Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – January 1, 2017
January 1, 2017
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IDWeek 2016: Connections Drive Infections, as Bugs Move with Pts
Pathogens and patients move together across an interconnected healthcare continuum, meaning no matter how high a level of infection prevention is achieved in one hospital it is still at the mercy of a wide variety of transferring facilities, said Tom Frieden, MD, director of the CDC.
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Clinicians Warn of Deadly Measles Complication
While undermining herd immunity in their communities, parents who decline measles vaccine for their children may be putting them and other kids at risk of a serious complication that is more common than once thought, researchers reported recently in New Orleans at IDWeek 2016.
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CDC Studies Hospital Acquired Influenza
In the historical debate about whether healthcare workers should be required to have seasonal influenza shots, sometimes the issue of whether and how much flu is actually transmitted by caregivers has been viewed with some skepticism.
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Universal Masking Protects Stem Cell Patients
A universal masking policy for health care providers and home care workers dramatically reduced respiratory viral infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, researchers report.1
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Cures Act includes antibiotic provisions for CDC, FDA
Infectious disease groups have successfully lobbied Congress to pass legislation that would fast track development of new antibiotics, improve tracking of drug resistant bacteria and support the national push for antibiotic stewardship.
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Reach out to the Addicted Before Outbreaks
Focused on their high calling to protect patients from cross-transmission and full-blown outbreaks, infection preventionists may find it difficult to muster compassion for those who willfully endanger their frail charges by stealing the very medicine needed to comfort them.
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VRE and MRSA: Should We Stop Routine Contact Precautions?
SYNOPSIS: The value of routine contact precautions for VRE and MRSA is strongly challenged.