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Emerging data in elderly patients indicate that a stealth epidemic of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus may be going undetected in ambulatory care settings, Hospital Infection Control has learned. If the data are verified, the infectious risk extends to all patients in ambulatory care, as elderly patients are essentially a surrogate marker for health care transmission due to their lack of other risk factors.
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A cluster of hemodialysis patients with West Nile virus (WNV) infections suggests possible transmission of the emerging virus in a dialysis center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. However, the epidemiologic investigation was inconclusive in determining a source of infection.
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While much of the recently reported infection control problems in ambulatory care have centered on viral hepatitis and reused needles, there may be a comparable level of bacterial infections occurring that are more difficult to detect, investigators report.
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Ninety-three percent of sputum isolates from a single long-term care facility were resistant to quinolones. Epidemiologic study showed an association with prior receipt of levofloxacin.
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The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has created a toolkit on improving influenza vaccination rates in heath care workers.
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According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, these are the key strategies to establish a successful flu immunization program for health care workers.
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Spurred by historically poor flu immunization compliance in an age of patient safety, some powerful health care forces are converging to make the annual flu shot a new professional standard for health care workers.
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While much attention has been paid to new hospital infection control standards for 2005, the Joint Commission also is adopting similar standards in long-term care facilities. A pre-publication edition of the new standards for long-term care, which will be effective Jan. 1, 2005, call for the following key provisions.
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Both clinical disease and sputum colonization due to Mycobacterium avium complex were traced to the potable water system of a large public hospital. There are no established methods for eradicating these organisms from potable water.
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All patients who present to a health care setting with fever and respiratory symptoms should be managed according to the CDCs recommendations for respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette and questioned regarding their recent travel history.
