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As an epidemic strain of Clostridium difficile continues to emerge in many U.S. hospitals, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention working group has issued clinical definitions and is urging ICPs to increase surveillance for the pathogen.
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Citing the need for surveillance to track the changing epidemiology of Clostridium difficileassociated disease (CDAD), an Ad Hoc C. diff Surveillance Working Group recently issued the following interim definitions and recommendations:
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The rate of invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in dialysis patients is higher than for any other known patient population and is 100 times higher than for the general population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
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On the heels of a similar American finding, Canadian researchers have documented the presence of potentially disease-causing strains of Clostridium difficile in retail ground meat samples from grocery stores.
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In highlighting the growing problem of drug-resistant bacteria in hemodialysis settings the Centers for Disease Control referenced its existing infection control guidelines for dialysis.
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The medical response to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the 2003 outbreak in Toronto was undermined by a "turf war" between infection control and industrial hygienists, with health care workers ultimately suffering as a result, according to the final report by the Ontario Commission to Investigate the Introduction and Spread of SARS.
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As previously reported in Hospital Infection Control, investigators have concluded that the most common strain of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) developed intermediate resistance to vancomycin in a case that may be harbinger of others to come.
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The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology is trying to dispel three "widely held myths" about health care associated infections (HAIs):
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The escalating consumption of tobacco products is creating an unprecedented worldwide pandemic that in the 21st century will result in 1 billion deaths worldwide.
