Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – September 1, 2020
September 1, 2020
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Long-Term Care IPs Are ‘Heroes’ of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Infection preventionists are the heroes of the pandemic, dealing with a profound crisis without proper training and resources, said experts in infection prevention and epidemiology during a recent “5 Second Rule” podcast from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.
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COVID-19 Nursing Home Cases Reflect Infection in Local Communities
Nursing homes with higher rates of complaints and deficiencies had more reported COVID-19 cases, according to a “snapshot” study of nursing homes that reported cases in late April 2020. The research, published July 29, 2020, on JAMA Network Open, also found that COVID-19 rates were significantly higher in counties where facilities had cases, showing how community spread affects local nursing homes.
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Study of SARS-CoV-2 Finds Airborne Particles, but Are They Infective?
A pre-published study under peer review suggests particles of SARS-CoV-2 can linger on surfaces and travel in the air beyond six feet.
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Hospitals Cut Common Infection Cases by Half with Scalable Process for System Goals
When hospitals in Massachusetts were facing a merger, leaders sought to address the quality issue head-on and achieved substantial improvements in some categories, including a reduction in Clostridioides difficile cases.
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OSHA Enforcement Prioritizing Hazards Related to COVID-19 Response
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) stated it will prioritize investigations of complaints, referrals, fatalities, and hospitalizations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. That means risk managers should prepare to respond effectively to employee complaints or OSHA queries.