ICCS Infection Prevention & Infection Control Newsletter: 2019 Year in Review (Part I)
Another year is behind us, so let's look at what happened with infection prevention and control during 2019. In this first part of a two-part special edition of the ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter, find some of the biggest news items and ICCS special reports from last year. Note: Access Part II here.
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Special Report: Manufacturer's Instructions for Use: Keeping Your Facility Compliant — This ICCS Special Report explains the importance of and provides guidance on complying with instructions for use.
Growing Reports of Hepatitis A: Guidance for Healthcare Facilities — ICCS was inundated with concerns from healthcare facilities regarding the increasing nationwide reports of hep A, so we shared insight and guidance.
OIG Report: ASCs Struggling to Comply With Infection Control Requirements — The HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a report suggesting many ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are coming up short in their efforts to meet infection control requirements.
ECRI: Infection Risks, Antimicrobial Stewardship Top Patient Safety Concerns — It was no surprise to see issues like infection and antimicrobial stewardship take spots on ECRI Institute's annual "Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations" report.
Duodenoscope Reprocessing Remains Infection Prevention Challenge — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that despite efforts to improve the cleaning and reprocessing of duodenoscopes, decontamination remains a significant challenge.
CDC Updates Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its "core elements" of hospital antibiotic stewardship programs.
Joint Commission Spotlights Ophthalmology Device Infection Risks — The Joint Commission called attention to infection risks associated with several ophthalmology devices.
SSIs Linked to Increased Mortality, Study Finds — The results of a study show that patients with a surgical site infection (SSI) are more likely to experience increases in mortality and long-term infection risk.
The 'Licking Challenge' is Another Reason to Switch From Bulk Items — Is your organization still using bulk supplies? Better be careful: They may prove too alluring to be resisted by some people who just "need" to lick them.
Hospital Sinks Next to Patient Toilets May Harbor Dangerous Bacteria — A study found that sinks located next to patient toilets in hospital rooms are far more likely to harbor dangerous bacteria than those sinks located closer to the room's entry door.
Patient Privacy Curtains Represent Infection Risk — The results of a study showed that patient privacy curtains are commonly contaminated with multidrug-resistant organisms, raising the risk of infection and disease transmission.
Infection Prevention Remains National Patient Safety Goal for All Programs — The Joint Commission continued to stress the importance of infection prevention by including it as a 2020 National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG) for all of its programs.
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