Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – January 1, 2011
January 1, 2011
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Infection preventionists must hold the line as pan-resistant gram negatives spread
The continuing global emergence of multidrug resistant gram negative pathogens bugs that are virtually impervious to all antibiotics and can transfer resistance mechanisms between species means infection prevention is more critical than ever during every patient encounter. -
Detecting, stopping new resistant bugs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent infection with carbapenem-resistant pathogens include the following recommendations. -
Fatal infection of NDM-1 included gene transfer
Threatening to spread to North America after originating in hospitals in India, the pan-resistant New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) enzyme has been linked to a fatal infection in Canada. -
Drug stewardship: A failure to de-escalate
Robert Rapp, PharmD, professor of pharmacy at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, is an outspoken advocate for antibiotic stewardship to preserve the efficacy of our remaining antibiotics against rising drug resistance. -
Flu recs redefine HCW protection
In a lingering legacy of the H1N1 pandemic, stronger protections are now advised for seasonal influenza than was the case prior to the emergence of the novel H1N1 strain. That distinctive status was recently highlighted in new influenza guidance in California. -
Abstract & Commentary: Flawed data mar reports of BSIs
Central line-associated infections, particularly bloodstream infections (BSI), remain a huge issue in our technological age. Four academic medical centers were used to accumulate 165,963 central-line days associated with 241,518 patient days. -
iPNewbe: What's protecting who and how?
The public is getting savvier by the day regarding what is expected in healthcare facilities from an infection prevention standpoint. It wasn't too long ago that communication with the general public was an uncommon occurrence. -
2010 Salary Survey Results: On the mend: IPs rebound with new demands, new opportunities
Infection preventionists appear to be on the rebound with the national economy, gradually regaining program resources and improved compensation as healthcare associated infections (HAIs) continue to draw unprecedented public attention and regulatory activity.