand hygiene, using the same...

• Study shows John Hopkins' vaccination rates twice the national average

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

• New template offers pandemic assistance for primary care providers

  New guidance published by the CDC offers a pandemic influenza planning template specifically for...

• Tip of the week: Prevent needlesticks in your facility

  This week OSHA Healthcare Advisor offers two new posts specifically regarding the risks associated...

Issue 6, February 10, 2010

• Are hands-free sinks required?

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

• Consumer Reports details the dangers of central-line infections

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

• Drug manufacturer may be liable in Vegas hepatitis C outbreak

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

• Public still worried about H1N1 vaccine, despite safety tests

  A recent poll released by the University of Michigan found that 55% of parents are concerned that...

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

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

Issue 5, February 3, 2010

• Montana facility deals with repercussions of required flu shots

  RiverStone Health, a public health agency for Yellowstone County in Billings, MT, is one of a few...

• Household disinfectants can kill H1N1 virus

  A new study published in the February issue of Plos One indicates common household disinfectants...

• CDC to study HAIs and antimicrobial usage

  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

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

Issue 4, January 27, 2010

• Ditch your broom for a mop to reduce infections

  Brooms might be a useful household cleaning appliance, but there’s no place for them in the...

• New law forces New Jersey ACSs to report infections

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

• Study reignites influenza respiratory protection debate

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

• Keep disposable instruments out of the autoclave

  In the most recent “Notes from the field” post, OSHA Healthcare Advisor blogger and...

• Tip of the week: Track MRSA within your facility

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

Issue 3, January 20, 2010

• Drive-through checkups during a pandemic

  Researchers at the Department of Surgery/Division of Emergency Medicine at Stanford (CA) University...

• Elevated risk for an infection epidemic in Haiti

  As if a 7.0 earthquake wasn’t enough to shake the infrastructure of Haiti, the aftermath of...

• IC experts argue against new Maine law requiring MRSA screening

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

• Pennsylvania issues first HAI report

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

• Tip of the Week: Download essential compliance tools

  On OSHA Healthcare Advisor we’ve compiled a list of the top five most downloaded compliance...

Issue 2, January 13, 2010

• Reimbursing for hand hygiene compliance

  Like most IPs, are you racking your brain for ways to improve hand hygiene compliance? Ever think...

• Nurse is fired over required flu shot

  Seton Medical Center in Austin, TX fired a nurse for refusing to get an H1N1 vaccine and then...

• OSHA releases respirator safety videos

  On January 8, OSHA posted two videos that address key safety concerns for healthcare workers using...

• Stop SSI’s before they enter

  A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that even though experts...

• Tip of the week: Download the Cold and Flu Symptom Survey

  Many of you may have read last week’s featured IC post about the SCCA, the oncology clinic...

Issue 1, January 6, 2010

• Strict IC program protects cancer patients from H1N1

  In the spring of 2009 Seattle faced a 100-fold increase in H1N1 influenza cases, threatening...

• Are your disinfectants contributing to superbugs?

  A new study published in the journal Microbiology suggests that common disinfectants could...

• Norway's solution to infections includes fewer drugs

  Health experts worldwide have urged doctors to rely less on antibiotics in order to reduce the...

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

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