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The prevention of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is a "national priority . . . that requires all health care facilities and agencies assume responsibility," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes in long-awaited new guidelines on the issue.
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New guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on control of multidrug resistant pathogens (MDROs) include a section on "intensified interventions" such as active surveillance cultures (ASC). The CDC recommendations in this area include the following:
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Revising guidance on the use of surgical masks and respirators during a pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now advises that it is "prudent" for health care workers to use N95 respirators during "direct care activities involving patients with confirmed or suspected pandemic influenza."
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is emphasizing that knowledge is power when it comes to patients. Recent Joint Commission initiatives indicate a growing trend toward patient education and empowerment to enhance a culture of safety and prevent infections.
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The aging of the ICP work force is resulting in a gradual exodus of skilled health care epidemiologists, creating a plentiful job market and attractive salaries in the short-term but setting an ominous tone for the future of patient safety.
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Lack of consensus on how to measure hand hygiene compliance has made this a daunting challenge for quality professionals. To address this, the Joint Commission has partnered with infection control organizations to identify how to measure compliance with hand hygiene guidelines.
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This study reports findings from a survey of 2,323 ICU nurses regarding their intention to leave due to working conditions and factors predicting this intention. The sample was part of a larger study of patient safety that involved 110 ICUs from 66 hospitals across the United States.
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A systematic search of the literature from 1984 to 2004 was conducted in order to answer the question posed by the title of this article: How frequently is venous thromboembolism in heparin-treated patients associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
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Severe sepsis with organ failure has one of the highest mortality rates of any diagnosis commonly treated in the Intensive Care Unit. Recent clinical trials have provided some positive results with reductions in overall mortality from sepsis.
