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2009 | 2008

Infection Control Weekly Monitor

Issue 46, November 18, 2009

• HHS allocates $9 million for ASC surveys

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

• Wall Street Journal looks at 10 steps to preventing infections

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

• WHO guidance addresses H1N1 in TB patients

  The World Health Organization (WHO) released a statement to healthcare managers regarding TB...

• Google will find you flu shots

  The same online search engine that brought you Google Flu Trends has developed a searchable online...

• Was it really too much hype?

  Last April, OSHA Healthcare Advisor asked whether H1N1 was a lot of hype or a legitimate concern...

Issue 45, November 11, 2009

• IC organizations urge a change in respiratory protection guidelines

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

• Infection prevention measurements added to Minnesota quality site

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

• Even athletes have to follow IC protocol

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

• Tip of the week: OSHA site offers H1N1 guidance

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

Issue 44, November 4, 2009

• Demand for H1N1 shots shuts down flu hotline

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

• N95 protection findings retracted

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

• California nurses and hospitals reach agreement on H1N1 protection

  This week two influential healthcare institutions, the California Nurses Association/National...

• Tip of the week: Disinfectant is just as effective as bleach

  This month’s Briefings on Infection Control features an article on environmental cleaning...

Issue 43, October 28, 2009

• New York changes tune on mandatory flu shots

  Almost as quickly as the emergency regulation was created, New York has suspended mandatory...

• AMA releases Web-based flu assessment

  Last week the American Medical Association launched a new online tool for patients and healthcare...

• Tip of the week: Keep Lysol at home

  Although Lysol might be effective in killing 99% of bacteria on your kitchen counter, it’s...

Issue 42, October 21, 2009

• CMS clarifies flash sterilization requirements

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

• Mandatory flu shots temporarily restrained in New York

  Acting State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. McNamara issued a temporary restraining order on the...

• Hand hygiene fun and games

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

• Feds say protect workers with respirators, not masks, for H1N1

  The CDC updated the interim guidance on H1N1 protection for healthcare workers recommending...

• Treat suspected patients with antivirals ASAP

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

• Tip of the week: Celebrate International Infection Prevention Week

  APIC, in collaboration with 3M, has proclaimed this week “International Infection Prevention...

Issue 41, October 14, 2009

• Lawsuits filed to stop H1N1 vaccine

  Two separate lawsuits have been filed in relation to H1N1 vaccinations. One, filed on behalf of a...

• Quarantine rules clarified in MA

  Last week the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a law 113-36 that updates emergency...

• Syracuse nursing home cited for IC deficiencies, again

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

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

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

Issue 40, October 7, 2009

• H1N1 update from the field

  Some hospitals and outpatient facilities are still struggling to establish proper infection control...

• Study says hospital beds could run low

  A study released by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) shows that if 35% of Americans got sick...

• Florida nurse suspended after reusing IV supplies

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

• Joint Commission revises IC standards and ASC surveys

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

• Tip of the Week: Utilize the CDC's flu algorithm

  The CDC has released an algorithm for adults older than 18 years old with influenza-like illnesses...

Issue 39, September 30, 2009

• H1N1 rap gives winning advice

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

• Triage tents provide H1N1 isolation

  Triage tents have become a popular method for many hospitals to isolate and treat patients...

• Absenteeism a primary concern for businesses

  A pandemic planning conference in Minneapolis hosted by the University of Minnesota Center for...

• Finding a middle ground on N95 respirators

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

• Tip of the week: Develop IC policies for your wound care clinic

  Those of you responsible for IC policies specific to wound care clinics may find it challenging to...

Issue 38, September 23, 2009

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

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

• One H1N1 shot for older children, two for younger

  Early test results of the H1N1 vaccine in children point toward just one vaccination rather than...

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

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

• Get the flu shot or wear a mask

  While New York has initiated an emergency regulation that requires most healthcare workers in the...

• Tip of the week: Scheduling MRSA patients in the OR

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

Issue 37, September 16, 2009

• Flu shots in New York

  Many of you have been following our posts on OSHA Healthcare Advisor regarding required flu shots...

• One shot for H1N1

  Despite what infectious disease experts expected, you won’t need two separate flu shots for...

• Hepatitis cases tied to NJ doctor's office

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

• OR staff members treated for staph infections

  Fifteen operating room surgeons and nurses at Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, SC...

• Tip of the week: Utilize pandemic planning resources

  If you subscribe to Briefings on Infection Control, you may have already read the pandemic planning...

Issue 36, September 9, 2009

• Paid sick leave policies discussed at the state level

  Pandemic experts have urged healthcare facilities in particular to establish appropriate paid sick...

• IC market expected to grow

  The infection prevention market is expected to grow 4.8% annually, reaching $23.5 billion in 2013...

• HAIs cost Australia $1 billion a year

  A study out of Queensland University of Technology in Australia estimates that sick or injured...

• Tip of the week: IOM recommends N95 respirators

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

Issue 35, September 2, 2009

• Some hospitals initiate required flu shots

  Shortly after New York State adopted a regulation that requires healthcare workers to get seasonal...

• Nurses voice concern on H1N1 preparation

  A survey conducted by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee...

• MD hospitals linked to track flu virus

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

• Tip of the week: Should I use antimicrobial soap?

  Many facilities weigh the benefits of using antimicrobial soap versus traditional soap in patient...

Issue 34, August 26, 2009

• Lawsuits expected over endoscopy procedures

  In December, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) discovered problems with sterilization...

• H1N1 could infect half of the United States

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

• Some antibiotics could wipe out "good" microbes

  A study published in the June issue of the Journal of Infection and Immunity found that certain...

• Tip of the week: Consult federal H1N1 planning guidelines

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

• Editor’s choice: Share your OSHA horror story

  Do you have an OSHA “horror” story, maybe a cell phone accidentally dumped into a...

Issue 33, August 19, 2009

• HHS meetings focus on HAI prevention

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

• IOM weighs evidence on respirators for H1N1 protection

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

• Federal officials reduce number of expected H1N1 vaccines

  Last week federal officials cut back their original estimate of H1N1 flu vaccine doses expected in...

• Tip of the week: Improve your vaccine compliance

  Before worrying about H1N1 vaccines, many facilities are concentrating on improving their seasonal...

Issue 32, August 12, 2009

• APIC takes strong stance on safe injection practices

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

• NY requires flu shot for healthcare workers

  Last week New York State Hospital Review and Planning Council (SHRPC) approved regulation that...

• Are your patients bringing MRSA home?

  Researchers from the Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital in Paris estimate that more than 12% of people...

• Tip of the week: Clean equipment between all patients

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

Issue 31, August 5, 2009

• CMS awards funds for state surveys

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

• Hand sanitizer seized by U.S. Marshals

  At the request of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized all skin sanitizers...

• Legislation focuses on testing and education for hepatitis

  U.S. Representative Michael Honda (D-CA) has introduced new legislation to Congress to address...

• Tip of the week: Respiratory protection from H1N1

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

Issue 30, July 29, 2009

• Examining The Joint Commission's position on sterilization

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

• Surgery tech indicted by federal grand jury

  Kristen Parker, a former surgery technician at Rose Medical Center in Denver, has been indicted by...

• Tip of the week: Protect your employees from MRSA infections

  A lot of effort goes into protecting patients from MRSA infections, but it’s important to...

• Healthcare safety debated in Vegas

  Last week, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals assembled for a two-day summit with...

Issue 29, July 22, 2009

• Research shows how antibiotics affect C. diff spores

  Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the UK found that antibiotic treatment could...

• The rising role of the infection preventionist

  There’s no question the job of an infection preventionist is becoming increasingly important...

• Vaccine availability could become a concern

  Pandemic preparedness experts have voiced the importance of having an H1N1 vaccine available during...

• Tip of the week: Prepare your outpatient facility with CDC guidelines

  What medical practices experienced this past spring with influenza pandemic may be nothing compared...

Issue 28, July 15, 2009

• Obesity could be a risk factor with swine flu

  CDC researchers have found evidence suggesting people who are obese but otherwise healthy may be at...

• Abortion clinic ordered to cease operations

  After a Las Vegas abortion clinic was ordered to cease operations on July 7, Nevada health...

• State receive funding for seasonal flu preparedness

  HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on Friday that $350 million in grant money would be...

• Tip of the week: Hand hygiene tools to help with compliance

  The Joint Commission is offering Measuring Hand Hygiene Adherence: Overcoming the Challenges, a...

Issue 27, July 8, 2009

• Multi-state outbreak of E. coli associated with beef

  A number of state health departments, the CDC, and the United States Department of Agriculture's...

• NICUs see an increase in MRSA infections

  A new study published in the July issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal says that MRSA...

• Vegas doctor tied to hepatitis C outbreaks gets license back

  If you’ve been following the aftermath of the February 2008 hepatitis C outbreaks in Las...

• Tip of the week: Prepare for H1N1 management

  The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has released a “National Strategic Plan...

Issue 26, July 1, 2009

• MRSA legislation could require screening

  New legislation recently introduced in Congress could require hospitals to screen patients for MRSA...

• Looking at the influenza flu family tree

  An article published online in the New England Journal of Medicine by scientists at the National...

• Don't let your dog give you MRSA

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

• Tip of the week: Following CMS guidelines

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

Issue 25, June 24, 2009

• Healthcare workers and the swine flu

  A report released last week by the CDC in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) indicates...

• E. coli outbreak linked to raw cookie dough

  The FDA issued a warning last week advising consumers not to eat Nestle Toll House refrigerated raw...

• Community-acquired MRSA may affect HAI rates

  Data presented at the 36th International APIC meeting in Fort Lauderdale, FL indicates that cases...

• Tip of the week: AORN cartoon offers IC training

  Sometimes the best training involves training your eyes to recognize IC and safety hazards.

Issue 24, June 17, 2009

• FDA warns against Clarcon skin products

  The FDA has issued a warning to consumers not to use products made by Clarcon Biological Chemistry...

• WHO raises pandemic alert to phase six

  On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert to phase six indicating...

• WHO raises pandemic alert to phase six

  On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised the pandemic alert to phase six indicating...

• Miami Children's Hospital faces contaminated water

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

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

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

• Take the OSHA Healthcare Advisor survey; win a training video

  We are so pleased with the number of visitors to the OSHA Healthcare Advisor that we want to know...

Issue 23, June 10, 2009

• IC resources cut, survey says

  Hospitals around the country are cutting staff members, resources, and education for infection...

• A breathalyzer for your hands

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

• APIC supports automated surveillance technology

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

• Tip of the week: 10 lessons learned from swine flu

  A report released by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), the Center for Biosecurity, and the...

Issue 22, June 3, 2009

• Nevada passes new IC laws, rejects others

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

• Survey reveals IC deficiencies in MRI centers

  In July 2008, Peter Rothschild, M.D., released a white paper that detailed a lack infection...

• Oncologists express concern about infections in cancer patients

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

• Can hand sanitizers protect against specific viruses?

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

Issue 21, May 27, 2009

• CDC guidance for CRKP

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

• Swine flu vaccine developments look promising

  Experts at the CDC say that progress has been made toward developing vaccine for influenza A H1N1...

• California adopts aerosol transmissible disease standard

  In light of the recent swine flu outbreaks, California adopted a standard to protect workers from...

• Tip of the Week: Medicare IC conditions are helpful for anyone

  As of May 18, Medicare-certified ambulatory surgery centers (ASC) need to comply with the new...

Issue 20, May 20, 2009

• New method could protect against HIV

  After multiple unsuccessful attempts at trying to develop a vaccine that would cause the...

• Hospital pays for MRSA-related death

  A federal jury awarded $1 million to the family of a Vermont woman who died after complications at...

• The great scrubs debate

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

• Tip of the Week: Avoid swine flu parties

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

Issue 19, May 13, 2009

• Swine flu fears shift to fall

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

• C. diff infections on the rise

  If you’re on swine flu overload, a recent increase in C. diff infections may help divert your...

• Antibody could prevent hepatitis C virus

  A new antibody, developed by a team of scientists at the Massachusetts Biologic Laboratories (MBL...

• Tip of the Week: Prevent infections in the outpatient setting

  An article published on Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reports that although...

Issue 18, May 6, 2009

• Threat of H1N1 looks mild

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

• Washington State passes two IC bills

  In case you’ve been following along with Washington’s state legislation, Tuesday was an...

• South Dakota urology clinic cited for IC deficiencies

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

• Tip of the week: Make hand hygiene a game

  Although Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, based in Boston, was cited for failure to adhere to...

Issue 17, April 29, 2009

• Swine flu updates

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

• IC deficiencies in California medical center

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

• Miami health officials stumped over meningitis

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

• Tip of the week: Review surgical infection prevention measures

  A report released by Consumers Union says that hospitals have made progress implementing surgical...

Issue 16, April 22, 2009

• Three VA patients test HIV-positive

  You may remember a couple weeks ago we reported on an investigation by the U.S. Department of...

• Facilities not ready for pandemic flu

  A new report compiled by the AFL-CIO and six unions found that the nation’s healthcare...

• Are box fans an infection control violation?

  It’s almost that time of year again to start using air conditioners and fans to cool down...

• Tip of the Week: Ensure hand hygiene compliance

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

Issue 15, April 15, 2009

• Chicago and Boston hospitals face infection scares

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

• State law forces MRSA screening

  A proposed law that forces hospitals in Washington to screen high-risk patients for MRSA, passed...

• FDA clears rapid test for bird flu

  On April 7, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared a rapid test for the detection of...

• Tip of the week: Look for increased food safety efforts

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

Issue 14, April 8, 2009

• Drug-resistant TB could become unmanageable

  Global experts are worried that a form of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) could quickly become a...

• New Jersey doctor blamed for outbreak

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

• Funding aims to cut catheter infections

  After a study conducted by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s Keystone Center...

• Tip of the week: FDA recalls trays and kits

  The FDA has recalled a number of medical insertion trays because improper packaging sealing may...

Issue 13, April 1, 2009

• More salmonella outbreaks linked to spices

  In the wake of a well-publicized peanut butter recall, another Salmonella outbreak has been...

• Colonoscopies put veterans at risk

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

• Patient or employee?

  Healthcare providers tow a fine line when employees come into their facility as patients. Infection...

• Tip of the Week: Sponges could help with infections

  A new study published in the March 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association...

Issue 12, March 25, 2009

• GAO report calls for continued leadership

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

• What's new in IC technology?

  From self-cleaning keyboards to automated hand hygiene tracking devices, infection control...

• CDC releases guidance for carbapenem-resistant bugs

  Although MRSA is the most familiar form of antibiotic resistant organisms, a rise in...

• Tip of the Week: Rethink the way you throw away gowns

  A new infection control technique involving the disposal of paper hospital gowns is a simple, but...

Issue 11, March 18, 2009

• Concern for HIV/AIDS rate in D.C.

  The “District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008” released by health...

• State health investigation reveals IC deficiencies

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

• Pandemic preparedness receives more money

  President Barack Obama put the final signature on a $410 billion bill last week that will provide...

• Tip of the week: Comply with emergency management standards

  Monitoring resources, such as PPE, is an emergency management hotspot. Many ICPs are involved in...

Issue 10, March 11, 2009

• Another Salmonella outbreak could be from sprouts

  Right on the heels of the Salmonella outbreak linked to peanut butter, another outbreak, which...

• CDC warns against free antibiotics

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

• MRIs become a cleaning concern

  Dr. Peter Rothshild, president of Patient Comfort Systems and renowned MRI expert released his...

• Tip of the week: Clean your phones

  Something used dozens of times each day could be contributing to the spread of MRSA. A Turkish...

Issue 9, March 4, 2009

• WHO launches hand hygiene campaign

  The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new hand hygiene program in which hospitals can...

• Flu strain becoming resistant

  A new CDC study reports that virtually all cases of the common influenza strain, H1N1 are resistant...

• MRSA infections on the rise in children

  Although a recent study shows reports that MRSA central line-associated bloodstream infections in...

• Tip of the Week: Keep your dishwasher limited to dishes

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

Issue 8, February 25, 2009

• Study reveals reduction in MRSA infections

  A new study shows that it’s not all bad news when it comes to HAIs. The study, published...

• New advancements in flu vaccine

  A new development of antibodies that could protect against various strains of influenza, including...

• Ten states to participate in infection control study

  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and...

• Tip of the week: Follow safe injection practices

  A new campaign, called "The One and Only Campaign" was unveiled by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV...

• Tip of the week: Follow safe injection practices

  A new campaign, called "The One and Only Campaign" was unveiled by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV...

Issue 7, February 18, 2009

• Lawmakers weigh in on MRSA screening debate

  Typically, hospitals have had the option of whether to screen patients for MRSA, but lately more...

• Washington hospitals adopting consistent colors

  Hospitals in Washington state plan to implement procedures for isolation precautions, which uses...

• Who's to blame for an HAI?

  Infection preventionists are feeling pressure from all angles. New CMS policies are cutting...

• Tip: It's not too late to get the flu shot

  Although it’s a little later than usual, February brought with it a spike in cases of the flu...

Issue 6, February 11, 2009

• FDA says peanut products were sold before test results

  A new report from the FDA says Peanut Corp. of America (PCA)—the company tied to the current...

• Drugs block HIV in monkeys

  After numerous studies, AIDS researchers have encountered encouraging results in preventing HIV...

• Florida hospital named in infection control lawsuit

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

• Tip of the Week: Inform your visitors

  Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville, WV is launching a “Protect Our Patients&rdquo...

Issue 5, February 4, 2009

• Dodging a bullet: Could salmonella become antibiotic resistant?

  The recent salmonella outbreak linked to peanut products, has sickened more than 500 people and...

• CDC puts more money into HIV testing

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

• Construction and renovation could mean additional IC responsibilities

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

• Tip of the Week: Go ahead and use that hand sanitizer

  Maybe you haven’t thought about it, but at least a couple people have wondered whether...

Issue 4, January 28, 2009

• TB patient sentenced to 30 days of isolation

  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

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

• Brazilian model dies from rare infection

  The death of a Brazilian model from a drug-resistant infection that rarely strikes young, healthy...

• Tip of the week: Start with a preconstruction risk assessment

  From an IC perspective, the first steps of a construction or renovation project in your hospital is...

Issue 3, January 21, 2009

• Surgical checklist reduces deaths

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

• MRSA causing more head and neck infections in children

  Researchers have found an “alarming” increase in the prevalence of pediatric head and...

• D.C. area hospitals prepared for inauguration surge

  Hospitals in the Washington D.C. area geared up for a surge of patients expected as a result of...

• Tip of the week: Follow safe injection measures

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

Issue 2, January 14, 2009

• Health officials say throw out salmonella-linked peanut butter

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

• The CDC will get new leadership

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

• HHS issues action plan to prevent HAIs

  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has unveiled a plan that establishes a set...

• Tip of the week: Get more sleep to resist colds

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

Issue 1, January 7, 2009

• Heads up on Joint Commission news

  This week The Joint Commission changed one of its infection control (IC) standards for 2009...

• New Jersey law on flu vaccinations goes into effect

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

• Need for increased IC measures in ambulatory care settings cited

  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

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