Infection Control - January 2019
Flu activity elevated in most of the U.S.
CDC expects flu activity to remain elevated for a number of weeks
1/31/2019
Critical weather intelligence makes the difference in volunteer hurricane relief efforts
Weather tools help Team Rubicon respond quicker and reduce risks
1/31/2019
Lucile Packard expansion includes displacement ventilation
A shading system on the façade is used to prevent sunspots, which can throw off the displacement ventilation system, according to an article on the Healthcare Design website
1/31/2019
Two dead after pigeon dropping infection at Glasgow hospital
Control measures have been put in place amid further investigation
1/30/2019
UK infection measures reviewed after baby’s death
Pseudomonas bacteria are commonly found in soil, plants and water supplies
1/30/2019
Four ways to improve healthcare employees’ well-being
Healthcare facilities are introducing their own versions of on-site services, recreation, and design elements
1/30/2019
Steps for effective emergency preparedness
Make sure your risk assessment and scenario planning are up to date and accurate
1/30/2019
Sunshine may kill bacteria in dust
Dust kept in the dark contained organisms closely linked to some respiratory diseases
1/30/2019
Attorney says clients contracted hepatitis from unsanitary N.J. health facility
Attorney represents hundreds of former patients of facility
1/29/2019
Nurse stabbed on job pushing for hospital safety changes
Massachusetts lawmakers failed to pass legislation in Wilson's name following her attack
1/29/2019
Study: Ultraviolet disinfection 97.7% effective in operating rooms
Study examined a UV light technology that can be used in a range of healthcare settings
1/29/2019
Healthcare facilities' energy efficiency improves air quality
Salt Lake City Op-Ed says healthcare facilities' energy efficiency efforts can impact community health
1/29/2019
Smart home technologies offer opportunities for senior living facilities
A Front Porch of Glendale, Calif., program focuses on using technology to support seniors’ health and well-being, according to an article on the Environments for Aging website
1/28/2019
How clean are healthcare facilities?
Thorough environmental cleaning is required to ensure that hospitals are safe for patients
1/28/2019
Top security concerns of assisted care facilities
IAHSS issued new guidance for handling violence
1/25/2019
Sanitizing a hospital mattress
The procedures are rarely completed properly, especially rinsing, negating the value of the process
1/25/2019
Planning for healthcare facility energy resiliency
A business approach supports long-term resiliency and sustainability
1/25/2019
Facility acoustics should be matched to a space's purpose
Soundmasking and other strategies can help attenuate the signal-to-noise ratio to what's appropriate for a given space.
1/25/2019
Privacy curtains challenge infection control efforts
Most facilities are still using privacy curtains to avoid expensive remodels
1/25/2019
Healthcare laboratory informatics market to cross the billion-dollar benchmark by 2024
U.S. to be a major revenue contributor
1/24/2019
WHO includes flu pandemic, Ebola in top 10 threats to global health
Air pollution and climate change top the list
1/24/2019
Laundering microfiber mops: Is it a good idea in cleanroom environments?
More facilities are laundering and re-using mops as a potential cost-saving and more environmental alternative
1/23/2019
Hacker gets 10 years for DDoS attack on children’s hospitals
Man hacked into the Boston Children’s Hospital IT system in protest of the treatment of a patient
1/23/2019
Jamaica official unhappy with healthcare facility security after baby snatchings
Nearly $800 million has been spent by the regional health authorities in the last year on hospital security
1/22/2019
Stamford Health earns (LEED) Healthcare Certification
The hospital focused on several areas, including airflow, energy consumption and air quality
1/22/2019
Hospitals step up energy efficiency upgrades to cut operating costs and enhance patient experience
Hospitals are in a particularly unique position because they typically operate older facilities, having tight operating margins, and have significant deferred maintenance
1/22/2019
Health tech needs to evolve with changing patient expectations
Patients expect remote consultations, constant connectivity and location-aware mobile services
1/22/2019
Air quality's role in infection prevention can be overlooked
Having the right tools to communicate the importance of temperature and humidity is important
1/22/2019
Michigan hospital testing metal detectors
The metal detectors are being tested in the main lobby, but were previously used in the emergency department
1/21/2019
Arkansas cancer clinic sued over bacterial outbreak
The plaintiffs were clinic patients with chemotherapy ports who were infected with the bacteria
1/21/2019
Tips for more sustainable surgical units
Common sense solutions include reducing non-hazardous waste by reusing materials
1/21/2019
The role of auditing in cleaning and disinfection
Nurses play a vital role in healthcare settings
1/21/2019
'Scary' Muslim family barred from seeing baby in hospital
Family went to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Va., last month to visit a newborn baby girl
1/18/2019
First in-season flu numbers released by CDC
This is the first time these estimates are being provided during the flu season
1/18/2019
Scottish hospital porters handle clinical waste during protests
A union had advised its members to stop dealing with the waste after four staffers were injured
1/18/2019
How ready is the U.S. for an Ebola outbreak?
Fourteen percent of administrators felt their facilities were unprepared for a patient with Ebola or an EID
1/18/2019
Ultraviolet light added to disinfection cuts C diff.
During the study, C diff. infection rates dropped in the intervention units to 11.2 from 28.7 per 10,000 patient
1/18/2019
Florida rehab center where 12 died after hurricane loses license
12 people died when the air conditioning system failed following Hurricane Irma in September 2017
1/17/2019
Maintenance can improve the reliability and performance of irrigation systems
The challenge is that most systems are expected to live far beyond their intended life cycles
1/17/2019
Tucson hospital cooled with radiant HVAC
Medical tower’s mini-central plant on the fourth floor makes the facility one of a kind
1/17/2019
Legionnaires' found at Pennsylvania facility
One of the infected residents has died due to multiple contributing health factors
1/17/2019
Tips for healthcare facility managers to stay in compliance with NFPA
A majority of the updates are related to inspections, paperwork regulations and training
1/17/2019
Study finds bacteria in ancient Irish soil stops growth of superbugs
The soil in question is reputed to have healing properties
1/16/2019
Changes in operations and code requirements affect facility wayfinding
These strategies can help managers ensure signage keeps up with the changes
1/16/2019
Police investigating after vegetative patient gives birth
Arizona's Department of Economic Security is also conducting health and safety checks at the facility
1/15/2019
The physical environment affects health and wellness
Building occupants are beginning to demand that their indoor environment be more than just comfortable
1/15/2019
HHS releases healthcare cybersecurity best practices
Guidance includes 10 best practices for mitigating hacking threats
1/14/2019
CDC, APIC offer new infection prevention tools
Tools released are being tested at three hospitals
1/14/2019
Hartlepool healthcare facilities sees 27 percent drop in C. diff. infections
Reported community acquired infections have shown a 32 percent rise
1/14/2019
Successful drain cleaning requires managers to understand technician needs
Effective specification of drain cleaning equipment can increase technician productivity and improve plumbing system performance
1/14/2019
Reducing cross-contamination risk
The environmental services staff needs to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
1/14/2019
Bill Gates says we aren't ready for a deadly pandemic
He believes the next deadly epidemic will be the flu
1/11/2019
Jacksonville hospital evacuates 77 patients after an air handler sparks a fire
Patients including newborn babies were temporarily evacuated
1/11/2019
Phoenix care facility boosts security after vegetative patient gives birth
The enhanced security includes increased monitoring of patient care areas
1/11/2019
Study finds: Antimicrobial hospital curtains cut bacterial contamination
One type of antimicrobial curtain was highly effective at reducing the number of bacteria living on the surface
1/11/2019
Mold in hospital’s maternity unit sickens more than 50 employees
More than 50 employees in the maternity unit at Staten Island University Hospital North say they've been sickened in recent months by an odor
1/11/2019
Illinois hospitals facing requirements to reduce violence against nurses
Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, healthcare providers in Illinois must implement specific violence-prevention policies
1/10/2019
Advocate Aurora pledges to use 100 percent clean power by 2030
Using clean power across these sites of care will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 392,657 metric tons
1/10/2019
Glasgow surgical cleaning unit closes after mold and bacteria is found
Although a deep clean was performed, mould continues to be an issue
1/10/2019
Meeting the requirements for emergency equipment
Employees should be trained on how to use the emergency equipment fixtures before they handle hazardous chemicals
1/10/2019
Bacteria found on EEG electrodes poses infection risk
Twenty-five percent of cleaned reusable electrodes still had bacteria present
1/10/2019
New York hospital urged to move maternity ward over mold and leaking gas fears
The mold and anesthetic gas traces were detected in the maternity ward at Staten Island University Hospital North
1/9/2019
Doctors say Palestinian superbug epidemic could spread
Shortages of water, power and fuel for generators mean doctors cannot always meet even basic hygiene standards
1/9/2019
Epidemiologist: Legionella is everywhere
Doctor says routine cleaning and maintenance of large water systems are key to preventing patients from falling ill
1/9/2019
One dead after Legionella found at West Michigan hospital
The hospital is using alternative water sources and water filtration
1/8/2019
Two fired from N.J. facility that may have exposed thousands to HIV, hepatitis
A Saddle Brook surgery center was closed after state surveyors found an outdated infection control plan and unacceptable sterilization practices
1/8/2019
Maryland hospital's pipes contained uncommon bacteria that infected patients
Patients were infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria living in the plumbing of the National Institutes of Health’s hospital
1/8/2019
Round-the-clock power critical for healthcare
Inefficient access to electricity can mark the difference between life and death
1/8/2019
Hospitals in Australia to give staff body armor
The Australian Health Department has purchased 250 custom body armor vests
1/7/2019
Johns Hopkins hospitals don’t always follow safety rules they pioneered
The hospitals have been accused of setting aside basic safety rules
1/7/2019
The Internet of Medical Things can improve patient care, clinical management
IoMT can support patient, staff and supply management
1/7/2019
Wisconsin healthcare facility launches wayfinding app
Since the Froedtert & MCW Finder App was launched in late 2017, there have been more than 6,000 downloads and about 125 uses per day
1/7/2019
Man dies after jumping from Chicago hospital window
Mercy Hospital patient broke the window before jumping
1/7/2019
NFPA offers a risk assessment checklist for active shooter situations
Guidance includes tips on information officials should be gathering during building risk assessments
1/7/2019
U.S. healthcare worker with possible exposure to Ebola evacuated to Nebraska
The worker was treating patients and had contact with a patient who was later diagnosed with Ebola
1/4/2019
Study says one-wipe cleaning system for nurses is effective
Contamination of the environment around patients seen as MRSA risk
1/4/2019
Formulating a plan for deferred maintenance
Upgrades to facilities can overcome scarce resources to deliver financial benefits
1/4/2019
Hospitals are improving security after shooting at N.Y. facility
An August shooting at Westchester Medical Center killed two
1/4/2019
Interoperability of EHR integrations key to changing patient experience
Well-integrated technology not only puts less burden on staff but also increases workflow efficiencies
1/3/2019
Va. health system working to eliminate plastic straws
Inova Health System is also reducing single-use plastic items from public areas
1/3/2019
Mass notification is only one part of emergency communications
System must be integrated with other technologies to form a holistic emergency communications plan
1/3/2019
Study: Isolation room pressure key to limiting spread of airborne germs
A high air-change rate in AIIRs does not ensure efficient removal of infectious agents
1/2/2019
The blueprint for IoT infrastructure in healthcare
Developments in technology that contribute to the Internet of Things are introducing some extremely interesting innovations for healthcare providers
1/2/2019
Key considerations for onsite power
Facility managers should educate themselves about the best fit for their facilities
1/2/2019
New HVAC systems present challenges, opportunities
Mechanical systems have evolved not only technologically, but also in how they're purchased
1/2/2019
