Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – May 1, 2009
May 1, 2009
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Highly drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain gains foothold, threatens to emerge nationwide
Trying to keep the genie in the bottle, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidelines to halt the emergence of a highly drug-resistant, gram-negative pathogen that can cause a variety of infections with a strikingly high mortality rate. -
CDC measures to detect, stop resistant Klebsiella
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent infection with carbapenem-resistant Wnterobacteri-aceae (CRE) in general and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in particular include the following recommendations: -
Genetic transfer ability broadens CRKP threat
Beyond the immediate threat to frail, hospitalized patients posed by emerging carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a larger concern: its mechanism of resistance is transferable to other bacterial species. -
Share and share alike: Transfer pts, infections?
Findings from the first in-depth study of patient sharing show that hospitals share large numbers of patients with other acute care facilities without knowing it. The findings do not bode well for containing emerging organisms like carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae because they suggest that once a pathogen enters a region, it may soon be shared among many area hospitals. -
Compliance science: Big Brother in a little badge
Epidemiologists and computer scientists at the University of Iowa have collaborated to create a wireless electronic badge that monitors hand hygiene compliance. The study was unveiled recently in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). -
Rigorous cleaning blocks MRSA from prior patient
A rigorous environmental cleaning intervention can reduce the transmission of methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and other multidrug-resistant organisms in hospital intensive care units (ICUs), according to research presented recently in San Diego at the annual meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). -
Preventing infections saves billions of bucks
Health care-associated infections cause direct medical costs as high as $45 billion annually in U.S. hospitals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports in a new analysis. -
HHS uses funds to inspect ambulatory care centers
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is allocating $10 million to beef up infection prevention surveys in ambulatory settings, according to recent Congressional hearings. -
iPNewbe: Answering the call: IP decides to sink or swim
The Zen quality of the above quotation underscores that the new IP may find him or herself in midair a few times a day, leaping and hoping that net will form. For Christi Zumwalt, RN, an infection preventionist at Medical City Hospital in Dallas, it's the only way to fly. -
Wisdom Teachers: Past APIC prez sees field under transformation
Having been in infection prevention in one capacity or another since 1981, Denise Murphy, RN, MPH, CIC has seen the field affected by everything from the AIDS epidemic, the rise of drug-resistant pathogens, and the increasing influence of consumer advocates and lawmakers. She has seen it all and seen enough.