Articles Tagged With:
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Antivaccine Attitudes: The Truth Is Out There
In a fascinating study of the roots of psychological attitudes, researchers report that people who are against vaccinations are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories.
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The High Cost of C. diff Infection and Relapse
Clostridium difficile claims a staggering toll in patient infections annually, and a new study estimates the cost of treatment is nearly $25,000 based on five days of hospitalization. Recurrent infections, not an uncommon phenomenon with C. diff, add an additional two days and another $10,500.
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Joint Commission Dings Hand Hygiene Lapses
Infection preventionists should be aware that as part of its ongoing enforcement of patient safety goals, The Joint Commission will be assessing hand hygiene compliance during 2018 accreditation surveys.
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Mind the Gap: SHEA Guidance on Ending Isolation
While there is a dearth of data to make completely informed decisions on aspects of this issue, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) has issued a guidance document that hospitals can use as a framework for making policy.
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APIC-SHEA Forming Formidable Partnership
The two major infection control associations in the United States are forging a forward-thinking partnership. It includes several major initiatives that will be enacted this year, with efforts underway to bring in patient and consumer advocates and collaborate in presentations and published papers.
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A Call to Action to Prevent Non-vent Pneumonia
What if there were a routine addition to patient care that could save some 10,000 lives annually? An increasing body of research says there is.
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Flu Vaccine Efficacy Poor as H3N2 Outbreak Surges
With the nation reeling from an historically bad influenza outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing the public for a dismal efficacy estimate for the 2017-18 vaccine against the predominant H3N2 A flu strain.
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Stroke Risk in Atrial Fibrillation: A Moving Target?
An investigation of patients in a national database with atrial fibrillation and no comorbidities and not on aspirin or anticoagulants showed that the clinical features that make up the CHA2DS2-VASc score change over time and can increase a patient’s risk for stroke, which could affect therapy decisions.
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Physical Activity and Death in CAD Patients
An observational study of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) assessed at baseline and two years later in stable coronary artery disease patients, who then were followed for about five more years, showed that LTPA at baseline, at two years, and if it went from zero at baseline to some at two years was associated with lower rates of cardiac death compared to inactive patients.
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Accurately Diagnosing Aortic Dissection
A prospective study of patients with suspected acute aortic syndromes showed that a clinical risk score plus D-dimer testing carried a positive predictive value of 99.7% and a 0.3% incidence of false-negative studies. The authors recommended that this approach become the standard method for triage to imaging in patients with suspected acute aortic syndromes.