Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – February 1, 2011
February 1, 2011
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C . diff epidemic strikes pediatric population, greatly increasing risk of death in children
The national epidemic of Clostridium difficile is moving into the pediatric population, causing infections in children that prolong hospitalizations, increase morbidity and spell a striking increase in the risk of death. -
Medicare deaths report cites fatal infections
A recent federal report that included the highly publicized finding that some 15,000 Medicare patients die every month due to adverse events and hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) may ratchet up pressure on hospitals to prevent infections, which represented some 15% of the HACs. -
Testing for MRSA in ER: Not worth bang for buck?
When it comes to MRSA infection control in the chaotic emergency department (ED), enhanced attention to standard precautions and hand hygiene is a more cost-effective approach than active screening cultures, researchers report. -
Pressure builds forflu shot mandates
More health care workers responded to this season's push for influenza vaccination by rolling up their sleeves and getting the vaccine. -
Infected HCWs shunned protective measures
In the H1N1 influenza A pandemic, many infected health care workers failed to wear personal protective equipment. They became sick after caring for infected patients. In addition, they were infected after socializing with co-workers who came to work sick. -
Abstract & Commentary: New CDC guidelines to prevent neonatal strep
Group B streptococcal (GBS) disease is the leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis (within the first week of life) in the United States. Since the initial recommendations for perinatal prophylaxis in the 1990s, the incidence of GBS has declined by 80%.