Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – August 1, 2007
August 1, 2007
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Fuel for the fire: MRSA prevalence study may spark state infection control laws
An unprecedented prevalence study that revealed an epidemic of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the nation's hospitals will likely accelerate fires that already were smoldering in many state legislatures. -
Got MRSA? 'Yes we do,' ICPs answer in all 50 states
Key points and findings from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology that are from its national prevalence survey of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are summarized as follows: -
Consumer groups seize on MRSA study
Consumer groups, patient safety advocates, and critics of the health care system are expressing outrage and demanding action after the highly publicized release of a study that showed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence in the nation's hospitals is at least eight times higher than previously estimated. -
CDC issues new patient isolation guidelines
The "Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings 2007" updates and expands the "1996 Guideline for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals." The document's executive summary notes that the following developments led to revision of the 1996 guideline: -
ICP Insider: Dead reckoning: 98,987 patients die in single year
Let's not round it off to a cool make that cold 100,000 deaths. No, leave it as it lies: 98,987 people with health care-associated infections (HAIs) listed as a contributing cause of death over the span of a single, miserable year. -
Pandemic mask guidance frees up N95s for hospitals
If an influenza pandemic strikes, the public can use standard surgical masks, "social distancing" and hand hygiene to protect against community transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced. -
CDC infection tracking system goes nationwide
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has opened enrollment for all health care facilities in the United States who wish to join its state-of-the art infection reporting system: the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). -
CDC: Add HCW flu shots to patient safety program
Health administrators should consider the level of vaccination coverage among health care workers to be a "measure of a patient safety quality program," recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).