ICCS Infection Prevention & Infection Control Newsletter (September 2018)
We wrapped up the summer with another month of significant infection control and prevention news. In this issue of the ICCS Infection Prevention & Control Newsletter, find stories on common deficiencies, challenging Joint Commission standards, surgical site infections, high-touch surfaces, sepsis, privacy curtains, jet air dryers and antibiotic resistance.
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10 Common Infection Prevention and Control Deficiency Findings in Healthcare Facilities. 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.
Infection Control Standards Challenging Most Joint Commission-Accredited Organizations. The Joint Commission issued its report on the top five most challenging requirements for the first half of 2018, and an infection control standard holds a spot on the list of many Joint Commission programs.
Surgical Site Infections Significantly Increase Costs of Hip, Knee Replacements. A study examined how much the cost of hip and knee replacements increase when patients develop surgical site infections. The conclusion: a lot.
Even the Best Healthcare Facilities Can Do More to Prevent Infections. Healthcare-associated infections can be reduced by up to 55 percent by systematically implementing evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies, according to a review of studies.
Covering the Instrument Table Decreases Bacterial Bioburden: An Evaluation of Environmental Quality Indicators. A significant decrease in bacterial bioburden on the instrument table when the table was covered during static and dynamic periods was observed by researchers.
Parents Sue Hospital Following Infant Death Linked to Infection Prevention Practices. Parents of an infant that died while under the care of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are suing the hospital, accusing its staff of failing to follow proper infection prevention protocols.
Study Reinforces Importance of Disinfecting High-Touch Surfaces. The results of a new study further support the need for outpatient clinics — and all other healthcare organizations — to ensure effective disinfection processes for high-touch surfaces.
September Puts Sepsis and Infection Prevention in the Spotlight. September was Sepsis Awareness Month, which provided an opportunity to shine a light on this life-threatening condition.
Hospital Privacy Curtains May Harbor Dangerous Germs. Without timely intervention, privacy curtains in hospitals can become breeding grounds for resistant bacteria, posing a threat to patient safety, according to new research
Commentary Points to Gaps in Guidelines for Prevention of MRSA SSIs. In a viewpoint, authors advocate the addition of two preventive strategies to the current U.S. guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs).
Jet Air Dryers Raise Infection Risk. A new study showed that the type of hand drying method available in washrooms affects the amount of bacterial contamination in the room.
Most People Who Think They Have a Penicillin Allergy are Wrong. It's surprisingly common for people to wrongly think they have a penicillin allergy -- and that misconception can be dangerous for their health.
Telehealth Helps Promote Safe Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in Remote Healthcare. A pilot project at two rural VA medical centers demonstrated that telehealth videoconferencing promoted antibiotic stewardship efforts by linking remote facilities to infectious diseases-trained professionals
U.S. Challenges World to Intensify Global Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance. The United States announced during the United Nations General Assembly "The AMR Challenge": the most ambitious global initiative to date to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
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