Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – November 1, 2003
November 1, 2003
View Issues
-
Mask or tissues? SARS ushers in an age of ‘respiratory etiquette’
Favoring old-school etiquette over universal masking, some clinicians are urging a common-sense appeal to patients to use tissues and block coughs and sneezes in case severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) makes an unwelcome return. -
Triage, waiting rooms, and respiratory etiquette
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is emphasizing that prevention must begin at the first point at which a person with suspect or probable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) encounters the health care system. -
Questions lead to answers in ‘what-if’ SARS scenarios
Hospital-based health care workers should consider how patients with known or suspect severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) will be handled from the point of initial contact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. -
SARS nearly escapes from lab via researcher
While epidemiologists await a possible natural resurgence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a cautionary tale from Singa-pore underscores that another global outbreak of SARS could be triggered by a laboratory accident. -
Long procedure leads to strep transmission in OR
In an unusual case with no obvious breaches in infection control, Group A Streptococcus was transmitted to a surgeon and scrub nurse after they performed a prolonged debridement procedure on a patient with necrotizing fascitis. -
Covert chemical attack may be hard to detect
Media images to the contrary, a chemical terrorist attack may not be so obvious as people choking in a subway or being hosed down and decontaminated in the streets. -
MRSA strains strike both home and hospital
Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile enemy. It is spreading in the community, as well as in the hospital, with increasing resistance to antibiotics. -
False alarm? No fire found in hubbub on hand rubs
Despite an ongoing flap between fire safety and infection control, the likelihood of alcohol hand hygiene products contributing to a fire appears to be exceedingly remote, the authors report. -
JCAHO slates national infection control conference
With hospital administrators a key target audience, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has slated a national infection control conference that will emphasize the importance of adequately funding an increasingly important program. -
Spotlight special projects during JCAHO inspections
Don t be shy about emphasizing your success stories when an accreditation surveyor begins making the rounds. -
JCAHO addresses PPR liability concerns
The Joint Commission has created two options designed to address legal disclosure concerns related to its Periodic Performance Review (PPR). The PPR is an integral component of the Joint Commissions new accreditation process that debuts in 2004. -
Joint Commission seeking core measure test sites
The Joint Commission is seeking volunteer hospitals with intensive care units (ICU) that would like to be considered for participation in a pilot test of six proposed ICU core measures. -
2004 Patient Safety Goals include hospital infections
Dont forget, new Patient Safety Goals including reducing nosocomial infections go into effect as of Jan 1, 2004. -
Bioterrorism Watch Supplement