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In findings that dramatically undercut the growing perception that infection prevention has become a top priority for the health care system, many IPs are having budgets slashed and critical functions such as surveillance compromised, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) reported recently in Fort Lauderdale, FL, at the group's annual conference.
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The principal findings of a recent economic survey by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology include the following:
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The Centers for Disease Control continues to reassess its infection control guidelines for pandemic influenza A H1N1, but has held to a controversial N95 respirator recommendation due to the possibility of airborne spread that would make standard surgical masks ineffective, said Michael Bell, MD, associate director for Infection Control in the CDC Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion.
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Recent outbreaks of hepatitis C are a wake-up call to boost infection control practices, particularly in outpatient settings. But they also underscore the prevalence of HCV and the continued occupational risk to health care workers.
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Perhaps no American in medicine is more synonymous with hand hygiene than Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, FAAN, CIC, associate dean for research at the Columbia School of Nursing in New York City. Larson has authored scores of papers on the cardinal principle of infection prevention.
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On April 23, 2009, the oft-repeated pandemic influenza warning of "when, not if" became now.
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As this issue went to press, interim infection control recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for H1N1 influenza A included the following:
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Spread of H1N1 influenza A virus in the Southern Hemisphere creates a fateful scenario where coinfection with H5N1 avian influenza A is now possible, Margaret Chan, MD, director- general of the World Health Organization, recently warned.
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If you have not encountered bewilderment surrounding responsibility lines with the implementation of new guidelines, regulations, or corporate-driven initiatives concerning infection prevention, you will.
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In the turbulent days after 9/11 and the anthrax attacks, during the buildup to war in Iraq, the federal government undertook an ambitious plan to vaccinate half a million health care workers against smallpox.
