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When it comes to treating lipids in patients with heart disease, the mantra may be, The lower the LDL, the better. Data from the multicenter Reversal of Atherosclerosis with Aggressive Lipid Lowering (REVERSAL) trial indicate that aggressive reduction of atherogenic lipoproteins prevents progression of disease.
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Influenza had a major impact on the nations hospitals this season, filling up intensive care units and leading to staff shortages. Currently, there is no standard that requires immunization of health care workers, but the Joint Commission requires hospitals to be in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. A vaccine against the H5N1 virus could be in clinical trials by this summer.
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A third case of vancomycin-resistant Staphylo-coccus aureus (VRSA) has occurred in the United States, opening up the distinct possibility that the much-feared superbug will continue to emerge. Though little was known about the case as this issue went to press, Hospital Infection Control was able to confirm that it occurred in a patient in New York.
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Underscoring the importance of its new infection control standards for 2005, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has decided to roll out the new requirements on a consultative basis for hospitals being surveyed from July to December of this year.
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The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology recently posted information on its web site to assist infection control professionals (ICPs) in doing a sentinel event analysis. The information includes the highlights in this article.
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Two of the nations leading health care epidemiologists recently held a provocative debate on the controversial topic of active surveillance cultures for multidrug-resistant pathogens. As infection control professionals are well aware, the topic has become one of the hottest issues in the field. Accordingly, the debate was recently held in Phoenix at the annual conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
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The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions new draft guidelines for patient isolation have been criticized for not being aggressive enough in identifying and eradicating patient reservoirs of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, the guidelines include a section on enhanced surveillance and infection control measures for ICPs who want to ratchet up their efforts against MDROs.