ICCS Infection Prevention & Infection Control Newsletter (October 2018)

Finding it difficult to keep up with all the recent infection prevention and control news? You're not alone! We just finished yet another month chock-full of major stories. But don't worry: ICCS has you covered. This edition of the ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter includes stories on Joint Commission scoring changes, progress report on healthcare-associated infection improvement efforts, outpatient antibiotic overprescribing, total hip and knee infections, a deadly adenovirus outbreak and a new flu medication.

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Joint Commission Revises Infection Control Scoring. The Joint Commission announced it is reevaluating the way it scores high-level disinfection and sterilization to focus more closely on those process steps that pose the highest risk to patients and safety were they to fail.
 
Patient Infection Risks Prominent on ECRI Annual List of Health Tech Hazards. ECRI Institute included three potential sources of patient infections on its "2019 Top 10 Health Technology Hazards" list: 1) Mattresses Remaining Contaminated After Cleaning, 2) Retained Surgical Sponges, and 3) Recontamination of Endoscopes After Disinfection.
 
CDC Publishes New Healthcare-Associated Infection Progress Report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published its latest Healthcare-Associated Infection Progress Report. While progress was seen in some areas, improvements are greatly needed in others.
 
Study: Widespread Antibiotic Overprescribing by Outpatient Clinics. A study reveals that outpatient clinics are prescribing antibiotics at an unwarranted rate.

ICYMI: 10 Common Infection Prevention and Control Deficiency Findings in Healthcare Facilities. In September, ICCS President Phenelle Segal, RN, CIC, FAPIC, contributed a column to Becker's Clinical Leadership & Infection Control discussing common deficiencies cited by Medicare and/or accreditation surveys across the continuum of care as observed by ICCS consultants.

Study: Total Hip and Knee Surgical Site Infections Projected to Rise. A study projects that complex surgical site infections following hip and knee arthroplasty are expected to increase 14% between 2020 and 2030.
 
Small Progress Made in Reducing Hospital Infections. A survey funded by CDC reveals that hospitals have made some progress in reducing their number of healthcare-associated infections, but a lot of work remains.
 
Sink Traps are Surprising Source of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in ICU. During a nationwide outbreak of healthcare-associated infections of an antibiotic-resistant bacteria, an Israeli hospital traced repeated infections of patients in its intensive care unit to an unexpected source: sink traps.
 
Adenovirus Outbreak Claims Nine Children in New Jersey. An outbreak of the adenovirus at a rehabilitation center in New Jersey has been linked to the deaths of nine children. Note: The death of a 10th child was reported after publication of this story.
 
Overuse of antibiotics 'risks return to dark ages of life-threatening surgery'. We face a return to the dark ages of life-threatening surgery unless we can preserve the infection-killing powers of antibiotics, according to England's chief medical officer.
 
Researchers Recommend Universal Screening to Tackle Rise in Hepatitis C. Physicians are encountering a growing number of younger patients who are testing positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) fueled largely by the opioid crisis. That increase and more effective and tolerable drug regimens for HCV infection means one-time universal screening of all adults for HCV is now cost effective and recommended.
 
NIH Study Finds Probiotic Bacillus Eliminates Staphylococcus Bacteria. A study from National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists and their Thai colleagues shows that a "good" bacterium commonly found in probiotic digestive supplements helps eliminate Staphylococcus aureus.
 
FDA approves new drug to treat influenza. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in patients 12 years of age and older who have been symptomatic for no more than 48 hours.
 
International Infection Prevention Week Focuses on Patient Safety. International Infection Prevention Week took place from October 14-20 with the theme of "protecting patients everywhere."

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