Infection Control Newsletters

Briefings on Infection Control Medical Environment Update OSHA Watch

Your facility's infection control and prevention initiatives are in the spotlight: Scrutiny from The Joint Commission, CDC guidelines, mounting pressure from state government, and heightened public awareness all paly a role. How will you keep up?

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Briefings on Infection Control

Issue 12, December 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CDC issues new HIV guidelines to increase early disease detection

  The CDC recommended in Septem- ber that healthcare providers screen all patients aged 13-64 for HIV...

• Seven steps to help ensure respirator safety in your hospital

  Respiratory protection and isolation methods are key issues in preventing transmission of...

• Island hospital faces challenges in planning for pandemics

  Thirty miles off the coast of Massachusetts sits Nantucket Cottage Hospital-the only hospital on...

Issue 11, November 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS may tie lower payments to hospital-acquired infections

  Starting in October 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) may no longer have to...

• Refresh your know-how about UTI reduction and sterilization steps

  Revisiting IC basics is a great idea for seasoned professionals and for those who are new to the...

• Two medical centers note their achievements with routine MRSA surveillance

  For two hospitals that have made efforts to better track and reduce MRSA rates in 2002, the initial...

Issue 10, October 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Preparing for a JCAHO survey: Afterthoughts and anticipation

  If you haven't effectively communicated hand hygiene policies to patients' visitors yet, it's time...

• With renovation work, learn how to promote IC rules to contractors

  If you've ever experienced home renovations, you know how rare it is to find contractors who...

• Norovirus outbreaks require simple-yet important-tactics to thwart infections

  Norwalk virus outbreaks on cruise ships have been widely reported over the past several years, but...

Issue 9, September 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Try out these strategies to control infections in pediatric patients

  Babies, particularly premature infants, are at a higher risk than adults for acquiring and...

• Review CDC's revised influenza recommendations for 2006-2007

  The CDC expects that about 100 million doses of influenza vaccine will be available for the...

• Check out the primary changes in CDC flu prevention

  The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) flu immunization recommendations...

• Measles and mumps outbreaks test state responses

  News reports have highlighted outbreaks of mumps and measles in various parts of the country this...

Issue 8, August 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Figure out vaccine rationing now

  The threat of an avian influenza pandemic in the United States-along with rationing flu...

• Reports of improper device cleaning prompt FDA warning

  The July BOIC discussed endoscope cleaning in light of reported incidents in which patients faced...

• Research questions shaving and antiseptic bathing

  New reviews of prior studies indicate that certain cleansing and hair-removal procedures commonly...

• Automatic faucets could be an IC turnoff

  Hospitals and healthcare facilities have installed automatic faucets to reduce the risks of...

Issue 7, July 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• New IC surveillance tools emerge

  Although adoption of surveillance technologies by hospitals is still incipient, ICPs are showing...

• Endoscope technicians need your help to carry out reprocessing

  Methods for proper endoscope reprocessing have been widely discussed, and the CDC offers guidelines...

• The CDC indicates that a chlorine substitute may reduce the risk of Legionnaires

  In an update to stories we ran in the April and May issues of BOIC, new research from the CDC shows...

• Invasive biofilm proves a challenge for hospital ICPs

  Bacterial biofilm is a primary culprit behind infections associated with devices such as catheters...

Issue 6, June 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• JCAHO surveys target clean hands

  With staff handwashing being such an easy item to watch for, expect this National Patient Safety...

• Seven scrutinized states lead the list in the evolution of IC

  Of the few states that have mandatory reporting laws for hospital-acquired infections (HAI), there...

• For next flu season, consider these survey results on supply concerns

  Flu season usually begins in October, but it isn't too early now to begin planning for it by...

• Medicated cloths lead to reduced VRE problems

  A recent study sheds new light on how hospitals can potentially reduce infection rates of pathogens...

• In patient care, IC and privacy must balance

  When IC staff deliberate about policies to protect patients from infectious diseases, they must...

Issue 5, May 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• As the debate swirls, one hospital encounters success, opposition

  As discussions continue among healthcare professionals and regulators about whether influenza...

• A look at how to easily stay on top of IC.2.10's annual risk analysis

  Under standard IC.2.10, the JCAHO requires hospitals to annually review a risk analysis of...

• With routine Legionella water sampling, recommendations trump requirements

  After reading our story about Legionella in the April BOIC, at least one person raised a concern...

Issue 4, April 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Hospitals begin pandemic plans while states seek federal guidance

  In January, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocated $100 million for states...

• Legionella poses increasing health and legal threats to medical sites

  Healthcare facilities in the United States, Canada, and Europe have seen an increase in Legionella...

• ICPs prove innovative with hand hygiene

  With hand hygiene continually a hot topic in healthcare settings, IC staff are devising some...

• The feds once again raise debate about fit-tests

  Fit-testing is one of the most controversial issues embedded in the CDC’s revised...

Issue 3, March 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Community-acquired MRSA incidence rising in United States

  Infectious disease practitioners and other healthcare professionals are seeing a growing number of...

• Bring employee health infections to a screeching halt

  When a coworker gets sick, most employees just cross their fingers and hope that the germs...

• Keep your facility flu-free next winter and beyond

  Flu season may be almost over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for next...

• New TB guidelines adjust hospital efforts onrespirators, screenings

  In revising their TB recommendations for healthcare facilities, federal health officials have...

Issue 2, February 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CDC says hospitals must plan now for flu pandemic

  Government health agencies worldwide are bracing for the next influenza pandemic as they keep a...

• Bird flu: Recommendations from the federal ranks

  On November 1, 2005, President Bush announced the release of The National Strategy for Pandemic...

• MRSA: Are we winning the battle?

  A new bug has landed and is fast becoming a serious threat to many communities...

• Highly publicized TB case receives an OSHA slap

  Four hospitals amend their approaches to employee testing, containment All healthcare workers...

Issue 1, January 1, 2006 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Forget the fancy antibacterials?

  Old-fashioned soap and water may be your best bet In October, a U.S. Food and Drug...

• First in flight: Prepare for bird flu

  Consider surge problems, lack of isolation rooms Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is...

• Make sure you have a policy in place for theuncooperative patients

  Healthcare facilities need to plan and drill regularly for responding to uncooperative visitors and...