Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – May 1, 2017
May 1, 2017
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IPs Can Provide Zika Education At Work, in the Community
In reporting another wave of tragic birth defects to babies born in the United States with Zika virus, public health officials urged healthcare providers to follow potential cases closely and reiterate prevention measures within their workplace and communities. Pregnant women are priority one.
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Closing the Gap Between Patient, Worker Safety
Standard infection control precautions with all patients have been long recommended, but there is a surprising lack of definitive data about what role they actually play in protecting the patient and the healthcare worker.
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RSV, HMPV Outbreak Wreaks Havoc
This was the Apollo 13 of outbreaks—where just about everything that could go wrong did. And in that vein, those who tried valiantly to save all the lives they could embodied that doomed mission’s heroism. In this case, metaphorically speaking, everyone didn’t make it back.
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Put Pediatric Dental Outbreaks on the Radar
Infection preventionists consulting with dental practices or doing community outreach should be aware of reports of invasive Mycobacterium abscessus infections among children following pulpotomy dental procedures sometimes termed “baby root canals.”
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TB Is Down but Not Out
Transmission of tuberculosis within healthcare settings is rarely reported. However, the disease endures, and the potential for disruptive unsuspected cases or healthcare workers developing active disease requires continued vigilance.
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Flu Vaccination Reduces Mortality in Pediatric Patients
In findings that should give pause to parents declining to immunize their children for flu out of misplaced fear of vaccine safety, researchers have found evidence that flu shots in pediatric patients can be literally lifesaving.
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As Patients Leave With IV Antibiotics in Tow, How Can We Prevent Infections in the Home?
With fiscal pressures to discharge patients to home care, many leave the hospital with an invasive device attached. That includes central venous catheters for patients to self-administer IV antibiotics in their homes.