Infection Control - March 2020
CDC says expired equipment from stockpile OK
The Strategic National Stockpile is a supply of lifesaving drugs and medical supplies
3/31/2020
Javits Center, other facilities temporary hospital sites in NYC
Center will have a total of 2,000 temporary hospital beds
3/31/2020
Navy hospital ship sails to Los Angeles to help with hospital crunch
The former oil supertanker won’t take coronavirus patients
3/31/2020
Coronavirus’s impact on healthcare IT: Supporting real-time needs of hospitals in crisis
Part 1: Navigating device management and redistribution
3/31/2020
Health systems urged to be ready for 15 or 20 percent of staff to have own coronavirus issues
Colorado plans to bring in contract nurses from out of state as well as medical students and professionals
3/30/2020
Illinois lawmakers working to curb Legionnaires’ Disease
New bill focuses on water quality, distribution
3/30/2020
A rural hospital's ‘improvises’ during coronavirus outbreak
Coronavirus pandemic presents significant challenges for rural hospitals
3/30/2020
Three coronavirus questions hospital asks before allowing entry into buildings
The questions were suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3/30/2020
Michigan healthcare facilities vary in coronavirus screening protocols
Hospitals are implementing state coronavirus restrictions
3/27/2020
Hospital ready with mobile hazmat tent if needed for coronavirus
Tent could be used to safely move a coronavirus patient into the hospital without putting anyone else at risk
3/27/2020
Washington hospital workers make masks from office supplies
Workers are dealing with a severe shortage of equipment
3/26/2020
Some hospitals need emergency stocks for coronavirus
Hospitals in that situation can contact their local county health department or EMS agency
3/26/2020
Keeping hospital ice machines safe from coronavirus
Following proper ice handling procedures is one more way to stop the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19
3/25/2020
As coronavirus spreads, hospitals deal with shortages
There are approximately 95,000 intensive care beds in the country
3/25/2020
‘Airborne precautions’ eyed for healthcare staffs after study shows coronavirus can survive in air
Scientists are looking at how humidity, temperature and ultraviolet lighting affects the disease
3/24/2020
Maryland hospitals setting up ‘triage tents’ to assess coronavirus patients
Some hospitals might also use the tents to triage those experiencing noncoronavirus-related symptoms
3/24/2020
People are stealing masks and other sterile supplies from hospitals
US officials have estimated the country only has about 1% of the masks needed for healthcare professionals
3/24/2020
Utah hospital sets up negative pressure tents for coronavirus
The tents are completely self-sustaining
3/23/2020
What hospitals need to do to prepare and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak
The spike in U.S. cases and daily reports of medical personnel exposure, is that hospital preparedness is critical to avoid a disaster
3/23/2020
U.S. hospitals may face severe PPE shortage
Survey suggests there may be a three-fold increase in demand for N95 masks
3/23/2020
V.A. preps to support healthcare system during coronavirus
Agency is legally designated as nation’s backup health system
3/23/2020
Study: Hospitals will run out of beds if coronavirus cases spike
No state will have enough room for novel coronavirus patients if the surge in severe cases here mirrors that in other countries
3/20/2020
U.S. healthcare facilities offer different pictures of coronavirus preparedness
Some believe their health systems are equipped, others aren't sure
3/20/2020
What hospitals are telling workers about coronavirus
Healthcare providers urged to take 'conservative approach'
3/20/2020
The challenge of mold in modern hospitals and healthcare facilities
Not only does mold cause structural damage to the facility costing them money and potential lost revenue, mold has been directly attributed to healthcare associated infections
3/20/2020
Many highly rated nursing homes have infection-control lapses
Sixty-one percent of nursing homes were cited for one or more infection-control deficiencies in the past few years
3/19/2020
Boston hospital braces for pandemic with warehouse of emergency supplies
Massachusetts General Hospital's facility contains stockpiles of critical items
3/18/2020
Nurses beg for protective gear and better planning amid coronavirus
Nurses in Washington State and California said they have had to beg for N95 masks
3/18/2020
Coronavirus preparedness planning for senior living communities
Prepare by keeping up with current events and be ready to implement additional recommendations as they become available
3/17/2020
Nursing homes urged to be extra vigilant on coronavirus
The novel coronavirus that originated is highly transmissible in ways scientists yet don’t fully understand
3/17/2020
Some Amazon sellers accused of price gouging hand sanitizers
Amazon has about 5 million sellers on its site, and 50 percent of its sales are by third-party sellers
3/17/2020
Occupational groups that are at high risk for coronavirus
Healthcare workers have a high risk of contracting coronavirus
3/17/2020
Study finds bacteria in ancient Irish soil stops growth of superbugs
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
3/17/2020
CMS: Main survey focus will be on infection control preparedness
The shift lets inspectors to focus on the spread of the coronavirus disease
3/16/2020
Blog: Why hospitals and nursing homes are likely coronavirus epicenters
Officials should focus on getting nursing homes ready
3/16/2020
Florida man can’t bring life-size Trump cutout to dialysis center because of safety, infection control
The man spends about three and a half hours a day, three days a week undergoing dialysis
3/16/2020
U.S. hospital with coronavirus patients share lessons
Patients are being treated in isolation rooms
3/13/2020
Infection control violations may suggest many hospitals not ready for coronavirus
An outbreak would demand peak performance
3/13/2020
Coronavirus evacuees monitored at Texas Center for Infectious Disease
Facility’s primary function is to treat tuberculosis patients
3/12/2020
Seattle nursing home coronavirus outbreak spotlights elder care risk
Age and close living conditions can increase danger
3/12/2020
N.Y. hospital reduce C. diff rates with process changes
Changes include enhanced monitoring for room turnovers
3/12/2020
CDC estimates flu deaths at 20,000 this season
This season the flu has caused 34 million illnesses
3/11/2020
Design and maintenance key to avoiding mold in healthcare facilities
Candida auris is now one of the world’s most feared microbes in healthcare settings
3/11/2020
Healthcare workers question safety measures while prepping for coronavirus
Some say the medical community wasn't fully prepared for previous viruses, like SARS and Ebola — and they're concerned that lessons learned are not being applied
3/10/2020
Judge orders release of Seattle Children's mold records
The judge scolded Public Health of Seattle & King County for staying silent for so long in a case that has been in court for several months
3/10/2020
How are hospitals screening for the coronavirus?
Healthcare facilities are stepping up screening efforts
3/10/2020
Seattle Homeland Security facility shuts down over coronavirus fears
An employee there may be infected with coronavirus
3/10/2020
Anxiety grows as N.Y prepares for epidemic
No confirmed cases have appeared in N.Y., but officials have begun to prepare for the possibility
3/10/2020
Quarantines were almost obsolete, but facilities are now needed
Governments are trying to find somewhere to put coronavirus patients
3/9/2020
U.S. healthcare facilities short on face masks
Many of the protective face masks used in the U.S. are manufactured in China
3/9/2020
Humidifier linked to deadly mold issue at Seattle Children's
The humidifier had was not used for a decade
3/6/2020
Integrated, bundled approach can fight HAIs
Infection control specialists must know how to design and implement an effective infection prevention program
3/6/2020
County declares emergency after a ninth death was reported in Washington state
King County is purchasing a motel to house coronavirus patients. Washington's death toll is now 10.
3/5/2020
Federal government says it won’t put coronavirus patients in Costa Mesa
The patients have been quarantined at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California
3/5/2020
Increased healthcare facility sanitation practices may not stop C. difficile spread
Research stresses C. Diff is not just a hospital problem
3/4/2020
Hospitals urged to do these four things to prepare for a pandemic
Healthcare facilities should review pandemic and surge plans
3/4/2020
Second U.S. coronavirus-related death reported in Washington state
The total number of individuals who have tested positive for coronavirus in the area has risen to 10
3/3/2020
CDC confirms first U.S. coronavirus case of unknown origin
The infected individual had no known exposure to the virus through travel or close contact with a known infected person
3/3/2020
Surveyors expected to stress longterm care facilities' infection control compliance amid coronavirus outbreak
Providers were encouraged to review information on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus
3/3/2020
Coronavirus outbreak should spark focus on infection control
It’s a good time to review transmission-based precautions
3/3/2020
U.S. passengers cruise ship who tested positive for the coronavirus going to Alabama facility
Center for Domestic Preparedness in Anniston is a FEMA training facility
3/3/2020
