Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – November 1, 2007
November 1, 2007
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Stealth C. diff: Asymptomatic carriers add another threat to emerging pathogen
Investigators have found that asymptomatic carriers of Clostridium difficile "have the potential to contribute significantly to disease transmission," including causing infections with the highly toxigenic strain that has plagued hospitals with severe outbreaks. -
Adjunct IC measures to use in C. diff outbreak
Infection control professionals at the Cleveland VA Medical Center took several additional prevention measures because they suspected asymptomatic Clostridium difficile carriers were fueling an outbreak in their long-term care facility. -
Suspicion lingers C. diff transmitted by meat
Investigators are trying to verify or refute the lingering suspicion that an undefined level of Clostridium difficile is being transmitted to humans through meat in the food supply. -
Healthcare Infection Prevention: IDSA strongly endorses federal antibiotic effort
Clinicians have been traditionally skittish about the long arm of the law reaching into the realm of medicine, but no one is curbing their enthusiasm about the potential benefits of a proposed federal law targeting the serious problem of antibiotic resistance. -
Healthcare Infection Prevention: Halting LTC norovirus outbreak in eight days
A norovirus outbreak can be notoriously difficult to control in a long-term care setting before it exacts a huge toll on residents and staff. -
ICPs use seasonal flu shots as pandemic drill
Infection control professionals are killing two birds with one shot, administering annual flu vaccine in rapid-fire fashion to simulate immunizing health care workers against an emerging influenza pandemic.