This issue covers some of the most significant news from March. Topics include top patient safety concerns, Joint Commission surveys, nursing home citations, CLABSIs, hand dryers, and a hand sanitizer recall.

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ECRI Top Patient Safety Concerns for 2021 Include Multiple Infection Risks — Multiple safety challenges associated with infections earned places in ECRI's annual list of top 10 patient safety concerns.

Effective March 15 Joint Commission returning to unannounced onsite surveys — The Joint Commission announced it had resumed unannounced onsite surveys for most programs.

Top 10 Nursing Home Survey Citations — An analysis of federal survey data showed that infection prevention and control deficiencies are among the top citations for nursing home providers.

Lawmakers Want Obama-Era Infection Control Regulations for Nursing Homes Restored — Stricter infection control and emergency preparedness regulations could be on the horizon for skilled nursing and other long-term care providers.

C. auris Taking Advantage of Focus on COVID-19 — Experts warned that pathogens like Candida auris are taking advantage of gaps in monitoring and containment efforts.

National CLABSI rate increased significantly during pandemic — Research showed that the rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in acute care hospitals increased significantly during the pandemic.

Though Risk is Minuscule, Infection After COVID-19 Vaccination is Possible — A study of vaccinated healthcare workers found a tiny percentage tested positive, underscoring need for mitigation measures until the population has achieved herd immunity through vaccination.

High Speed Air Hand Dryers Spread Contamination More than Paper Towels — A study showed air dryers spread bacteria from poorly washed hands to clothing and surfaces beyond the restroom.

Durisan Hand Sanitizer Recall Due to Microbial Contamination — Durisan announced a recall of select lots of its antimicrobial hand sanitizer, non-alcohol products due to microbial contamination.

Real-World Study Shows MS Patients Have High Infection Risks — A study revealed that outpatient claims and inpatient hospitalizations for infections — especially urinary and kidney infections — were higher among people with multiple sclerosis (MS) than controls.

Health Experts Establish Targets to Improve Hospital Antibiotic Prescribing — A CDC study estimated that ~56% of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals for selected prescribing events were inconsistent with recommended prescribing practices, which led to the first-ever national targets to reduce inappropriate prescribing of certain antibiotics in U.S. hospitals.

Cross-Sector Coalition Calls for Significantly Increased Investments to Combat AMR — A coalition of more than 50 organizations called on the federal government to increase investments to combat antimicrobial resistance and develop new infection-fighting drugs.