Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – March 1, 2024
March 1, 2024
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CDC Halts HICPAC to Review Masks, N95s, Long COVID
Citing pushback from stakeholder groups, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rejected new recommendations for air transmission precautions by its infection control advisory panel, asking it to consider with expert consultation this question: “Should N95 respirators be recommended for all pathogens that spread by the air?”
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The Paramedic’s Tale: From Agony to Activist
In March 2020, Karyn Bishof, BS, had the physical strength and mental wherewithal to be a paramedic at a fire department. Through the close encounters and hands-on care required for the job, Bishof was infected with SARS-CoV-2. Shortly thereafter began the chronic syndromes and the array of neurological and physical conditions collectively called long COVID. Despite her limitations, Bishof founded the COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project and began getting information out to others.
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Still Standing: Antivaxx Groups Fail to Intimidate Hotez
On Feb. 1, 2022, Peter Hotez, MD, PhD, was nominated, along with a colleague, for the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to design and distribute a nonproprietary, free COVID-19 vaccine to impoverished nations globally. The very next day Hotez received an email with the subject line: “You will hang for crimes against humanity.” Hotez recently documented this harassment and attempts at intimidation in his new book, The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist’s Warning.
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Seeking Your Own Path? Consider IP Consulting
Infection preventionists who are competent and confident, who can dress sharply and speak well, and are adept and finding and fixing the “core” of a problem, may want to go out on their own and become a consultant.
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COVID Shot 54% Effective in Preventing Infection
Immunization with the updated COVID-19 vaccine provided approximately 54% increased protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to no receipt of the updated vaccine.
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New Study: Hospital Surfaces Contaminated After Disinfection
Pathogenic persistence can be a problem even after routine disinfection of high-touch surfaces.