HCPro.com - Infection Control - DO NOT USE Top Stories

IAC updates flu shot honor roll

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:57:00 GMT

The Immunization Action Coalition has added 28 organizations to its Honor Roll for Patient Safety, which recognizes healthcare institutions having mandatory flu shot policies for healthcare workers.

Click here for more information.

Norovirus is top reason for U.S. hospital infection outbreaks

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:27:00 GMT

Norovirus is number one on the list of infection outbreaks in U.S. hospitals and was responsible for 65% of unit closures, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

The study found that one quarter of the hospitals surveyed had experienced an outbreak during a two-year period and that four organisms were the source of almost 60% of the outbreaks.

For more details on the study, and a link to the current CDC guidelines for the prevention and control of norovirus outbreaks in healthcare settings, go to the featured OSHA Healthcare Advisor post.

Colorado considers mandatory flu shots

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:24:00 GMT

The Colorado State Board of Health will vote next month on whether to mandate flu shots for healthcare workers.

The board is considering a recommendation by state health officials requiring influenza immunizations “for nearly all hospital and nursing-home employees, with no religious or other personal exemptions, saying patient protections outweigh individual choice,” reports The Denver Post, January 26.

Emergency department visits linked to nursing home infections

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:20:00 GMT

A Canadian study indicates that elderly long-term care residents are three times more likely to develop new respiratory and gastrointestinal infections after a visit to the emergency department.

Click here for more information on the study.

AORN nixes multidose vials among other medication recommendations

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:52:00 GMT

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) hopes two new recommendations—puncturing intravenous solution containers as close as possible to time of use and discontinuing the use of multidose vials—will prompt healthcare facilities to rethink medication practices for safety’s sake.

Read the OSHA Healthcare Advisor blog post for more information.

Study: Workplace exposures put nurses at risk for lost pregnancies

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:40:00 GMT

A study appearing in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology raises concerns about common workplaces exposures and reproductive risks with nurses.

In particular, nurses exposed to cancer treatment drugs or chemicals used to sterilize medical devices may be at higher risk of spontaneous abortions, according to a study.

Click here for more information.

ANA survey shows nurses concerned about infectious diseases at work

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:33:00 GMT

A survey by the American Nurses Association shows that overall workplace safety has improved compared to 10 years ago, but there is still concern about infectious diseases, among other hazards.

In comparison to a similar survey in 2001, nurses are less concerned about the possibility of getting HIV or hepatitis from a needlestick and more worried about contracting an infectious disease, such as TB, at work.

Read the OSHA Healthcare Advisor blog post for more information.

Study: Google accurately tracks flu trends

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:30:00 GMT

What can't Google do?

A study in Clinical Infectious Diseases has good things to say about Google Flu Trends.

Click here for a link to the study.

Viewing the film "Puncture"

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:27:00 GMT

If you missed viewing the needlestick injury film Puncture, which was highlighted in the December Medical Environment Update, when it premiered last fall, you now have a chance to see it through DVD rental/purchase or online streaming.

Click here for more details.

Questionable injection habits among NY anesthesiologists

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:33:00 GMT

A survey of anesthesiologist in New York shows an "alarming" trend in unsafe injection practices, according to a report in the January Anesthesiology News.

Despite being a prohibited practice, "nearly half (49%) said they sometimes used the same vials of medication for more than one patient," according to the report.

Click here for more details.

International study examines infection prevention practices in dental settings

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:14:00 GMT

A study assessing infection prevention practices of dentists in eight countries shows a wide variety of competency. U.S. practitioners consistently outscored international colleagues on infection prevention practices except in one category.

Click here for more details.

Joint Commission posts Easy-to-Read 2012 NPSGs

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:54:00 GMT

Recently, the Joint Commission (TJC) released easy-to-read versions of the 2012 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), including preventing infections, for eight accreditation programs.

Click here for more details.

CDC posts healthcare prevention strategies for H3N2 flu

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:50:00 GMT

The CDC posted infection prevention strategies for healthcare settings for an influenza variant on December 23.

Influenza A(H3N2) variant [A(H3N2)v] is a virus containing genes from human, avian and swine origins, and has been detected in 12 persons since July 2011

HHS seeks comments of healthcare worker flu shot guidance

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:38:00 GMT

The US Department of Health and Human Services is asking for comments on a draft guidance for achieving a 90% influenza immunization rate for healthcare workers by 2020. The guidance document is from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee , and the request for comments appeared in the Federal Register, December 19. The comment period ends January 16th, 2012.

Click here for the five recommendations and links to comment.

What healthcare leaders need to know about sharps safety programs

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:35:00 GMT

As a subset of safety culture, sharps safety is critical to protecting healthcare workers. An article from the International Healthcare Worker Safety Center asks leaders how their institutions are faring in the continuous quality improvement efforts needed to maintain sharps safety. It’s a question relevant to all healthcare settings, large and small.

Making the case for nurses getting flu shots

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT

A free, five-minute video makes a compelling case for nurses to receive the influenza vaccination.

The Immunization Action Coalition has selected "Nurse-to-Nurse Influenza Vaccine Safety Video" as its video of the week.

Click for more information, including a link to the video.

How the infection prevention Grinch stole Christmas

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:48:00 GMT

At this time of the year it is not just facility safety policies that clash with holiday decorations, but infection prevention concerns as well.

Click here for advice on holiday decorations and infection control concerns from the land of Dickens, A Christmas Carol, and yes, Scrooge.

Study: Workers’ responsible for norovirus outbreak in long-term care facilities

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:45:00 GMT

Ill staff members moving between eight long-term care facilities in southern Nevada may have been responsible for a 2010 norovirus outbreak.

More information is available on the OSHA Healthcare Advisor.

Study: Respirator and mask misuse exposed workers to H1N1

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:17:00 GMT

Early in the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the absence of or improper use of respirators and masks likely caused healthcare workers to be exposed, according to study appearing in the December issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.