Infection Control - August 2019
Water coolers banned from Scotland's hospitals due to infection risk
Action has been taken because of the potential for bacteria to grow in the nozzle and the water bottle if not routinely used
8/30/2019
Healthcare workers don't like hand-hygiene monitoring, but it works
Survey responses revealed negative attitudes about the system
8/30/2019
Immediate feedback helps with electronic hand hygiene monitoring systems
Systems with immediate feedback perform slightly better.
8/29/2019
Patient sues Illinois hospital after contracting Legionnaires’
The suit alleges the hospital didn’t take proper precautions following a previous outbreak
8/28/2019
The maintenance staff has a role in infection prevention
Facility professionals are constantly moving throughout the facility and may be able to spot potential problems
8/26/2019
Candida auris now one of the world's most feared hospital microbes
New research suggests higher temperatures may have led to an increase in infections
8/26/2019
C. difficile strain evolving to live in hospital rooms
A subset of Clostridium difficile bacteria is on the verge of becoming a new species
8/23/2019
Ebola spreads to third Congo province
South Kivu is located over 430 miles south of where the outbreak first began
8/22/2019
2019 Environmental Services Departments of the Year named
The award recognizes best practices in cleaning and caring for the healthcare environment
8/22/2019
Two cancer patients catch rare bugs linked to hospital water supply
Glasgow Queen Elizabeth University Hospital has sealed off part of the facility
8/19/2019
Hospital cleaning bundle efficient and cost-effective
Method also reduces vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections by 37 percent
8/16/2019
Resources can help reduce Legionella risk
Resources distributed by ASHRAE include Standard 188, which provides a comprehensive approach to help prevent the growth and spread of Legionella within building water systems
8/15/2019
Glasgow hospital spends more than $500,000 to kill pests after pigeon droppings crisis
Anti-bird spikes and netting have been installed and chemicals were used to kill mold and fungus
8/13/2019
Study: Cigarette smoke boosts MRSA drug-resistance
Smoke also may make MRSA more invasive and persistent
8/13/2019
Candida Auris called 'new bug using old tricks'
C. auris acts more like a multidrug-resistant, healthcare-associated bacteria than like a typical yeast
8/12/2019
N.J. called hot spot for Candida auris
The CDC says most cases of Candida auris in the United States are in New York City, Chicago and New Jersey
8/12/2019
Hospital mobilizes to fight deadly Candida auris
Widespread overuse of antibiotics and antifungals has bred superbug species
8/9/2019
Death from infection linked to pigeon feces at Glasgow hospital could lead to criminal proceedings
A boy was battling cancer at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in December 2018 when he contracted Cryptococcus and died
8/8/2019
Load testing of electronic health records - what to look for
Load testing is an essential component in performance testing, and doing so in a production-like environment brings its benefits.
8/8/2019
Two cases of Legionnaires’ confirmed at Connecticut nursing facility
Apple Rehab is working to find the source of the bacteria and have taken precautions, including chlorine treatments for the water system.
8/7/2019
Roof rat concerns force closure of Washington hospital's kitchen, cafeteria
Patients’ food was being prepared and brought in from another hospital
8/6/2019
Specifying sinks for sterile compounding (HD) environments doesn’t have to be a hazardous decision
Hospitals will pay it for this service, which it expects will be much faster and eventually cheaper than current couriers
8/6/2019
Be measles ready: Tips on how to be prepared for the next outbreak
There are a number of factors that make measles a particularly difficult virus to protect patients, staff and visitors from contracting
8/6/2019
Hospital-acquired C. diff comes with a financial price tag
The average healthcare cost for patients with the C. diff infection was $43,718
8/5/2019
Study focuses on where disease-causing pathogens might be hiding in a longterm care facility
Researchers examined the possibility that electric hand dryers installed in public restrooms could spread disease
8/5/2019
Two cases of Legionnaires’ reported at Illinois hospital
It was unknown if the infected patients were exposed at the hospital
8/2/2019
Safeguarding healthcare facilities from legionella
Having control measures and procedures in place is the first step in mitigating Legionella risk
8/2/2019
158 employees at Seattle hospital potentially exposed to dangerous bacteria
The exposure occurred in an operating room and a laboratory in late June
8/2/2019
Superbugs can remain on surgical gowns after disinfection
Researchers tested single-use polypropylene surgical gowns infected with three strains of C. diff
8/1/2019
